Newton City Council decide on 2025-2027 priorities

Results from a recent goal setting session with the Newton City Council showed the vast majority of elected officials agreed with the idea to construct a new sidewalk on North 15th Avenue West from Union Drive to First Street North within the next few years, which city staff has estimated will cost around $200,000.

Every year the city council hosts a special meeting to determine capital project goals for the next two years. Potential goals are posted on large pieces of paper, and each council member must use stickers to show their support of a project. Projects with at least four unique votes are considered goals.

The 2025-2027 goal setting session produced a total of six priorities.

In addition to the sidewalk construction, the council agreed on repairs to the Union Cemetery streets, a second phase of improvements for Cardinal pond, a new skate park at Aurora Park, inclusive playground equipment and a second phase of the joint fire/police training and storage facility.

Prior to making their selections, council members were informed they would have a “budget” of about $750,000 for these goals. They normally would have more to work with, but about $2 million had already been set aside and committed for a new ladder truck for the fire department.

In total, the six goals amount to $1,780,000. However, City Administrator Matt Muckler quickly pointed out the proposed skate park accounts for $1 million of that total, and much of that is supposed to be grant funding. Council members also chose it as a priority knowing it would take years to complete the project.

So not counting the skate park, the city council settled on five goals roughly estimated at $780,000.

Here are more detailed descriptions of the the 2025-2027 goals from the city:

• Sidewalk on North 15th Avenue West from Union Drive to First Street North ($150,000): This section of existing roadway does not presently have a sidewalk on either side of the road. Residents in this area have requested consideration for a sidewalk in this area as the neighborhood consists of both older residents and families with small children who walk. Without sidewalks, pedestrians are forced to walk in the roadway. Grades along North 15th Avenue West are challenging for sidewalk development. With a short connection on the north side of North 15th Avenue West at 1st Street North, it is likely that the north side is the most logical location, however, should this project be selected, engineering will dictate the best design.

• Union Cemetery Street Repair Project ($180,000): This project replaces broken or deteriorated concrete roads at various locations throughout Union Cemetery.

• Cardinal Pond Improvements, Phase 2 ($50,000): Cardinal Pond provides the community new recreation opportunities. At their goal setting session on July 16, the Park Board identified continued improvements in this area as a top goal. Such incremental improvements include the fishing pier, which is currently under design and will be paid for using grant fund, public parking, ADA accessible walking paths, benches, and so on. The identified funding of $50,000 represents a city investment which can be used to leverage outside grants and donations.

• New Skate Park at Aurora Park ($1,000,000): The existing skate ramps at Aurora Park are small, dated, and underserve the public’s demand for skateboard areas. In particular, a skate park will meet recreation needs for pre-teens and teens, an age group where engagement in public parks begins to dwindle.

• Inclusive Playground Equipment ($300,000): Inclusive playground equipment provides significant benefits by promoting social inclusion, enhancing physical and cognitive development for all children, fostering empathy and acceptance, creating a sense of belonging and providing multi-sensory experiences that stimulate imagination and learning. These playgrounds allow children of varying abilities to play together, strengthening community bonds and cultivating valuable social skills for a lifetime. By incorporating inclusive playground equipment in the parks, the city ensures the parks are for all.

• Joint Fire/Police Training and Storage Facility, Phase 2 ($100,000): It is not clear whether or not the initial phase of this facility can be constructed within our current budget amounts due to public bidding laws that require the City to hire a general contractor to complete this project; however, staff is hopeful that affordable bids are received on Sept. 26 for the first phase of the project. The second phase, in the event that the initial phase is able to be constructed, would likely add more concrete around the building itself for hose training, fencing and other improvements.