‘It’s great that our citizens noticed it’: Frankenhoff explains miscommunication about Paul Dennis parking lot change

QUINCY — Quincy Park Board Commissioner John Frankenhoff took a moment during Wednesday’s Quincy Park Board meeting to clarify an issue involving the parking lot at the Paul Dennis Soccer Complex.

Representatives from Diamond Construction informed Rome Frericks, executive director of the Quincy Park District, and Matt Higley, director of parks, in July that when they started milling the parking lot of the 22-acre complex at 4201 State, they discovered the sub-base was not what it should have been. Frericks said the parking lot had less than two inches of sub-base, explaining that normal parking lots are required to have eight to 10 inches.

The Quincy Park Board voted in March to spend $295,000 for milling and resurfacing work on the Paul Dennis parking lot and $19,495 to replace a culvert leading into the parking lot. After learning of the sub-base problems, the Park Board voted in July to spend $397,765 for additional milling work and an additional four to six inches of gravel to be installed.

Frnkenhoff said he envisioned truckloads of gravel covering that parking lot, but when work began, no gravel was laid. Neighbors noticed and made note of it “through the magic of social media,” Frankenhoff said.

“What happened was, instead of gravel being used, a material called binder was used, and it was only two to two and a half inches,” he said. “It’s just as good, and perhaps even better, than all of that gravel. The net result was that we’ve got a solid parking lot that’s built the way it should, but there was a miscommunication in the staff (recommendation) and the public noticed that, and it’s been addressed. It’s no longer an issue. 

“I personally think it’s great that our citizens noticed it. They pay attention to what we’re doing. They made their voice heard. The (Park District) staff, Mark and the leadership addressed it and explained it. (The neighbors) accepted that explanation, and things are good. That’s how government should work. … Everything turned out fine, but I thought it was worth making that a public disclosure.”

In other action, the Park Board:

• Learned $34,000 was raised for the Terry Anastas Bike Ride held July 13 and sponsored by the Friends of the Trails.
• Learned that Indian Mounds Pool closed on Sunday for the season. Bruns told the Park Board that 12,240 people paid admission at the pool this summer for an average attendance of 170 people per day. He said it was the highest attendance at the pool since 2012. This year’s attendance was up 1,286 people from last year’s attendance of 10,954.
• Flag football leagues are underway at the newly acquired Paul Dennis Soccer Complex, and youth soccer leagues will start next week. “The parking lot (at Paul Dennis) is going to be a lot better than (the one) at Boots Bush,” Commissioner Patty McGlothlin said. “I think that will be the No. 1 thing people will appreciate out there,” Bruns replied.
• The number of rounds this year at Westview Golf Course is more than 3,200 ahead of last year’s pace.
• Accepted a financial audit of the Park District dated Aug. 1 and completed by Danielle Fleer, CPA, P.C. 
• Approved new fees to be charged by Westview Golf Course to the Quincy Service Club, host of the Pepsi Little People’s Tournament on June 16-18, 2025. Fees will be $35 for the -parent-child event, $81 for 18-hole competitors and $57 for 9-hole competitors for the two-day tournament and practice rounds.
• Saw the final designs for the inclusive playground to be built later this year at Wavering Park. After input from the public, the design was submitted for approval as part of the state’s Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant. The design is similar to the one at Lincoln Park.
• Approved spending $20,150 from the excess uncommitted 2024 general obligation bond fund for the design and engineering work and the demolition of the Quinsippi Island shelter. An additional $250,000 for the shelter replacement is proposed in the 2025 bond project list. 
• Approved the placement of an outdoor sign by the Friends of the Lorenzo Bull House at the corner of 1600 Maine. The sign will have representations of Lorenzo and Margaret Bull on the front with Lorenzo Bull House and Sculpture Park on the back side of the sign. The Friends of the Lorenzo Bull House is paying for all expenses, including installation. A 50-day public comment period expired with no public comment.