The Danville-Boyle County Parks and Recreation Board of Directors could serve well as the steering committee for a parks master plan that the City of Danville is paying to develop, Parks & Rec Director John Drake said Wednesday.

Danville approved In May paying consulting firm Brandstetter Carroll $50,000 to develop the master plan, which would guide development of parks and green spaces in the area for the next 20 years.

The first phase of Brandstetter Carroll’s plan includes formation of a local steering committee that will guide development of the plan.

Drake told the Parks & Rec board Wednesday that the steering committee hasn’t been formed yet.

“The steering committee is so key to this entire process. I don’t know what the thinking is of the person that hired Brandstetter Carroll. My thinking is this board here is as diverse, as knowledgable as any group of people in this community,” he said. “You’ve been on top of it forever. Even if you haven’t been on the board for a period of time, you’ve been connected to Parks and Recreation for years.”

Drake said the Parks & Rec board could recommend itself to serve as the steering committee.

“I can’t imagine that this wouldn’t be the best steering committee for the consultant,” he said. “… I know that’s not going to be a popular …” he trailed off.

Drake said he thinks it will take eight more months to complete the master plan. If the full Parks & Rec board couldn’t serve as the steering committee, perhaps the board could send several representatives to serve on the steering committee, Drake suggested.

That would “make sure that this board is not left out of this particular steering committee,” he said.

“I would think that would be a must,” said Boyle County Magistrate Jack Hendricks, who attended the Parks & Rec meeting. “I’ve always said that this board and everyone in Boyle County need to be involved in this. … I never have and never will believe in bringing people in from Lexington, Louisville, Cincinnati, wherever — telling us what we need. This board probably knows more about what we need … I think it’s a good recommendation.”

Hendricks suggested the board put the recommendation in writing.

Drake said action wasn’t needed from the board Wednesday; the recommendation is something for them to think about. The board did not take formal action on the recommendation Wednesday.

Other business

In other business, the Parks & Rec board voted to approve altering the signage on the main restrooms at Millennium Park, changing them into family restrooms or “comfort stations,” as Drake called them.

The new signs mean one restroom will still be available to anyone who needs it even if a restroom has to be closed for cleaning, board members said.

The new signs are expected to be up at the central playground facilities this coming week, Drake noted in an email Friday.