A final plan to update and improve Crestwood parks was presented to the Board of Aldermen at its meeting Sept. 28.

The plan, presented by Gabe Presley of DTLS Architecture, featured a few changes from the one presented in July. These changes addressed aldermen questions and comments and took into consideration public comment on each park.

The project as a whole is meant to “increase biodiversity, manage stormwater development and community gardens and create outdoor educational spaces” in Spellman, Rayburn, Sanders and Ferndale parks. 

Changes from last time include the removal of a planned bridge at Sanders, the addition of another tennis/basketball court to Spellman should the city want it and plans for electrical connections to the parks.

The plan provides a blueprint for Crestwood should it ever want to move forward with the changes presented and came about after the city applied for a grant with the county last year. 

Last June, aldermen approved a resolution to apply for a grant-in-aid to hire a landscape planner to create a community plan of native plantings and natural area planning for the city, and contracted with DLTS Landscape Architecture for the project.

 The city applied for a Municipal Park Grant from the county, which paid for up to 80 percent of the planning expenses up to $6,400, while Crestwood covered $1,600. The scope of the planning work was limited to $8,000.