Montgomery is asking residents whether they support placing cell tower equipment at one of three city parks to address wireless coverage gaps across the community.

The city published a survey notice Saturday, Sept. 26, seeking input on cellular service experiences and opinions about potential infrastructure at Weller Park, Montgomery Park or the Pioneer/Dulle Park area. No sites have been approved. City Council has not voted on the matter.

Preliminary engineering and coverage studies identified those three municipally owned properties as locations that could address the most coverage gaps, according to the city's announcement. The city said it has received feedback from residents, businesses and visitors about dropped calls, weak signals and inconsistent coverage in parts of Montgomery over the past several years.

Why city parks

Montgomery has limited vacant land for large infrastructure projects. That constraint pushed the city's initial evaluation toward public property, where officials said they could maintain oversight of tower placement, design, screening and maintenance. Using city-owned land also gives Montgomery a direct role in lease negotiations.

Any lease revenue from a tower on city property would return to the city and could support community services, parks, infrastructure and other public priorities, the city said.

The three sites

Weller Park, described as the most active park in the Sycamore area, includes tennis and pickleball courts, soccer fields, baseball fields, a batting cage and the largest playground in Montgomery. Montgomery Park sits behind city hall and dates to 1958, when nearly nine acres were donated to what was then the Village of Montgomery. The Pioneer/Dulle Park area sits along the North Branch of Sycamore Creek.

Health and safety standards

The city's announcement noted that any proposed wireless facility would have to meet federal radiofrequency exposure standards set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have said current research has not established a consistent link between RF exposure from compliant facilities and adverse health effects, including cancer.

What's next

The survey asks about residents' cellular service quality, the importance of improving coverage and preferences on potential locations. The city has not announced a deadline for responses or specified when City Council will formally consider the results.

Montgomery City Council's next work sessions are Wednesday, Oct. 7, and Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. at Montgomery City Hall, 10101 Montgomery Road. The next business session is Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m.