Clearwater’s parks are about to get more amenities.

 

Over the past few years, members of the Clearwater Park Commission have been working on researching different ways to improve the city’s parks.

 

There are now new playground systems in Lions Park, Eldorado Park and Spring Street Park.

 

Last year, the city also installed a new Versacourt plastic surface on the tennis courts in Lions Park and worked with Wright County to turn the Wayside Rest on Co. Rd. 75 into an archery park.

 

Now, three parks will be getting additional amenities - small open-air pavilions. During their parks meeting Monday evening, the commission recommended installing a small pavilion in Spring Street Park, one in Riverside Park and two in Eldorado Park.

 

There are already small pavilions at Riverside Park, but none at the other parks. Administrator Kevin Kress said there are no places for people to get out of the sun.

 

“Somewhere to sit and not get cooked,” he said. “Just small scale to get us going.”

 

Members of the commission agreed.

 

“I like the idea. I think they’d be used,” said Commission Member Andrea Lawrence. “There’s no sun cover on any of them. I’m all for it.”

 

Commission Member Vern Scott said it would also be a good place for people to get out of the rain.

 

Kress said he envisioned something small, like the ones at Riverside Park with picnic tables.

 

He said the city could save money by combining all the pavilions into one package and ordering the concrete along with the concrete for the Riverside Park playground pad.

 

“I figured if we order it right now we’d get a better deal,” he said.

 

Kress said he had no final cost estimate, but figured it would be about $20,000 each.

 

Later that evening, the city council approved up to $100 for all four pavilions, with funds to come from half-cent sales tax money.

 

The commission also discussed the possibility of painting a mural on the new concrete wall at Spring Street Park.

 

Scott brought up the idea, and said the city would have to find a way to prevent graffiti. He said they would have to check to see if there was a spray that would protect the mural.

 

“If you seal the cement it’s much easier to remove the graffiti,” said Lawrence.

 

Another option was painting the wall with chalk board paint to allow kids to draw on it.

 

Scott said he would look into costs for both options for discussion at the June meeting.