Utica parks department outlines budget priorities: trees, playgrounds, pools and staffing strain

Parks Superintendent Dave briefed the Utica Common Council on the parks department’s 2025 budget priorities, highlighting routine maintenance and several capital‑adjacent items the department expects to manage in the coming year.

Dave told the council the department’s workload has been steady and that crews have been assisting public works with traffic, parking and snow removal at several city facilities. He reported reopening Valleysomething (Valvialis spelled in the transcript) for the first time in several years and said the department planned to complete other maintenance work this budget year.

Trees and landscaping drew extended questions. The department said it plants roughly 25 to 50 trees per season with city crews; larger canopy trees are used where space allows and smaller trees in constrained locations. Staff said a federal tree grant the department is pursuing could add a much larger planting program — “it was supposed to be 2,000 trees,” the superintendent said, but he noted the grant is federal and “we're not sure, everything’s on hold at this point.” Council members pressed for clarity on whether the department was meeting a council resolution requiring replanting within a year when a city tree is removed; staff said the city attempts replants but watering and staffing limit capacity.

Playgrounds and splash pads remain a maintenance priority. Dave said the department alternates safety surfacing (wood chips) on a multi‑year schedule and trains staff on playground safety certification; splash pads were winterized and contractors provided guidance to limit plumbing issues.

Pools and aquatic facilities drew questions about equipment upgrades. Staff requested funds to replace CO2 systems at two pools and described ongoing mechanical challenges with dehumidification systems in pool buildings.

The parks chief and councilors repeatedly returned to staffing. Dave said the department currently employs 19 people, with some positions assigned to recreation rather than parks, and noted overtime rates rose after a harsh winter. Council members warned the department’s manpower has not increased despite new infrastructure — including the ice rink, skate parks and dog parks — and pushed for a fuller accounting of maintenance demands as more facilities come on line. Dave said he would do “less with less” if bonding or other capital funding were reduced.

No formal vote or policy action was recorded in the transcript. Council members asked for additional follow‑up on tree‑planting targets, staffing needs to maintain new facilities, and projected costs for contracted services such as snow and field maintenance.