Community Weighs In on Potential Jamestown Parks District Property Sales

Jamestown Parks and Recreation District outlined possible sales of three properties and solicited public input as it confronts a $33 million deferred maintenance backlog. The district held a community input meeting to describe the parcels under consideration and gather resident feedback before any formal decisions.

About 15 people attended the meeting at The Bunker on Feb. 9. No action was taken; the Jamestown Parks and Recreation Commission will review the input before deciding next steps. KSJbam reported the meeting had been set for 6:00 p.m., and district officials emphasized the session was informational rather than a decision meeting. Community members have until Friday, Feb. 20, to submit written comments to the district.

The properties listed for possible sale are Feton Park, Little Meidinger Park and the district administrative building at 1002 2nd Ave. SE. Feton Park drew particular attention because the University of Jamestown has expressed interest in that parcel. Dustin Jensen, vice president of student affairs at the University of Jamestown, said the property "abuts two sides of the UJ campus, and the university now has a women’s tennis team. 'Having tennis access directly across the street from our campus is something that's very important to us.'"

Feton Park is legally described as outlots one, two and three in the Conklin’s Addition; a portion of outlot three would not be included in a potential sale. No sale price or formal offer was reported at the meeting.

Amy Walters, executive director of the Jamestown Parks and Recreation District, framed the review of assets as a response to long-term needs and distribution of services. She said the district’s comprehensive planning process identified $33 million in deferred maintenance and found the district has more than the recommended acres of green space per resident. "As staff, we took a look at our assets and where we have parks facilities and identified some potential properties that would be duplication of services provided in certain parts of the community," Walters said. Walters added that "the public input will be given to the Jamestown Parks and Recreation Commission to make a decision on the next steps for the properties."

Photos accompanying local coverage were credited to Masaki Ova and included images labeled "Parks and Rec public Input Crowd.jpg" and "Parks and Rec public input Harty and Ukestad.jpg."

For comparative context, planning documents from other jurisdictions show common public-engagement practices: a Jamestown Charter Township planning excerpt reported a recreation survey that produced more than 400 completed responses, and an Austin parks draft on a project named Jamestown Neighborhood Park noted survey results on community-garden interest (44% unlikely to use a garden plot, 19.3% very likely, with 21 respondents strongly enthusiastic). Those materials are from different jurisdictions and are presented as planning examples rather than local facts.

What comes next for Jamestown is a formal review by the Parks and Recreation Commission of the written comments and staff materials; residents concerned about park acreage, maintenance spending or potential private uses of public land should submit comments by Feb. 20 so their views are included in the commission’s deliberations.