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Board hears Parks & Recreation budget and Fort Tuthill priorities; staff seek capital for amphitheater and park improvements
Summary
Parks and Recreation staff briefed supervisors on May 13 about FY26 capital and operating needs, including a five‑year amphitheater investment plan, Fort Tuthill safety and infrastructure requests, and rising utility and fire contract costs that reduce available operating budget for maintenance.
Coconino County’s parks and recreation leaders briefed the Board of Supervisors on May 13 about FY26 needs, master‑plan priorities at Fort Tuthill County Park and multiple program pressures including rising utility costs, fire district contract increases and staff training costs.
Department managers asked the board to consider one‑time capital investments: roughly $500,000 phased over five years for amphitheater investments; about $330,000 for special‑event capital; and $600,000 for Fort Tuthill County Park safety and trailhead improvements. Staff also requested a $782,000 one‑time allocation for historic quad building improvements in the fair fund and ongoing support for the fair’s security overtime costs.
Parks director staff described increases in utilities and Deere CDL training, and said the Highlands Fire contract had risen 20–26% over four years. “We are small, but we are mighty,” the department’s director told the board, summarizing a broad portfolio that includes 3,000 acres of open space, six parks, nearly 200,000 square feet of facilities, and 42 miles of trails.
Staff highlighted partnerships — the Friends of Coconino County Parks, Flagstaff Snow Park, Pepsi Amphitheater operators, and others — and described a $140,000 grant the Friends group secured to improve Fort Tuthill amenities, plus ongoing cooperative work with NAU and the Forest Service. The department also described revenue‑generation opportunities: enhancing amphitheater capacity, building a potential permanent facility for the seasonal North Pole Experience, and exploring managed campground improvements through private partners.
Supervisors praised the department’s stewardship and said they wanted to protect Fort Tuthill’s boundaries as nearby development conversations continue. Board members asked about capital priorities and encouraged staff to continue pursuing public‑private partnerships and non‑general‑fund capital sources; staff said they will return with refined plans and cost estimates. No final budget action was taken at the meeting.
