Wilmington parks budget would fund youth programs, pool upkeep and $3 million in capital park work

The Wilmington Department of Parks and Recreation proposed a $13.9 million operating budget for FY2026, department leaders told the City Council finance committee, emphasizing expanded youth offerings, continued summer meal service and a $3 million capital package to renovate multiple parks.

Director Melody Phillips, acting director of the Parks and Recreation Department, said the departmentrequest reflects increases in personnel costs, temporary staff to run meal sites and planned capital work at parks across the city's eight council districts. "Our mission of the Department of Parks and Recreation is to preserve and enhance urban park lands through environmentally safe practices," Phillips said.

The budget documents presented by OMB analyst Mr. Naheed show the department's operating request of $13.9 million is up roughly 11.3 percent from FY2025, with a general fund request of about $11.7 million (up about 7.2 percent). Notable line items include roughly $643,000 more for personal services, a $384,000 increase in temporary salaries tied to expanded summer food and child/adult care programs, and a roughly $36,000 rise in materials and supplies.

The committee heard detailed program plans. Parks staff plan to expand youth career development pathways, with a pilot called "Next Level" that adds about $54,000 to raise stipends to $16.25 per hour for participants ages 18 to 20. The department also described new pilot offerings for youth entrepreneurship, film/media and a mobile recreation unit that would send staff to parks to engage youth on site.

Nutrition and summer meals were a particular budget pressure: the department moved from an out-of-state vendor to the Community Education Building, which it told councilors provides higher-quality meals but at higher cost. Phillips said a survey of roughly 27 academic-year and 50summer meal sites found more than 60 percent of sites preferred the new vendora primary driver of an increase in temporary-salary and contract costs tied to the nutrition program.

Programming at the William Hicks Anderson Community Center (WHACC) was highlighted. Phillips said WHACC now offers year-round aquatics, free swim lessons for more than 50 children, neighborhood partnerships, and a suite of STEM, arts and leadership programs. The department is piloting a digital membership and access system, CommunityPass, that it said will reduce paper sign-in and improve attendance tracking.

On maintenance and operations, staff warned that vacancies have affected service. The department has an open Labor Foreman III position requiring a CDL-A that it said has been vacant since 2022 and has been reposted multiple times; Phillips said the shortage constrains quadrant coverage for park cleanliness and drives overtime. She also said a small engine mechanic position will be left unfilled and repurposed to support a cooperative program with Howard High School.

Parks renovation plans and capital requests were detailed by district. The department seeks $3 million in park-improvement capital funds covering projects that include Judy Johnson Park, Eastlake, Canby, Barbara Hicks Park, Johnston Park and others; WHACC would receive $1 million for facility and pool work ($300,000 for general improvements and $700,000 proposed for pool renovations). The department provided target completion seasons for many projects (e.g., Eastlake anticipated fall 2025; several parks targeted for spring or fall 2026), and said phased designs, bidding timelines and state or federal grant steps make schedules approximate.

Council members pressed on several recurring topics: how parks will be staffed and kept clean (maintenance overtime and weekend coverage were discussed as potential budget trade-offs), how safe-haven sites and the federal/state nutrition grants interplay with city funding, and whether boxing and other events should charge admission when the department moves them to other neighborhood venues. Phillips said events hosted at WHACC will remain free, and only some boxing events moving to other locations will have admission fees.

Public commenters representing neighborhood organizations and stewardship groups praised the Rodney Reservoir park work and urged continued community engagement in garden and stewardship planning. Director Phillips and staff said they attempt to engage neighborhood planning councils and civic associations before construction documents are finalized and encouraged civic groups to participate in stewardship.

The hearing closed with staff noting that follow-up materials would be shared with council and that public comment for each department would be collected at the end of the departmental hearing. No formal votes were taken during the budget hearing itself.