Arts, Parks, and Rec - March 5, 2026

City of Amery Arts, Parks, and Recreation Committee The City of Amery does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or provision of services, programs or activities. NOTE: Upon reasonable notice, the City of Amery will accommodate the needs of disabled individuals through aids or services. For additional information or to request this service, contact the Clerk-Treasurer’s office at (715) 268-3410 by Noon the previous day so that arrangements can be made. Pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.84, Notice is hereby given to the public that a meeting of the Arts, Parks, and Recreation Committee of the City of Amery will be held on: March 5, 2026 @ 4pm at Amery City Hall 104 Maple St W, Amery, WI 54001 Call to Order Roll Call Adoption of Agenda Agenda Items 1. Approval of Minutes from February 12, 2026 2. Public Works Update 3. Story Walk Update 4. South Twin Park Playground Update 5. Volunteer Program Discussion and Event Preparation Respectfully Submitted; Taylor Larson City Clerk-Treasurer **Posted: March 2, 2026 on the city website (www.amerywi.gov); and at Amery City Hall, Amery Public Library, and the Amery Police Department. 1 ARTS, PARKS, & RECREATION COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS February 12, 2026 The Amery Arts, Parks, and Rec. Committee met on February 12, 2026, at the Amery City Center. The meeting was called to order at 4:03 p.m. Present: Members Colleen Adams, Eric Elkin, and Evelyn Braaten Others Present: City Administrator Alex Mansfield, Clerk-Treasurer Taylor Larson , Library Director Heather Wiarda, Adult Services Librarian Jake Wyrzykowski, Youth Services Librarian Emma Novak, and Parks Supervisor Kyle Schultz Motion by Elkin; seconded by Braaten to adopt the agenda as presented. Ayes – 3 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 1. Approval of Minutes from December 4, 2025 – The committee reviewed the minutes. Motion by Braaten; seconded by Elkin to approve the minutes as presented. Ayes – 3 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 2. Public Works Update – Parks Supervisor Kyle Schultz updated the committee on tasks that are being completed in the parks while they are closed for the winter like bench repairs. 3. South Twin Park Playground Design Discussion – City Administrator Mansfield presented the two playground options that were provided to the public for a preference survey. Option 2 with things like a playhouse, swings and musical instruments was the favor in the online and in person poll. The committee discussed and the consensus was that Mansfield should reach back out to the company to pursue Option 2 with the addition of a bench. The playground will be constructed in two phases. 4. Library Story Walk Discussion – Heather Wiarda, Emma Novak and Jake Wyrzykowski were present from the Amery Area Public Library to discuss a proposed Story Walk. The walk would run along a trail and have 16 viewing points to read a book as you walk. It was presented to the committee that the preferred location for the story walk would be along the Stower Trail or in York Park. The committee discussed and the consensus was the Story Walk should be pursued along the Stower Trail if possible with an alternative location being York Park if the Stower Trail isn’t possible. 5. Parks Promotion Day Discussion – City Administrator Mansfield and the committee discussed the proposed event. The event is slated for May 9th and there will be an informational day about the event in April. The City will promote the event through various platforms and share the event with service organizations. Motion by Braaten; seconded by Elkin to adjourn at 5:08pm. Ayes – 3 Nays – 0 Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Taylor Larson Clerk-Treasurer February 19, 2026 104 Maple Street W., Suite A Office: 715.268.7486 Amery, WI 54001 Fax: 715.268.4870 TO: Arts, Park, and Recreation Committee FROM: Alex Mansfield, City Administrator DATE: 2/24/2026 RE: Story Walk Update Summary: Following our last discussion on this item, the City has heard back from Polk County Parks and Recreation Department regarding use of the trail for the story walk. Polk County is in the midst of renegotiating their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Wisconsin DNR regarding maintenance and use of the trail. The negotiation is expected to be completed by May 2026. The County’s response was warm to the idea of the story walk and its feasibility on the Trail. Leading up to the completion of the Polk County/DNR MOU, City staff will do a walkthrough of both the Stower Trail and York Park trails and determine which site we would prefer prior to engaging with the County formally. 104 Maple Street W., Suite A Office: 715.268.7486 Amery, WI 54001 Fax: 715.268.4870 TO: Arts, Park, and Recreation Committee FROM: Alex Mansfield, City Administrator DATE: 2/24/2026 RE: Proposal for City Parks Community Clean-Up and Revitalization Day Background: Our city parks and riverfront are the crown jewels of our community, yet several areas require immediate attention to maintain safety, accessibility, and aesthetic appeal. Based on a recent site assessment, the following high-priority tasks have been identified: • Structural Maintenance: Painting of old buildings and white boundary posts at North Park and North Twin Park; staining of the Bobber Michael and South Twin fishing piers, and the river access deck at the Dam. • Trail & Park Access: Extensive brush clearing at North Twin Park and along the York Park trail system to ensure safe passage for hikers. • Environmental Stewardship: A comprehensive litter and debris removal project along the Apple River, stretching from Birch St. to the Dam. To execute these tasks, we estimate a need for 35–43 volunteers organized into specialized "Work Crews." This volunteer model allows the city to tackle a large volume of deferred maintenance in a single high-impact day. 1. The Painting & Staining Crews • Why: Wood rot is an expensive fix. Protecting the fishing piers and the Dam deck is the highest value-add for the city’s long-term budget. • Action: If we have fewer than 15 volunteers, the entire group will focus on the Bobber Michael Pier, South Twin Pier, and the Dam rails. Focus: Aesthetics and preservation. Task Volunteers Specific Equipment Needed Old Buildings (North Park) 4–6 2-gallon buckets of exterior paint, 4" brushes, 9" rollers/covers, extension poles, painter’s tape, scrapers, wire brushes. White Posts (Both Parks) 4 1-gallon "handy buckets," 2.5" angled sash brushes (for detail), rags, sandpaper. Fishing Piers (Bobber Michael & South Twin) 6 (3 per pier) Deck stain (semi-transparent), deck brushes (stiff bristle), paint trays, floor rollers, drop cloths (to protect the water), stir sticks. Rails & Deck (at the Dam) 3 Same as above, plus smaller detail brushes for railing spindles. 2. The Brush & Trail Crews • Why: Overgrown trails become unusable and create safety hazards, as well as being unslightly. 104 Maple Street W., Suite A Office: 715.268.7486 Amery, WI 54001 Fax: 715.268.4870 • Action: Once staining crews are fully staffed, the next 10 volunteers will be assigned to North Twin Park and York Park Trails. Focus: Trail access and park visibility. Task Volunteers Specific Equipment Needed Trail Brush (York Park) 6–8 Bypass loppers (for thick branches), hedge shears, hand saws, heavy- duty rakes, and high-quality work gloves, wheelbarrow Brush Clearing (North Twin) 4–6 Same as above. 3. The River Cleanup Crew Priority 3: Stewardship (River Cleanup) • Why: While important, this is a task that can easily be rescheduled for a "Phase 2" or handled by smaller "Adopt-a-River" groups later. Focus: Environmental health and litter removal. Task Volunteers Specific Equipment Needed Apple River (Birch St. to Dam) 8–10 Long-handled litter grabbers, heavy-duty trash bags (2-6 mil thickness), buckets (easier to carry than bags until full), and hip waders for a few brave souls. Fiscal Impact: The primary cost for this initiative is limited to materials and safety equipment. The preliminary budget estimate for supplies is categorized as follows: Category Estimated Cost Paint & Stain (approx. 28 gallons total) $850 – $1,400 Tools & Landscaping Gear (Loppers, saws, rakes) $350 – $650 Application Supplies (Brushes, rollers, trays) $200 – $350 Safety & Volunteer Support (Gloves, water, first aid) $340 – $630 TOTAL ESTIMATED IMPACT $1,740 – $3,030 Recommendation: It is recommended that the Committee endorse this project plan and recommend its implementation to the City Administrator/Common Council. This endorsement will allow staff to begin volunteer recruitment and procurement of supplies. C I T Y O F A M E R Y Friends of the Amery Parks V O L U N T E E R P R O G R A M Spring Clean-Up Day • Saturday, May 9, 2026 Our parks and riverfront are the crown jewels of our community. They need YOUR help to stay beautiful, safe, and welcoming for everyone. What We're Doing Three specialized work crews will tackle priority tasks across multiple parks and the Apple River: • Painting & Staining — buildings, posts, fishing piers, dam deck • Brush & Trail Clearing — North Park trails, North Twin Park • River Cleanup — Apple River, Birch St. to the Dam Event Details Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026 Locations: North Park, North Twin Park, Bobber Michael & South Twin Piers, Apple River Bring: Work gloves, sturdy shoes, water bottle. Tools & safety gear provided. Goal: 35–43 volunteers needed Ways to Volunteer Event Volunteer One day — great for families, students, groups Park Steward Ongoing ~2 hrs/week — weeding, watering, monitoring Adopt-a-Park Partner 1-year commitment — for businesses & organizations Ready to Sign Up? Pick up a sign-up sheet and waiver at today's meeting, or contact City Hall to register. City of Amery | 104 Maple Street W., Suite A | 715.268.7486 FRIENDS OF THE AMERY PARKS — VOLUNTEER PROGRAM Informational Meeting Agenda Date: TBD | Time: TBD | Location: TBD Time Item 5 min Welcome & Introductions — who we are and why we're here 10 min Program Overview — vision, mission, and how the Friends of Amery Parks program works 10 min Why Now? — park needs overview based on recent site assessment (CORP recommendations) 15 min Spring Clean-Up Day, May 9th — event details, locations, what to expect 10 min Work Crew Breakdown — Painting & Staining, Brush & Trail, and River Cleanup crews 5 min Volunteer Roles — Event Volunteer, Park Steward, and Adopt-a-Park Partner 5 min Sign-Up & Waiver Process — how to register and what forms are needed 10 min Open Q&A — questions from attendees — Sign-Up & Refreshments City of Amery | 104 Maple Street W., Suite A | 715.268.7486 Spring Clean-Up Day: Saturday, May 9, 2026 FRIENDS OF THE AMERY PARKS — VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP SHEET Spring Clean-Up Day • Saturday, May 9, 2026 • Amery, Wisconsin # Full Name Phone Number Email Address Crew Preference* Minor? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 *Crew options: (P) Painting & Staining (B) Brush & Trail Clearing (R) River Cleanup (A) Any/No Preference All volunteers must complete a Waiver and Release of Liability before participating. A guardian must sign for volunteers under age 18. Contact: City of Amery | 104 Maple Street W., Suite A | 715.268.7486