I agree. Well stated.

As someone who walks my dog at Barstow Woods nearly every day, I agree with comments made about a water spigot and paved/lighted parking lot. Completing the fencing would enhance the safety of residents and dogs. This is a unique and beautiful park. Midlanders are blessed to have it. Elson is correct that there is a great community and friendships that come together here.

Barstow Woods is a gem and a very unique space. It has become the social center for the dog walkers in Midland and a great and engaging community is forming. Two major improvements would be the additional of a water spigot for filling dog bowls and jugs. The dog walkers are already bringing jugs of water from home, why not help is out by running a simple water line from the pavilion? Also, completing the fence across the area for the one residence that does not have it.
Kudos to the incredible park staff that keep Barstow Woods in such great shape.

I completely agree with Elson Boles comments regarding Barstow Woods. As someone who regularly takes gallon jugs of water to the park and brings them around to the unofficial drinking stations, it would be great to get a water spigot (that I believe could be brought in from the pavilion) into the park. We do not need a fancy dog water station, just a simple way of filling water bowls. Barstow Woods has become an important and unique space in Midland.

If signage and/or walkways were more clearly marked, this wouldn't been as much of a problem. They could definitely be improved upon.

If Barstow is going to be continued to be allowed to be used as a glorified dog park, it needs to be designated as such. I would love to be able to visit Barstow frequently. I haven’t been there in the past several years because the dogs have taken over. Not everyone wants dogs all over them all the time. If it’s not an official dog park, then the dogs need to be on leashes. Even good dogs need leashes. My children and I been tackled from dogs running around, nowhere near their owners. Many owners have no control over them or are actively chosing to do nothing. It makes for a stressful situation and I'd love to not have to avoid a park that's so near my home.

City Forest is a gem. However, I feel like recently mountain bikers have taken over. The forest has begun to feel more like a mountain bike facility (and there are many aggressive riders who blast through intersections) instead of a multi-use nature area. I strongly feel that future plans should focus on equitably balancing resources for all user groups.

If possible please consider adding night lights and wind nets to the pickleball courts.

I dearly wish someone would completely re-do the City Forest map system and put them in some kind of logical order. Right now you have to stop at every sign to figure out which way to go and there does not appear to be any rhyme or reason for the order. I also wish the maps were larger and easy to see from a distance.

As a park user of over 30 years I completely agree with the suggestions for fencing, seating and shade installations. As a parent and now grandparent these seem to be basic needs that have been overlooked. Adults need seating placed around play areas so they can supervise children while allowing some independence. In addition, the stage at Central Park is in desperate need of shade sails. Performers for the summer concert band must sit in the hot glaring sun in temps often over 85 degrees. Well designed sails would greatly enhance this space. They could be extended into some of the bench spaces so elderly concert goers could be out of the sun. In years past MANY trees were removed from the hill and not replaced. Shade trees (not crab apple) should have been planted years ago.