South Central Reporter

City of Centralia Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee met May 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

I. Call to Order

Jones __X__   Agee __X__   Young __X__   Pracht __X__   Garrett __X__   Lawson _____  Graham __X__

Ex- officio members

City Manager - Mahle __X__ 

Community Development Director - Harting __X__

CRC- Executive Director - Junghanel ____ 

CRC Program Coordinator - Allen _____

Youth Center Representative __X__ 

Director of Public Property – Harris __X___

1. Public Participation Non

2. Approval of Minutes

• April 10th, 2025 minutes M: Graham 2nd: Pracht

3. Treasurers Report

• April M: Pracht 2nd: Jones

4. Monthly Reports

• Youth Center Update on the afterschool program now having 27 enrolled. There had been an article in the Sentinel regarding their Men’s League. They have a new dance team that will be practicing on Mon., We., and Fri. May 31 will be a Mother/Son event. Wrestling is going well and that is a free program. Summer Camp Flyers will be going out this week and this is a free camp. The Centralia High Class of 74-78 will hold their class reunion at the youth center. This will also be a fundraising event to benefit the center. Juneteenth Flyer are out and there will be a 3 on 3 tournament at the center. There’s a flyer for their new Astronomy Club that will start on May 17th . 

• City Mahle introduced the new City Rec Coordinator, Eli Cox and gave the committee his contact information. Mahle reported that while they haven’t been about to hold games at Rotary, due to the rain, the kids were still being able to play as they had moved the scheduled games to other towns within their Clinton County League. There were 176 signed up for the league. When giving details of the teams, Jones asked what Mahle’s thoughts were as to if Centralia could ever get enough participants signed up to go back to having the league only in Centralia. Mahle explained that while that would be nice, it wasn’t something that any surrounding communities were seeing. Which is why the City joined the Mid County Youth League a few years ago. Harris reported that there might be access allowed to the new playground area at Fairview Park. It all depends on the weather and what the installers can get completed. The new swing set that had been ordered for Fairview had been shipped and he was still working on the Ameren lighting project as well. Pracht asked about the concerns of residents and himself of not having a fence. Mahle explained that there had never been a fence located there and that the previous equipment was as close to the road as this new equipment is now. That it was his understanding that there had been discussions of a fence when they originally did the OSLAD Grant application, but that it was decided not to have one and they do not plan to have one installed. 

5. Old Business – OSLAD grant review Mahle handed out a paper with a breakdown of the OSLAD Grant monies that had been spent at Fairview Park. Jones asked to confirm that the City did not have to match the six hundred thousand. Mahle confirmed that he was correct, no match had to be made with this Grant. And that the city is looking into the next OSLAD Grant and if they would qualify as Distressed for it as well. Pracht brought up how nice Point Park is looking with all the recent improvements and asked if, now that there is more use and traffic at the park, could the city look into No Parking Signs in some areas. He felt it just wasn’t safe. Harris let him know that they are on their way. Pracht was glad about that and thanked Harris for already taking care of it. Pracht also asked if the City would consider a cover of some type over the benches that sit directly on the asphalt parking lot. If felt that older people and/or parents watching their children fish would benefit from some type of shade, there. Harris thought it was a good idea and something that he’d look into. 

6. New Business – introduction of new Recreation Coordinator Mahle had already introduced Eli during the report from the City. Jones stated that Shannon Cooney had approached him and asked if he would present to the committee an idea of having a 3 on 3 basketball tournament during the Summer Concert Series. He explained that it’s done in other towns and is a big draw. That Cooney brought it up, not to just benefit his event or business but the downtown in general. Mahle said that was something that he would definitely look into. The use of Oak Street between the Rec Complex and Broadway was discussed and Mahle would look into it. Harting let the committee know of the Opportunity Fair that the Centralia Youth Commission would be having on June 28th and that she’d like to see the Youth Center, Rec Complex and the City Rec., all three be represented at the event. Harting shared a flyer with the committee regarding a movie night in Carlyle that would be showing a film regarding the jet that is in Fairview Park. Harting let the committee know that she had just received resignation from Calvin Lawson, due to ongoing health issues and that she would be getting that to the Mayor. 

7. Adjournment M: Jones 2nd: Garrett

https://www.cityofcentralia.org/media/7926