Looking to summer

With temperatures already unseasonably warm and expected to climb into the 60s this week, thoughts of summer are already creeping in.

Portland Park Board spent a chunk of its meeting Tuesday discussing schedules and maintenance needs for Portland Water Park.

Park board president Brian Ison noted that Mara Bader plans to return as water park manager this summer, with Hannah Laux again to serve as her assistant manager. Both were in their first year in those roles in 2025.

He added that Bader recommended keeping the same hours of operation — noon to 8 p.m. Sunday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. (The facility has typically been rented for private events on Saturday evenings.) Ison projected that opening day for the water park would be May 23, with a likely closing day of Aug. 8.

The board plans to consider pool admission rates over the next couple of months.

Board members Michael Brewster, Jennifer Weitzel, Kyle Carpenter, Emily Goodrich and Ison also discussed water park needs with street and parks department superintendent Matt Shauver and parks manager Ronnie Reynolds.

On top of the list is a new covering for the top of the water slides. Previously, the area has been shaded with a cloth canopy. It was starting to look dilapidated, Shauver said, and then was damaged in a windstorm.

He suggested a permanent steel covering as an alternative, saying it would be cheaper and more durable. He and Reynolds are in the process of obtaining quotes for fabricating the piece.

Reynolds also noted that there is a small area of the pool floor that has plaster coming up. He said city staff will try to fix the issue.

Ison asked Shauver and Reynolds to consider what other pool and lifeguard equipment needs there might be. He empahsized that the board needs to work to stay within its $70,000 repair and maintenance budget for the water park this year.

Reynolds also told the board that a 12-foot by 2-foot business sign that is no longer being used has been donated for Haynes Park. Portland Rotary Club has donated funds to create new faces for the sign. Plans are to install it at the park this spring.

Existing wood signs, which were also donated by the Rotary club, are beginning to rot, Reynolds said.

Ison shared a list of other projects the park board will need to consider this year. They include stablizing the edge of the pond at Hudson Family Park, remodeling restrooms at Weiler-Wilson and Milton Miller parks, dugout improvements at Weiler-Wilson Park and repairs to the retaining wall in the playground area at Hudson Family Park.

He also noted that there is $50,000 in the budget for asphalt work. The board used those funds last year to resurface a section of the Hudson Family Park walking path.

In other business, the board:

•Re-elected Ison as president, Brewster as vice president and Weitzel as secretary.

•Approved a request from Arts Place for alcohol sales during its summer concert series performances at the Hudson Family Park Amphitheater on June 4, July 16 and Aug. 13.

•Was reminded that the board’s next meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3.