Parks committee reviews FY25–26 budget, flags safety and accessibility work at Sunset Park

At a committee meeting of the Lago Vista Parks and Recreation Committee on Oct. 10, city parks staff outlined the approved fiscal 2025–26 Parks and Recreation budget and detailed safety and accessibility shortfalls at Sunset Park, the sports complex and the pool.

The presentation matters because committee members said the issues — including playground surfacing, a noncompliant donated swing, splash‑pad sanitation requirements and lack of accessible paths to ballfields — carry safety, ADA compliance and budget implications for the city’s near‑term capital work.

David (city parks staff) told the committee the budget packet the committee received is the same copy he is operating from and that it reflects the council‑approved FY25–26 budget. “I copied that budget and that’s what you see,” he said. He highlighted two staffing changes and several capital priorities: the budget adds two maintenance positions (to be hired as maintenance technicians), a fixed‑assets line for shade structures and irrigation originally quoted at $85,000, $65,000 for trails work…