Parks and Public Spaces Committee Agenda

Parks and Public Spaces Committee 3930 N. Murray Avenue, Committee Room September 8, 2026 - 6:00 p.m. AGENDA 1. C all to Order 2. C onsider approval of August 11, 2026, meeting minutes 3. C itizens to be Heard – this item is for matters not on the agenda. Discussion may follow comments on non- agenda items or discussion, and action may come at future meetings. 4. 2 026 Initiative - Consider updates to Village Code Ch. 207 5. S afer School Zones Initiative Discussion 6. 2 026 Initiative - Vision triangle regulations review 7. G reenways Project Report 8. N ature Park Discussion 9. N o Turn on Red Signage 10 . Future Items for Consideration 11 . Subcommittee Chair Reports 12 . Staff Liaison Report a. #HeartShorewood Campaign Internship 13 . Adjournment DATED at Shorewood, Wisconsin this 3rd day of September 2026. VILLA GE OF SHOREWOOD, Toya Harrell, Village Clerk Mem bers of the public are encouraged to participate by submitting questions to Nicole Berzin, Assistant Village Manager at nberzin@shorewoodwi.gov or 414-847-2705 by noon of the meeting date. It is possible that members of and possibly a quorum of members of other governmental bodies of the municipality may be in attendance at the above stated meeting to gather information; no action will be taken by any governmental body at the above stated meeting other than the governmental body specifically referred to above in this notice. Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate the needs of all individuals. V ILLAGE OF SHOREWOOD REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS TO PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES COMMITTEE Meeting date: September 8, 2026 Staff Liaison: Nicole Berzin, Assistant Village Manager A genda Item Discussion – Please provide a summary of the agenda item along with bullet points highlighting the main items and key issues to be discussed. Below, please find a summary of the meeting agenda items for June 9, 2026. 2. C onsider approval of August 11, 2026, meeting minutes. Please see attached. 3. C itizens to be Heard. 4. 2 026 Initiative – Consider updates to Village Code Ch. 207 (continuation of 2025 initiative) This item was submitted by PPS but assigned to the Police Department. Chief Wurth will be in attendance. 5. S afer School Zones Initiative Discussion This item was voted on by the committee at the June 9, 2026, meeting to be on this agenda following a vote to deny the initiative at the Board level. The committee will discuss next steps. Chief Wurth will be in attendance. 6. 2 026 Initiative – Vision Triangle Review Plan Commission met in June to discuss this item. There were outstanding questions that the Planning and Development Director is now gathering answers to. This item will be going back to the Plan Commission for recommendation, which will be in late summer. Following a recommendation, it will come back to Parks and Public Spaces. 7. G reenways Project Report This item was voted on by the committee at the June 9, 2026, meeting to be on this agenda and remain on the agenda until the project is complete. There are no updates at this time. 8. N ature Park Discussion This item was voted on by the committee at the June 9, 2026, meeting to be on this agenda after being presented during Citizens to be Heard. Please see attached for documents from the June 9, 2026, meeting. 9. N o Turn on Red Signage At the July 6, 2026, Public Works Committee Meeting, the committee voted to have the Pedestrian and Bicycle S afety Subcommittee review this item and determine if it would be a priority for the Village. A copy of the redlined Chapter 500 is attached. 10. F uture Items for Consideration Future Items of Consideration are items not listed on the agenda that members would like to discuss or consider at a future meeting date. The members are requested to vote on whether an item should be discussed at a future meeting. Wis Stat require the public have notice on the agenda of the topics to be Parks and Public Spaces Committee February 10, 2026 2 discussed and considered. If an item is voted to be listed on a future agenda, discussion on the item shall occur after being listed to provide proper notice. 11. Subcommittee Chair Reports 12. S taff Liaison Report A ttachments – Please list the following attachments and supporting documents for this agenda item. So me attachments may be hyperlinked. Include Fiscal notes, if applicable, as the first attachment following this memorandum. Attachments may include agreements/contracts, presentation materials, letters, service proposals, etc. 1. A ugust 11, 2026, minutes 2. Natural Playgrounds 3. Chapter 500 materials Village of Shorewood Parks and Public Spaces Committee August 11, 2026 Members Present: Chair Mansfield, Members, Jorgensen, Kaczmarek, Pero, Greenman, Santeler, Nelson, Sprague-Jones, and Berry Excused: Hammond, Pendelton, Simmons, Avallone Others Present: Assistant Village Manager Berzin and Trustee Stokebrand 1 . Call to Order Mansfield called meeting to order at 6:00pm 2 . Consider approval of July 14, 2026, meeting minutes Greenman moves to approve. Pero seconds. Motion carries 7-0. 3 . Citizens to be Heard – this item is for matters not on the agenda. Discussion may follow comments on non- agenda items or discussion, and action may come at future meetings. 4 . 2026 Initiative - Consider updates to Village Code Ch. 207 – no progress to date 5 . 2026 Initiative - Vision triangle regulations review – no progress to date 6 . Greenways Project Report Mansfield relayed information based on Director Griepentrog update sent via email. Berzin to request Griepentrog to attend meeting once he has proposed meeting. 7 . Nature Park Discussion N o progress to date – Pendleton was not present. 8 . No Turn on Red Signage Jorgeson requested clarification on letter F. Berzin to follow up. Berzin to request Chief Wurth to be at a meeting to go over the red-light camera initiative. 9 . Future Items for Consideration 1 0. Subcommittee Chair Reports Berzin to check on dog bag supply. Jorgeson informed the committee on an article regarding no grant money going to bike lanes. Greenman informed the committee on an accident of a bike being hit crossing the oak leaf trail. 1 1. Staff Liaison Report a. Full Moon Yoga with Tribal Yoga School 1 2. Adjournment B erry moves to adjourn. Greenman seconds. Motion carries 9-0. Meeting adjourned at 6:31 p.m. R espectfully submitted, Nicole Berzin, Assistant Village Manager Nature loose-parts playground in Shorewood Purpose Engage children of all ages (and adults) to play, create and build at the unstructured playground. Our family lives on the southwest side of the village and there are no playgrounds that are not associated with schools nearby. Moreover, there are no nature playgrounds in Shorewood. Loose parts, nature playgrounds are a place where loose materials are used by children of various ages to build, move and create structures. Encouraging children and teens to play outside away from the screens. We often come to t he Urban ecology park and there is nature playground at the river level. We noticed that kids of all ages and some adults enjoy spending time building, destroying, sorting, moving branches, wood, sticks. This is a perfect space for children to practice building skills, work in teams while spending time outdoors any time of the year . Nature play improves physical and social skills, promotes creativity and lets children find out more about environment. Our son, who is 4 years old and his friends (3,5 and 10 years old) all enjoy playing with branches, trees, rocks and can spend hours outside doing it. This playground would be a great place not only for young children but also for preteens, who are often pulled into the digital world too early. It would give them another option for spending time with their friends outdoors. Benefits for children Loose Parts Play (LPP) focuses on utilizing materials that offer multiple possibilities, enabling children to engage in diverse play experiences and develop cognitive capacities like executive function and cognitive self-regulation. LPP provides flexibility and adaptability, allowing children to manipulate, combine, and transform loose parts in countless ways, thereby facilitating open- ended play experiences [1]. Loose parts play benefits: • enables children to take risks. • sparks creativity and imagination. • contributes to determination and resilience. • cultivates independence and confidence. • builds relationships and leadership [2]. Materials Wood (fallen trees, branches, logs cut up and uncut), rocks. Budget and maintenance This project requires a small budget. The village needs to bring some trees, stomps, branches, and sticks to transform the area into lean -tos, teepees and other structures for kids to have fun with. DPW can update the play area yearly with regular tree trimmings that occur throughout Shorewood. Alternatively, wood can be purchased. Location River Park, which has baseball and soccer fields, also has a space in southwest corner right next to bike trail that used to be a small playground. This area could be converted into nature playground similar to the space at Urban Ecology Center Riverside Park. The playground would be behind table tennis and covered picnic area. View of River Park from Google Maps (Location marked with red square) Examples Below are photos of the Urban Ecology Center set up. We came to the park in all seasons, and you can tell it was used by other people, because every time the branches are rearranged in different structures. Urban Ecology Center Riverside Park. Andy and our son Danylo playing at the park in winter Thank you for considering this idea and for taking care of all our parks in Shorewood. Please contact us at yuliiaskliarova@gmail.com or call 414-797-1035. References 1. Preschool Children’s Loose Parts Play and the Relationship to Cognitive Development: A Review of the Literature. NIH. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10456023/ 2. Educator perceptions on the benefits and challenges of loose parts play in the outdoor environments of childcare centres. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6940583/ Chapter 500. Vehicles and Traffic Article X. Traffic Control § 500-36. Right turns prohibited on red signals. [Amended 8-11-1992 by Ord. No. 1638; 9-2-2003 by Ord. No. 1859; 10-24-2005 by Ord. No. 1896; 2-25-2008 by Ord. No. 1935; 3-21-2011 by Ord. No. 1985; 1-8-2018 by Ord. No. 2090] In accordance with the provisions of § 346.37(1)(c)3, Wis. Stats., vehicular traffic facing a red signal at the following intersections may not make right turns, subject to the limitations set forth herein: A. North Maryland Avenue at East Capitol Drive, when pedestrians are present. B. North Downer Avenue at East Capitol Drive, when pedestrians are present. C. East Edgewood Avenue at North Oakland Avenue when pedestrians are present. D. East Capitol Drive at North Oakland Avenue when pedestrians are present. E. North Murray Avenue at East Capitol Drive when pedestrians are present. F. Westbound on East Capitol Drive at North Morris Boulevard when pedestrians are present. G. Northbound and southbound on North Morris Boulevard at East Capitol Drive when pedestrians are present. H. Eastbound on East Capitol Drive at North Morris Boulevard when red. I. Eastbound on East Menlo Boulevard at Oakland Avenue when red.