After a couple of false starts, Lower Burrell is re-forming its parks commission.
Council last month appointed Carley Logan as president, Mary Esler as vice president, Debbie Kurtik as secretary and Allie Ecker as treasurer of the parks commission.
“It had gone stagnant as a result of 2020,” said Carley Logan, the commission’s president, referencing the covid-19 pandemic and shutdown.
Logan said she began attending commission meetings last November with “a hope to improve the parks so that people of all ages could enjoy it.”
She and her husband, Clayton, grew up in the city and want to raise their kids in a “safe and thriving community,” prompting her to get involved, she said.
She also coordinates the city’s farmers market.
“I’m doing this so that my kids and my family have something good as they grow up,” she said.
Her immediate goals are to follow through on a study the city commissioned that suggests strategies for future recreation needs. Doing so would revitalize the community and make it more appealing to prospective business owners, she said.
“It’s very important that we pay attention to this plan and start meeting the goals on time,” she said.
Logan’s other goals are to pave the driveway up to Veterans Central Park to make it more accessible and to install signage at Burrell Lake Park and K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Park informing people of what’s available at the parks. Another goal is to place signs along roads for Braeview Fireman’s, Kinloch Fireman’s and Veterans Central parks, she said.
Ron Welker, who was appointed to council in July, oversees the city’s parks and recreation department. He drafted bylaws to create a vision and expectations for the commission, and sought nominations that were filled by Logan, Esler, Kurtik and Ecker.
He spoke highly of the four appointments. Ecker is new to the city and can offer a fresh perspective, and Kurtik has been a resident for decades and has a desire to help the community.
Esler has been involved with numerous parks organizations in the past and can offer a historical background, and Logan already has made her mark by coordinating the farmers market and bringing other ideas to the table, he said.
“I feel we have the right people involved offering varying backgrounds and experience, which will create a diverse group with new and exciting ideas,” Welker said.
His goals for the commission are to improve communication with residents on events happening in the city. He also hopes to create new events.
“I am confident the city will see the dramatic positive impact from our new parks commission,” Welker said.
Lower Burrell’s parks commission meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month at City Hall.
“We’re really just looking for volunteers and to get the community more involved,” Logan said.
