Six candidates running to fill four seats on Quincy Park Board

Six people will be on the ballot to claim four spots as commissioners on the Quincy Park Board during the April 1 general election.

Barb Holthaus, an incumbent, has served two full terms. David Grimm also is an incumbent, filling the spot vacated by Trent Lyons when he resigned in December. Grimm has attended just one meeting as a commissioner, and his interim stint on the Park Board will end after the April meeting. He is aiming to earn his first four-year term.

John Frankenhoff was in his 24th year as commissioner when he resigned in December. However, he kept his name on the ballot, and he’s hoping to earn his seventh four-year term.

Newcomers Greg Artz and Josh Crabtree are searching for their first terms on the Park Board. They are the youngest candidates on the ballot. Cecil Weathers also hopes to be elected to his first term on the Park Board, and he is the oldest candidate on the ballot.

The candidates

Greg Artz
Age: 42
Occupation: New product development strategic buyer at Knapheide Manufacturing
Political Experience: none
Education: Master’s degree in business administration from SIU-Edwardsville
Family: Wife Lindsey Artz, children Gabby Jones and Jarrett Griesbaum

Josh Crabtree
Age: 40 
Occupation: Subcontract buyer at Knapheide Manufacturing
Political Experience: none
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Culver-Stockton College, 2026
Family: Wife Jenna, children Evalynn and Theodore.

John Frankenhoff
Age: 53
Occupation: semi-retired, micro-business owner
Political experience: Park Board
Education: Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Quincy University
Family: Single

David Grimm
Age: 65
Occupation: Real estate residential and commercial rentals
Political experience: none
Education: 1978 graduate of Quincy High School, 1980 graduate of John Wood Community College with associate’s degree in business, 1982 graduate of QU with bachelor’s degree in business
Family: Wife Becky and two dogs.

Barbara Holthaus
Age: 60
Occupation: JWCC Foundation Executive Director
Political experience: Quincy Park Board commissioner, 8 years 
Education: Master’s degree in business administration from William Woods University; bachelor’s degree from Truman State University.
Family: Daughter, Grace. Fiancé, Mike Maas.

Cecil Weathers
Age: 69
Occupation: Retired CNA 
Political Experience: Although I haven’t yet served in elected office in Quincy, I’m a lifelong resident and have served my community in numerous capacities, most notably as a commissioner for the Quincy Human Rights Commission for 20 years, a member of the Jackson-Lincoln Pool Board of Directors, Bella Ease Board of Directors, Prince Hall Masonic Lodge Unit 16. I’m also a U.S. Air Force Veteran.
Education: High school graduate, some college
Family: I am single with two sons.

Why are you running for Park Board commissioner? 

Artz: It’s important for the younger generations to have a voice and representation on the Park Board. Their perspectives and needs deserve to be heard and considered in decision-making processes.

Crabtree: I would like to see the Park District grow and continue to offer programs for everyone. Park District currently has 32 parks around Quincy, and I want to see the current parks continue to be maintained and offer a safe place for families to be outdoors. 

Frankenhoff: To help make Quincy a better place to live.

Grimm: My 40 years of business and real estate management experience could be useful to the board and to the community.  I hope to offer sound guidance of assets and finances as well as open and responsive communication.  

Holthaus: I am committed to building on the progress we’ve made, ensuring our parks, recreational spaces and community services continue to thrive. Throughout my tenure, I have focused on fiscal responsibility, strategic growth and enhancing public spaces to benefit all residents. As the only woman running — and potentially the only woman on the board — it’s important to bring a diverse perspective to decision-making and ensure all voices are represented. I will continue to advocate for smart investments, community engagement and sustainable improvements that make our parks more accessible, vibrant and enjoyable for everyone.

Weathers: To continue serving the community in a new capacity.

What would be your top priority if elected?

Crabtree: Focus on budget, future plans for our parks and building comradery within board.

Frankenhoff: Maintain our strong financial condition (very little debt, healthy reserves).

Grimm: Keeping the Marina open long term. Finishing the (Bill Klingner) trail to 36th street. Improving the restaurant at Westview.

Holthaus: Ensuring our parks and recreational spaces remain well-maintained, accessible and financially sustainable for future generations. I will focus on meeting the evolving needs of our residents. Clear and open communication with the community will be essential, including conducting a new community survey — something that hasn’t been done since 2017 — to better understand residents’ priorities.  My goal is to keep our parks vibrant, welcoming and a source of pride for everyone.

Weathers: I would like to support and promote positive programming for our youths and special populations.  I especially would like to see programming geared to seniors, who are often forgotten. I would like to see a return to supporting community parks with the same effort that is being put into our riverfront.

Artz: To ensure the proper development of the soccer complex to maximize the value of taxpayer money, while also being mindful of its impact on the neighboring community. The lighting needs improvement, even if it’s just a temporary solution, especially for evening soccer games. I appreciate the idea of movie nights, but we must carefully consider the potential impact on nearby residents, particularly in terms of light and noise pollution. It’s important to balance community activities with respect for the surrounding neighborhood.

The Quincy riverfront will receive $3.5 million worth of dredging in 2025. How does that affect your opinion about the future of Art Keller Marina and riverfront development in general?

Frankenhoff: Hopefully, some owners of larger boats will return to the marina. The marina needs to be maintained to the same level as other facilities. The boat ramps at Kesler Park will be easier and safer to use for those who trailer their boats.

Grimm: If we are accepting and spending that amount of taxpayer dollars, we are committing ourselves to long-term operation.

Holthaus: It could have significant impact. Making the marina more accessible for boaters, particularly during low-water conditions, could increase usage by both local and transient boaters. With improved river conditions, Art Keller Marina could become a more attractive option for more boaters from surrounding areas. Increased usage would encourage investment in marina amenities. This dredging project could lead to more slip rentals and greater overall marina activity, benefiting both the local boating community and Quincy’s broader riverfront development. 

Weathers: Dredging of the Quincy Bay is needed, and it will improve the use of the waterways for our local boaters and open pathways previously closed due to silt buildup.  I would like to identify potential improvements that could be made to Art Keller Marina.

Artz: The dredging of the bay is long overdue, and it’s one of the key factors behind the decline in boat slip rentals at the marina. The shallow waters have made it difficult for boaters to navigate the channel, hindering their ability to get in and out of the marina. If this issue is addressed, it could encourage more boaters to return, potentially leading to an increase in slip rentals. I believe the full riverfront development is an inefficient use of taxpayer money, and other projects would provide more value and revenue for the community. While improvements and updates to the existing parks along the riverfront are necessary, a complete overhaul may not deliver the return on investment that taxpayers deserve. I understand the desire to model Quincy after cities like Hannibal, Davenport or Burlington, but it’s important to remember that Quincy’s layout and needs are unique, and we should focus on solutions that are tailored to our community.

Crabtree: The Art Keller Marina needs to stay open and be taken care of. With the dredging project coming soon, it only makes sense to keep the marina open for boating allowing use of the newly dredged bay area.

What are your thoughts about a riverfront amphitheater? Where should it be located? How should the Park District be involved?

Grimm: I will keep location options open. I would like any build to be a public and private combination like Madison Park.

Holthaus: A riverfront amphitheater in Quincy could be a fantastic addition, creating a vibrant space for concerts, performances and events that draw both local residents and visitors from far beyond the Park District. Given the success of the Gem City Summer Concert Series in Lincoln Park, it’s clear that there’s strong community interest in live outdoor entertainment. Approximately five years ago, the Park Board updated the Lincoln Park master plan to include a footprint for an amphitheater should funding be available. The Park District has available space that could be designated for such a project, which would need private support and funding to support the construction and ongoing costs associated with running and maintain such an operation.

Weathers: The amphitheater would be a good opportunity for our community. It will be important to consider parking and accessibility in the plans. The Quincy Park Board should help in collaboration with the Riverfront Development Corporation, Arts Quincy and others.

Artz: Scott Edlin has done an amazing job building the Gem City Concert Series, from its beginnings in the lot next to On the Rail to last year’s successful event in Lincoln Park. It’s been a great success and continues to grow year after year. I like the idea of a multi-use amphitheater, and I believe it could help boost local events on the riverfront and local revenue while the events are being held. However, it would ultimately come down to the financials to ensure it makes sense in the long run. Bicentennial Park seems like a strong candidate for such a venue. It already hosts events like Freedom Fest and Fishing for Freedom. Its proximity to Clat Adams Park offers better parking options than Lincoln Park. While Lincoln Park could also be a good location, it would be a larger undertaking due to the need for additional parking and making the space more accessible. Ultimately, we need to consider the logistics and financial feasibility to determine the best location. The Park District should play a key role in the planning, design, and execution of the amphitheater, working closely with the City of Quincy, Arts Quincy, and the Quincy Riverfront Development Corp., assuming the public supports it as well. This will be a significant undertaking that requires strong collaboration across all involved parties to ensure it will be a success.

Crabtree: I would like to see some renderings of what type of amphitheater would be built. I’ve called a couple of amphitheaters around our area and discussed with them on a few topics such as staffing, location, security, bookings, tickets, restrooms. I also looked at the Quincy Riverfront Entertainment Venue survey. They compare revenue streams from cities that are at least double the current population of Quincy, except for La Crosse, Wisc. All of the amphitheaters in the survey are owned by the cities, not the park districts. My main question would be how this amphitheater would draw people and extra revenue to Quincy. The scale of which we would want to build the amphitheater would dictate the location of the amphitheater. I would love to see it downtown to help draw people to our downtown district, bringing additional revenue streams to our local businesses. As far as Park District involvement, I need to know the scale of the amphitheater and what we are trying to accomplish by building it.  How are we going to use the amphitheater as a draw to Quincy? How are we going to draw large acts to preform? The amphitheater could be a great addition to Quincy, but a lot of questions still need answered. Quincy already offers the Gem City Concert Series, Freedom Fest, Quincy Symphony Orchestra and the Quincy Park Band to name a few. They have been doing these events without an amphitheater. 

Frankenhoff: We need a modest entertainment venue in Lincoln Park that can be well-maintained for many years. The Park District should be taking the lead role in this process since it will likely be in the park and maintained by park staff.

What do you believe the Paul Dennis Soccer Complex should offer 10 years from now?

Grimm: Being only at one meeting in, I am not real informed on the plans for this park.  

Holthaus: It has the potential to become a regional sports destination over the next 10 years, benefiting both Quincy’s local athletes and the broader community. Meetings with local soccer organizations have been and will continue to be held to gather insight and determine how the complex can address the local wants and needs. The Park District has already made significant investments to improve and enhance the complex — nearly $1 million. From resurfacing and milling the parking lot to shelter and restroom renovations, we are strengthening the infrastructure to better serve the Park District for decades.  Almost $65,000 has been committed to install a playground system, which will offer a new feature for the southeast part of Quincy.

Weathers: It is moving in the right direction with improvements to restrooms, additional water fountains and a pathway connecting Boots Bush. In the future, it could have an enclosed fieldhouse that could house sports year-round.

Artz: It would be great to add a large playground that the surrounding neighborhoods can enjoy during regular park hours. I’d love to see the soccer leagues continue and, at the same time, add a few sand volleyball courts to build on what Moorman Park already offers with its youth summer sand volleyball league. This could help accommodate more teams and further expand recreational opportunities for the community.

Crabtree: It could use some improvements. Additional entrance/exits, larger parking area, additional restrooms and a larger concession stand, possibly a playground. You could expand the park into Boots Bush Park. A playground could be built between the baseball field and soccer fields. The soccer complex is being used for Park District soccer and youth flag football. An opportunity to expand both locations and possibly provide rental for soccer tournaments for travel clubs would be another opportunity. Many families are traveling all over the Midwest because Quincy does not host tournaments for all travel sports. The complex could offer fields for soccer tournaments.

Frankenhoff: We need to find ways to host competitive soccer tournaments that complement the recreation leagues. A master facility plan should be created with input from several stakeholders. Walking paths should be incorporated into the plan that link Maine and State. Eventually the old house will be removed, creating space for something like a wiffle ball field, pickleball courts or a bike park.

What is your favorite Park District program or event?

Holthaus: I have enjoyed numerous Park District programs and events all my life. My favorite childhood park memory is ice skating at Berrian Park. I most recently enjoyed taking pickleball classes to learn an activity I had no idea that I would enjoy so much. Through this Park District program, hundreds of residents like me have received incredible instruction from great coaches and introduced to a sport that is widely played in our parks. 

Weathers: There are so many events that are wonderful. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I particularly enjoy the 3-on-3 basketball tournament at Berrian Park, baseball games at Moorman and Blues in the District. 

Artz: The adult softball league.

Crabtree: I’m partial to the Park District summer playground offerings.  I spent a few summers working for the Park District as an employee of the summer playground program and working with the Showmobile. The summer playground program offered kids somewhere safe to work on crafts, play games and learn to build friendships with children they may have never met living near their neighborhood.

Frankenhoff: Tough choice, but probably Freedom Fest. I love summer and the Fourth of July.

Grimm: I have been a marina renter since 1989. I have played golf with a group every week since 1993. I started bike riding in 2010, and last year I bought a tandem for my wife and me.  I have two golden retrievers we enjoy walking in different parks.