Mill Valley is looking for help in developing a master plan for Boyle Park.

On Wednesday, the city’s parks and recreation commission unanimously approved recommending a request for proposals for a consulting service to City Council. Commissioners Naomi Gray and Tara Huffman were absent.

Updating and upgrading the park is part of the city’s priority projects plan. City officials hope to have a consultant hired by September.

The commission did not make any changes to the proposal, which Howe said is thanks to the collective effort of all involved, including a group of stakeholders and commissioners that have been working on the project since September 2023.

“It’s always exciting to have such community participation in a project like this, where it’s really to listen and hear what the community wants and listen and adjust our plans for the future,” Howe said.

The master plan will help pave the way for implementing improvements to the park.

Vanessa Justice, the commission chair, said the park is a key feature for residents in central Mill Valley, and has a school nearby. It plays host to soccer and Little League practices and games, as well as birthday parties and picnics, and offers playgrounds, tennis courts and other recreation space.

“It’s just a really important recreation area that could use quite a bit of improvement,” Justice said. “It’s gotten different levels of improvement throughout the years but we’re at a place where it would make a lot of sense to do a master plan in order to really make sure all those improvements are cohesive and they address the needs of the residents of Mill Valley and the visitors of Mill Valley.”Justice said having a clear plan to follow ensures residents know what to expect, and allows changes to be done in a considerate and deliberate way. It also assures the upgrades or renovations are harmonious, she said.

“That’s something I personally believe in, making sure we’re doing things in a thoughtful way,” Justice said. “Any improvement is something that’s going to stick with us so let’s do it right. When something is planned out really well, it just sets us up for success.”

Some potential changes to the park include renovating the restrooms, athletic fields and tennis courts, creating a bicycle pump track, and restoring Warner Creek. Justice said an ideal consultant would have value “preserving the beauty and nature” in Mill Valley, and would also account for some of the shortcomings of an older town, like having small roads and access issues.

The request for proposals uses $125,000 of Measure A park funding in fiscal year 2024-25 to award a bid. Ashley Howe, the city’s recreation director, said she anticipates the City Council will approve the proposal request, and said no general funds are being used.

“I’m hopeful that will cover the work in that fiscal year,” Howe said.

The request for proposals will be reviewed for final approval at a City Council meeting on June 17.