Dubuque parks directors outline FY2026 needs as residents press for Eagle Point Park repairs

Marie Ware, the city’s parks and recreation director, presented the Parks Department’s fiscal year 2026 budget and improvement requests to the Dubuque City Council on April 9, saying the department’s net property tax support request is “a little under $4,000,000,” which Ware said translates to about $61.22 for the average homeowner.

The Parks Department presentation emphasized staffing limits, reliance on seasonal employees and a list of capital projects and grants. Ware said the department depends heavily on temporary summer staff and that “we could not do it without them.” Park division manager Steve Fazel told council the division maintains more than 50 parks, about 30 miles of trails and an urban-tree program but is short-handed: “we have a tree crew of 3 people,” he said, and recent storms have strained crews and delayed nonurgent work.

Why it matters: Eagle Point Park, long a focal point of resident concern, drew the bulk of public comment and much of the council discussion. Multiple speakers who live near or use Eagle Point urged faster repairs, more maintenance and community involvement to restore the park’s appearance and preserve historic elements.

Residents called for quicker action. “Eagle Point Park should be a capital improvement plan,” said Jean McDonald, who gave her address as 3120 Eagle Point Park. Rob McDonald, who lives at 3399 Eagle Pointe Drive, described the park as “the crown jewel of our park system” and urged cleanup and ongoing maintenance rather than only intermittent projects.

Council members and staff discussed several related topics that came up during the public comments: historic-structure needs at park buildings, deferred maintenance on park infrastructure, tree removal and canopy work, and prairie management. Fazel said some prairie areas still require prescribed burning and noted the city lacks certified burn crews and sometimes must hire contractors to perform those tasks. He also described a recent federal grant to expand tree planting (the Branching Out Dubuque effort) and credited partners such as Dubuque Trees Forever and AmeriCorps volunteers for helping plant starter trees.

Improvement packages and capital items: Ware and Fazel reviewed two recommended improvement-level requests that were in the packet: a full-time maintenance technician for the B Branch (funded by stormwater fees; Ware and staff listed a net cost of about $57,000 and an initial cost figure shown as $82,000 in the presentation) and a utility trailer to haul equipment such as a mini excavator. They also reviewed capital projects and CIP items including additional funding for the parks and recreation comprehensive master plan, Komisky Park Phase 2 design and construction match to an Outdoor Recreation Legacy Program (ORLP) federal grant, playground replacements, and funding to remove and replace ash trees and associated sidewalk repairs.

Council action and next steps: Councilmembers agreed to hold one improvement-package request for separate discussion at a later budget session. The item held was request 3 of 7 on the improvement package list, described in staff materials as a full-time maintenance technician for the Park Division; the mayor and councilmembers confirmed the item would be revisited at the final budget discussion. City Manager Mike Van Milligen and several councilmembers encouraged formation or strengthening of volunteer “friends” groups or nonprofit partners—similar to existing local examples such as the Arboretum volunteers, Friends of the Mines of Spain and Dubuque Trees Forever—to supplement city maintenance and fundraising for historic preservation needs.

Quotes and context: Ware framed the staffing challenge and pride among employees: “We could not do it without them,” she said of seasonal staff and volunteers. Fazel described the department’s limited tree crew and recent storm impacts: “We have a tree crew of 3 people,” he said. McDonald told the council, “Eagle Point Park should be a capital improvement plan.” Rob McDonald said of the park’s condition, “It is the crown jewel of our park system.” Van Milligen urged community partnerships and nonprofit support as a practical route to supplement city funding and volunteer capacity.

What’s next: Parks staff will continue work on the parks and recreation comprehensive master plan, with public engagement continuing through August; staff told the council they expect a final plan around January. Council members left one staffing improvement request (the Park Division maintenance technician line) open for separate debate at the final budget hearing so the body can weigh competing priorities before finalizing the FY2026 budget.