Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW At least 31 dead in bombings of Brussels airport, metro ... Medford council wants to add 4,400 acres to urban growth boundary ... Jackson County library director receives Mover and Shaker Award ... At least 31 dead in bombings of Brussels airport, metro ... Medford council wants to add 4,400 acres to urban growth boundary ... Jackson County library director receives Mover and Shaker Award ... PARKS Excess Medford park funds could be put to work Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Feb. 1, 2016 at 3:12 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Feb. 1, 2016 at 3:12 PM » Social News A host of updates are proposed for several Medford city parks as early as June 2017, including outdoor exercise equipment, more parking and upgrades to park facilities to bring them into them compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Medford's Parks and Recreation Department reported it ended the 2014-15 fiscal year with an excess of $846,917 in its parks budget, an annual audit found. Department Director Brian Sjothun hopes to apply those funds toward several projects already in the works. The Medford Parks and Recreation Commission will examine the expenditures at a study session set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Carnegie Building, 413 W. Main St. "They have an opportunity to add that money back into projects that are already budgeted for," Sjothun said. Three projects, Kennedy School Park, Hawthorne Park and the parks department's leisure services plan, would be finished by June 2017 with about $400,000 of the extra funds, Sjothun said . The Kennedy project would get the most money, increasing its budget from $515,000 to $840,000. Upgrades on the park's north end would include new grass, more parking, a pathway to a nearby apartment complex, an overlay of an existing walking track, drainage-system improvements, trees and lighting. "Over the last few months, we've gotten a real firm cost estimate on what it would cost to finish the project all at once," said Sjothun, adding the current budget would have allowed for just one or two of the planned upgrades to be completed over time. An additional $50,000 for Hawthorne Park would take the $1.94 million project budget to just under $2 million. That money would match a potential grant to fund outdoor exercise equipment at the park, primarily intended for exercise classes for low-income individuals. About $25,000 is proposed for the city's leisure services plan, which would keep city parks, trails and open spaces compliant with the ADA. The remaining $450,000 in excess funds could be used for work at Howard, Donahue-Frohnmayer, U.S. Cellular, Prescott, Oregon Hills and Cedar Links parks, along with aquatic facilities, trail development and acquisition and development. How that money is disbursed would be up to the commission. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Feb. 1, 2016 at 3:12 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501