Mesa staff propose $800,000 net cut to parks budget; Fremont Pool slated to close after summer

Mesa — City staff on Monday presented a Parks and Recreation and Community Facilities budget that they say will meet an $800,000 net reduction to city resources through a mix of new fees, program reductions and service cuts.

Andrea Moore, director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, told the Mesa City Council study session the department projects about $300,000 in new revenue from fee adjustments that went into effect this month, plus reductions in operations and maintenance and program support to reach the $800,000 target.

The proposal includes several program eliminations and service reductions, the most notable of which is a plan to close Fremont Pool after this summer and leave the site decommissioned until a replacement pool can be brought online. "We're also proposing to close Fremont Pool after this summer," Moore said. Under an agreement with Mesa Public Schools, the department would demolish the pool and return the site to flat ground.

Why it matters: The closure reduces recurring operating costs but will remove a neighborhood pool from service for years; staff said the location is the system's oldest and needs extensive repairs. Council members raised concerns about service gaps for families and teens during the closure period.

What staff proposed and why - Reductions and offsets: Staff proposed achieving the $800,000 net reduction through a combination of roughly $300,000 of new fee revenue, elimination of…