Webster Groves names James Boyd parks and recreation director as PropW water park nears completion

James Boyd started his first day as Webster Groves’ parks and recreation director and met the Parks and Recreation Commission, which also received a progress update on PropW projects including the community’s new water park, ice-rink work and proposed solar installations.

The commission was told the water park project is moving through construction: crews recently poured the top pool walls, slides are in production and contractors expect to finish major work in time for an early-May opening window if weather and remaining tasks go to plan. The city has spent nearly $6,000,000 so far, mostly on the pool, and staff reported the design phase for the ice-rink renovation is about 60–70% complete.

Why it matters: the water park and related PropW projects are among Webster Groves’ largest near-term capital investments and will affect park operations, seasonal staffing and facility schedules. Commissioners discussed timing for public input on other projects, such as a planned skate park, splash pad and a larger “performance park.”

Commissioners introduced Boyd and reviewed his background. Boyd said he began working in parks and recreation as a teenager: “I started at Parks and Recreation when I was 14 years old, working part time, like, instructional soccer,” and described a career path that included supervisory and recreation-manager roles in Webster Groves and positions in other municipalities before returning to Webster Groves.

Staff summarized recent project milestones: the top pool walls are poured, the leisure pool excavation and floor forming are next, and the slides are in production. A new solar canopy is planned above stadium-style seating near the pool; staff said the canopy will include about 37 solar panels and that a separate pool-related solar budget is included in the water-park project. Separately, a roughly $140,000 line item remains to be allocated to other municipal solar projects outside the water park, and covering the ice-rink roof line alone could cost on the order of $800,000, staff said.

On financing, commission members were told the city sold the first tranche of bonds approved under PropW, raising a little more than $17 million. Staff said interest rates are higher in the early years and decline later in the schedule (an example offered was about 5% initially, dropping to about 4% later) and that the bond purchaser contributed an extra payment described as a “sweetener” to the city that staff estimated could be in the several-hundred-thousand-dollar range. The commission was advised that those additional proceeds will be applied back to the project funding list.

Commissioners also discussed federal incentives for municipal solar. Staff explained that under the Inflation Reduction Act the federal credit mechanism allows eligible governments to receive direct payments rather than a tax credit, meaning the city could receive a payment (described in the meeting as up to roughly 30% of project cost) rather than relying on a private company to capture the credit.

The commission confirmed that City Council has approved a set of fee changes for 2025, including raising the nonresident water-park daily fee to $15; staff said those fee changes are already being applied to new sales, rentals and memberships going forward.

Commissioners noted a schedule change for public engagement: the design timeline for the water park has extended, which has shifted public-input timing for the performance park. Staff said public-input sessions and surveys will be scheduled as the projects move forward and that additional meetings may be added in February if commissioners want to pursue extra budget requests or event planning.

Less-critical details: the ice rink will likely close for construction through about August; the city is preparing to start some restroom and bathhouse work; the skate park and splash pad designs are progressing and are expected to require public input; the commission’s annual report and any request for additional commission budget will be circulated and due in March. A community dog walk is planned for Saturday, May 24, beginning at Old Orchard Park, and commissioners discussed moving the March meeting date because it falls during spring break.

The meeting included no formal votes on these items; staff presented updates and commissioners asked for follow-up information and public-input scheduling.