MARSHALL — They’re not visible from the street, and they mostly serve neighboring families. But two “neighborhood parks” located in the middle of Marshall residential blocks are still city parks, City Council members affirmed this week.

At their regular meeting Tuesday, city council members approved a formal statement outlining the maintenance work the city will do at neighborhood parks Elaine Park and Michael Park. The city will do more unusual tasks like removing fallen trees, but not routine maintenance like mowing.

“The reason we are bringing this forward to the council is, we were approached in late 2023 by a property owner abutting Elaine Park about the city taking on maintenance, and maybe putting additional resources and investment in Elaine Park,” said Marshall City Administrator Sharon Hanson.

City staff were bringing forward their recommendations after a meeting with neighbors of Elaine Park, as well as discussion at a meeting of the council’s public infrastructure and transportation committee.

Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes described Elaine Park and Michael Park as “small backyard parks,” that mainly serve their surrounding neighborhoods.

“They were dedicated on a plat in 1947,” Hanson said, as part of development south of what is now Country Club Drive. Elaine Park is located in the center of a residential block bordered by South Fourth Street, Southview Drive, Marguerite Avenue, Camden Drive and James Avenue. Michael Park is in the center of a block bordered by Camden Drive, South Bend Avenue and Southview Drive.

“My understanding of neighborhood parks is, the intent of this was to really provide green space to neighborhoods, and easy accessibility so that residents did not have to go to other locations,” Hanson said.

After meeting with residents around Elaine Park, city staff were recommending that they perform only “extraordinary” maintenance at Elaine Park and Michael Park.

That would mean doing tasks like removing fallen trees or filling a low spot that was posing a hazard, but not routine maintenance like mowing grass.

Council member James Lozinski said the consensus from most of the residents around Elaine Park was to keep that level of city maintenance.

The other part of the statement council members approved Tuesday confirmed that Elaine Park and Michael Park are city parks, and not an extension of neighboring back yards.