Parks and Parkways warns hiring freeze, budget cuts will slow tree care and park maintenance

Michael Karam, director of the Department of Parks and Parkways, told the City Council on the afternoon the department faces growing maintenance needs even as it secures large federal grants for tree planting. "We're here today to continue the department's chartered mission to manage, develop, beautify, preserve and protect public green space," Karam said, adding that green spaces "matter at a time like this."

Karam and Rebecca Grubbs, the department's budget coordinator, outlined a set of 26 departmental goals emphasizing tree planting, maintenance and staffing. Karam said the department is working with the Office of Resilience and Sustainability on three federal grants: an $8,000,000 USDA grant, a $3,500,000 HUD grant and a $7,500,000 EPA grant focused largely on tree planting, some tree maintenance and concrete removal. The department also administers an annual tree-planting grant started by the council, hosts public mulch and tree giveaways and plans to use remaining ARPA funds to supplement tree maintenance work.

At the same time, Grubbs told the council that Parks and Parkways faces a continued hiring freeze and a roughly 25% reduction in some operating budgets. She warned those cuts will increase the…