City of Metropolis Parks & Recreation Committee met Jan. 12.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
ROLL CALL:
Michele Longworth Present
Jeremy Holley Present
Chuck Short Present
Al Wagner Present
Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Chuck Short to approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 11-10-2025 as presented.
MOTION CARRIED:
Michele Longworth Yea
Jeremy Holley Yea
Chuck Short Yea
Al Wagner Yea
The 250th anniversary of America will be celebrated on July 4th marking 250 years of independence since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. United States Semi quincentennial will commemorate the significant historical journey of our nation. America is celebrating with fireworks, parades, national parks across the country is hosting tours of some of America’s most treasured historical sites, schools are asked to submit writing or original artwork for “What does America mean to you”. We need to be planning our celebration and activities. The mayor asked the committee for ideas and shared what is already set in motion but not 100% for our celebrations. We are going to have a parade starting uptown and ending at Washington Park and are waiting to see what day Harrah’s are going to host their fireworks. The schools have been contacted and are getting students involved, K-4 are submitting colored pictures, the older students are submitting poems. Gavin Hayes has stated the high school band are going to play patriotic songs and our library wants to create a time capsule. The mayor added the Sons of American Revolution is planting trees and he has a meeting with the DAR on the 14th and is meeting with the Historical Society to see what they will do. We would like to see a concert at Washington Park like City National Bank hosts in the summer. It would be great if we could have food trucks and/or the Elks tent offering adult beverages. We need to find someone to read the Declaration of Independence.
The National Fitness Campaign is a national public-private initiative focused on improving population health through free, accessible outdoor Fitness Courts. Supported by a Blue Cross and Blue Sheild of Illinois grant program; this initiative offers the City of Metropolis an opportunity to demonstrate leadership in Southern Illinois by investing in preventive health infrastructure that benefits residents of all ages and abilities. They are in partnership with the Southern 7 Health Department, this effort could directly support the region’s shared goals of addressing chronic disease, physical inactivity, and overall community health. Southern 7 has secured three $50,000 grants to help fund the project across various locations in the seven counties and would like to give Metropolis one of those grants. The total cost of the project is approximately $180,000 after the grant, which was not in the current budget. We can apply for an OSLAD grant and need the paperwork turned in by July to be awarded funding in 2027. We currently do not have a TIF that includes Lincoln Park.
Alderwoman Michele is the chair for the Parks & Rec committee and is in charge of fundraising for the proposed project. The Fitness Courts are not a replacement for a gym the mayor stated. They are designed for casual, introductory fitness for people who do not currently belong to a gym. We hope many users will eventually seek the personal training that only a gym can provide. Communities with visible accessible outdoor fitness amenities tent to see higher overall fitness engagement, which increases gym participation. The City of Metropolis’ goal is not to pull people away from our local businesses, but to make Metropolis healthier. A healthier Metropolis supports more gym memberships, not fewer. The courts contain seven zones; squat, lunge, pull, core, agility and bend as well as rings, bars and boxes for various exercises to target major muscle groups.
Washington Park was mentioned but with the Library receiving 16 storyboards that will be placed throughout there was concerns there would not be enough space for the courts. Franklin Park was also brought up but with the pickleball/basketball courts and the swimming pool there would not be ample space. Dorthy Miller Park was another suggestion; it’s located in the flood plain and will void the warranty. The idea location for the project would be Lincoln Park. We have been committed to resurfacing the tennis courts and improving the park as a whole, that has become an eyesore as you come into town on our main road.
The motion was tabled due to funding and location.
Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Chuck Short to Table the motion to move forward with Outdoor Fitness Court
MOTION CARRIED:
Michele Longworth Yea
Jeremy Holley Yea
Chuck Short Yea
Al Wagner Yea
Moved by Alderwoman Michele Longworth and Second by Alderman Jeremy Holley to adjourn. TIME 7:10
MOTION CARRIED:
Michele Longworth Yea
Jeremy Holley Yea
Chuck Short Yea
Al Wagner Yea
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