City staff will provide the Parks Commission with an update on grants, capital projects, and ongoing maintenance supporting the City’s parks and recreation facilities. Highlights include progress on wildfire mitigation at John Topits Park, completion and grant closeout of the Mingus Park restroom and rewilding improvements, historic preservation and interpretive work for the Mingus Park Community Building, and a funding recommendation for the inclusive playground project that remains subject to final approval. Staff will also report on preparations for the Empire Boat Ramp debris boom replacement, coordination for the Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, and recent maintenance and access improvements at City parks and the downtown boardwalk.

No action requested at this time.

City staff provide updates to the Parks Commission highlighting progress on grants supporting the City’s park system. These updates keep the Commission informed about funding opportunities, project implementation, grant administration, and work anticipated in the coming months.

John Topits Park – Wildfire Mitigation:

• 2025 Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant (OSFM): The City of Coos Bay was awarded the Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant for $75,000 from the Oregon State Fire Marshals Office. The purpose of this grant is to reduce wildfire risk by removing hazardous vegetation around the perimeter of the park adjacent to residential structures. The grant period has been extended through December 31, 2026.
• Project Update: The project is approximately seventy-five percent (75%) complete. OSFM has approved Coos Forest Protective Association (CFPA) to complete the remaining work.

Mingus Park – Restrooms and Rewilding:

• 2024    Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (LGGP): $343,464 awarded; total project cost $572,441 with $228,977 City match.
• 2025    Reser Family Foundation: The City of Coos Bay was awarded a grant for $55,000. These funds were used to fund a portion of the match requirements for the LGGP grant.
• Project Update: Staff continue preparing final reimbursement requests and grant closeout documentation for the LGGP. The restroom and rewilding improvements have been completed and are now in operation.

Mingus Park Community Building – Historic Preservation & Interpretation:

• 2026 Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant – OPRD: Submitted February 27, 2026; awarded March 17, 2026 in the total amount of $16,000. The award supports two complementary projects:
• Historic Structure Assessment (HSA): Funding supports a professional assessment of the Mingus Park Community Building (Scout Cabin) to evaluate structural conditions and identify priority preservation and stabilization needs. The professional services agreement with ZCS is fully executed, effective September 24, 2026. The $18,000 assessment includes a building walkthrough, targeted testing for log decay, a Matterport 3D scan, review of available building records and historic preservation standards, preliminary code and accessibility review, and a report recommending repairs and improvements.

• “Spectres Past from the Conundrum House Experience”: Funding supports interpretive programming and storytelling that enhance public education and bring the site’s history to life. Historical research materials have been uploaded for Conundrum House. Research conversations with local historians and story holders will continue through the fall, with a game plan anticipated by the end of November. A coordination meeting with Jill Rasmusen and Conundrum House is scheduled for October 20 at 10:30 a.m. An in-person research visit is being considered for early November, subject to participant availability, or January.

• 2026 Rotary Coos Foundation: A $6,350 grant application was submitted on April 27, 2026, to support CLG grant application match requirement. Staff are coordinating with the Rotary Coos Foundation regarding funding eligibility and potential project components associated with the Mingus Park Community Building. The original request is being revised to better align with Foundation funding priorities.
• 2026 Kinsman Foundation: A $4,400 grant application was submitted May 13, 2026, to complete the CLG grant application match requirement. The grant was awarded, with an agreement period of July 14 through December 31, 2026.

Mingus Park – Playground:

• 2026 Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (LGGP): The Mingus Park Inclusive Playground Revitalization Project has been recommended for funding by the LGGP Advisory Committee following its October 1 review. The City requested $193,817.90 toward the $323,029.84 project.
• Kiwanis: A $30,000 donation is expected by the end of October to support this project.
• Reser Family Foundation: A $55,000 grant application will be submitted on February 1, 2027, to support the LGGP grant if awarded. These dollars if we are successful would offset the city’s required match.
• Project Update: The recommendation will be presented to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission for review on November 18, 2026. Recommended projects will also undergo State Historic Preservation Office and Department of Justice review. The recommendation does not constitute an official grant award. Following required approvals, OPRD anticipates preparing grant agreements in December and January. On-the-ground project work may begin only after the agreement is signed and OPRD issues a Notice to Proceed.

Empire Boat Ramp – Wave Attenuator:

• 2025-2027 Boating Facility Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB): The City was awarded $595,192.86 on May 6, 2026, through the Oregon State Marine Board Boating Facility Grant Program to replace the debris boom with a Wave Attenuator and associated pilings at the Empire Boat Ramp.
• 2026 Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) Submerged Lands Enhancement Fund: Application submitted April 2, 2026 requesting $128,302 to support the OSMB grant application match requirement. The City's application was unsuccessful.
• 2026 Bay Area Sportsmen's Association Inc. (BASA): The City was awarded $2,000 on April 28, 2026, from BASA to support the debris boom replacement project match requirement.
• Project Update: The project continues to progress, with the preconstruction meeting held on September 8, 2026. The contractor has submitted the required project submittals, provided a construction schedule, and ordered materials necessary to complete the work. Based on the current schedule, construction is anticipated to begin in mid-December 2026. City staff will continue coordinating with the contractor to ensure the project progresses in accordance with the established schedule and applicable in-water work window.

TGM (Comprehensive Bike & Ped Plan):

• ODOT anticipates finalizing the contract by the end of October, with a kickoff meeting between City staff and the design team expected in November or December. Staff will coordinate with the City Manager’s Office to advertise for Project Advisory Committee (PAC) applications in January or February. The first PAC meeting is anticipated in the spring.

Operations & Maintenance:

• Mowing and maintenance of Parks.
• Work has begun and the contractor has been working each week on the boardwalk. This will transition to every other week next month.
• Replacement of the bathroom doors at John Topits Park.
• Installed hand dryers and soap dispensers at the Empire Boat Ramp Restrooms.
• Staff is getting ready to install Christmas decorations throughout the city
• Staff is preparing to install two Christmas trees. One located at the Visitors Information parking lot and the second tree will be installed at the new parking lot currently being constructed at the corner of Wall St. & Newmark Ave.
• Staff is working to prepare contract plans and specifications to re-roof the Boardwalk Pavilions.

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