Parks & Recreation Commission to vote Sept. 10 on plan after inflation pushes costs higher

By Damian Mann for Ashland.news

The Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission on Wednesday, Sept. 3, decided it wants to vote next week on a plan to build East Main Park despite inflationary headwinds.

“We need to move forward, and move forward expeditiously,” said Commissioner Justin Adams. “I can’t wait to see a park where that vacant lot was.”

At its study session, the commission considered options to deal with a project estimated to cost $3 million for the first phase, $500,000 more than expected.

To plug the hole, the commissioners voiced support for a plan that would create a $3,375,000 budget, which offers a financial cushion in case bids came in higher than expected.

A total of $525,000 of the increased budget would come from tapping into a land acquisition account for $250,000, and by not contracting out the Parks, Recreation, Open Space (PROS), and Senior Services plan, saving $75,000.

Another $100,000 was freed up from an irrigation controller project, which was completed last year. In addition, Sabrina Cotta, Ashland’s city manager, recommended that $100,000 could come from the transient lodging tax.

Another $350,000 comes from $150,000 in an existing contingency fund with the potential to tap into the fund for another $200,000, if necessary. The first phase of the project won’t have a playground, something hoped for by residents and commissioners.

The commission plans to vote on the changes at its Sept. 10 business meeting.

East Main Park, located on East Main Street east of Clay Street, has been on the city’s wish list for some time but has bumped into some hurdles.

In late 2024, the Parks & Recreation Department received an engineering estimate for the complete development of the park at roughly $5.5 million, which was more than the budgeted $2.5 million available for construction. This led to the effort to develop the project in phases.

The first phase of development for the 6.5-acre park includes walking trails, a dog park, a pump track, a parking lot, a restroom, and mandatory road improvements that include curb, gutter, sidewalk and street trees.  

Parks and Recreation held a public meeting at the Ashland Senior Center on Aug. 14, which 78 people attended. Adams said every moment the park is delayed adds to the expense of building the park.

An earlier suggestion to consider other entrances to the park, such as on Abbot Avenue rather than East Main, was discarded, even though it’s more expensive on East Main.

“We’re back to East Main, and that makes sense,” Adams said, pointing out that long-term plans for the street would include sidewalks and bike lanes. He said this is an area of future growth and is also “one of the densest areas of affordable housing.”

Commissioner Dan Wiener said that eventually East Main will need sidewalks and bike lanes, but he wondered what would happen if a variance were sought for street improvements in front of the park.

Rocky Houston, director of Parks & Recreation, said there was too much risk of an appeal to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA), which could stop the entire project while the appeal is reviewed.

Some commissioners urged staff to find ways to build a playground.

“One missing piece is the playground during the first phase,” Commissioner Rick Landt said. “It’s really not a park until there’s a playground.” He suggested either finding a way to put it back in during the first phase or shortly thereafter.

Landt said it bothers him when he continues to hear calls for a variance to development requirements that require upgrading East Main in front of the park. The upgrades to improve East Main would cost $500,000 or more of the total cost of the project.

“Other people in town have got to do it,” he said, noting that Parks and Recreation should be subject to the same requirements.

Landt said he welcomed having a higher contingency for the project.

“We really won’t know the project costs to build until we go out to bid,” he said. “We have a much more robust contingency fund, and that is great.”

Landt wondered what would happen if bids came in higher than the contingency could handle. Houston said tapping into system development charges or potentially a projected $1 million ending fund balance are a couple of options.

Also, he said he could consult with the city manager to see if other avenues for funding are available.

The commission received a number of emails from residents who objected to a variety of issues, including the proposal to put the entrance to the park on Abbot Avenue.

Sharon Bryson was the only resident who spoke during the public comment period and said many people have opposed the park.

“Ashland can’t afford this,” she said. “We can’t afford what we’ve got.”

Bryson said the commission failed to do due diligence in regard to the property and she suggested the property remain a small community park.

“There appears to be a lack of respect in regards to community members,” Bryson said.

Commissioner Mike Gardiner said Bryson’s comments lack relevance to the history of the project.

“I think we did a good job of finding out what the community is concerned about,” Gardiner said. “We heard the community loud and clear.”

He also thought it was a “pretty good-sized park.”

Commission Chair Jim Bachman said, “I think we’re ready to bring this back for a vote.”

Reach freelance writer Damian Mann at [email protected].

Related stories:

Ashland officials weigh choices as East Main Park costs climb (Aug. 19, 2025)

Open house: Public weighs in on East Main Park’s $500K budget overrun (Aug. 18, 2025)

Parks director: ‘Regardless of the outcome, it’s going to be painful’ (April 12, 2025)

Ashland Parks & Recreation: ‘Sort of our best case scenario wishlist’ (Nov. 15, 2024)

$1M grant awarded for long-awaited East Main Park (Sept. 27, 2024)