ELLSWORTH — The Ellsworth Park, Recreation & Development Committee reviewed the draft proposal of the 2024-29 Outdoor Recreation Plan during Monday’s meeting.

Much of the meeting was spent going through the goals and objectives section, which outlines eight goals. The goals of the proposal are: continue to maintain the village’s outdoor park and recreation facilities, protect and enhance the unique natural resources within the village, use the village’s resources efficiently and enhance funding opportunities for park and recreational needs of the village, provide and improve public access to outdoor recreation land and water, promote recreation to better public health and wellness, upgrade and diversify recreation facilities, create versatile community spaces and enhance awareness and utilization of recreation resources.

The committee also brought up public safety, which Ken Harwood from the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission said can be added as a goal in the proposal.

Within the goals were objectives that could help the village meet them. Some notable objectives include renovating playgrounds, establishing dedicated pickleball courts, developing new trail segments, exploring opportunities for green space, installing a splash pad, initiating a collaborative process for a multipurpose indoor space and planning a seasonal concert series.

The splash pad was one of the most discussed items, as many people emphasized that need in the community survey. Splash pads are outdoor areas with sprinklers and other water spraying devices and can be found at Glen Park in River Falls as well as at Ptacek’s in Prescott.

The committee also discussed the potential for adding a band shell to improve the music experience at the park and adding/improving sidewalks through grants that could help address the survey respondents’ concerns about walking in the village along with the trails.

Some of the objectives were selected to meet the community survey the village held. While being in the plan does not mean they are certainties, it gives the village direction on how to meet the goals.

Next, the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission will address the tweaks to the plan suggested by the committee and the updated draft will face public comment as it moves forward.

The committee also approved adjustments to park rental prices. To rent the Summit Park concession stand for a day, the cost went from $30 to $60. Summit Park and East End Park pavilions could not previously be rented and were available on a first-come, first-served basis, but they can now be rented for $15 per day. Village Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer Brad Roy said there has been interest in renting the pavilions, and that people would have to arrive early in the morning to ensure they could secure one prior to the approval.