A splash park and beach volleyball area are among several proposed additions to Havens Gardens.

During its meeting Monday, Washington’s City Council approved spending up to $7,200 for Susan Suggs to develop a site-specific master plan for improvements and changes to the waterfront park on the city’s east side. The plan would be an updated version of the plan adopted by the council March 9, 2009.

The council’s approval came after the city’s Recreation Advisory Committee recommended the awarding of the contract.

During the RAC’s January 2014 meeting, the committee decided to ask the council to re-appropriate funds left over from the Festival Park project budget. On March 10, the committee asked the council for funds to update the master plan for Havens Gardens. The council chose not to grant that request until the committee had further reviewed the initial plan and set specific recommendations for changes to it.

An updated site-specific plan for Havens Gardens is needed to apply for a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant to help pay for completing the project, according to a city document.

“You have to have a master plan done to apply for any grants,” John Rodman, the city’s community and cultural services director, told the council.

Rodman also told the council the master plan developed by Suggs would include a cost estimated for each element of the plan.

Suggs suggests moving the Havens Gardens parking lot south of N.C. Highway 32 westward to provide more open area at the east end of the park. She also recommends adding a loop walking trail west of the parking lot. Other suggestions include building a shelter on the west end of Havens Gardens so it overlooks the Pamlico River, provide a fenced-in play area for small children and adding facilities for a splash park, bocce and beach volleyball.

Suggs said those amenities would make the city’s application for grant funds related to the project stronger than if those amenities were not to be provided.

Councilman Bobby Roberson questioned if a kayak/canoe launching and extraction area would be part of the master plan. Councilman Doug Mercer reminded the council that such a facility was planned for the nearby boat launching area recently renovated by N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

Rodman said that the commission has not yet funded kayak/canoe launching and extraction area.

Mayor Mac Hodges suggested placing the playground area and splash park close to each other, if not adjacent, so it would be easier for parents to keep track of multiple children who may be using the two facilities. Having them separated would make it more difficult for parents to keep track of the children, he said.