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Parks and facilities present budgets, list zoo repairs and community programming among priorities
Summary
Parks and Facilities leaders described a FY26 parks budget that funds recreation, after‑school programs and infrastructure work; they proposed a $366,000 wishlist for zoo roofing/heating/window repairs and noted 3 current vacancies in parts/facilities.
Director Thomas Ash and facilities staff presented the parks, recreation and facilities budgets, reporting a proposed parks budget of $13,356,571 for FY26 and noting increases driven principally by labor contracts and golf course management costs. Ash said the parks division planned to plant about 1,000 trees, remove and stump‑grind roughly 500, and maintain about 50 parks and 160 traffic islands.
Ash outlined program funding for after‑school sites, evening gym programs, pools, concerts and movies in the park; many of those offerings are provided free to residents and the department projects revenue (for example, ice rents/public skating estimated at $350,000 annually). He said some OTPS reductions under the 3% target are possible (forestry, credit‑card fees, administrative services, water/sewer savings from rain sensors) and estimated a 3% cut for parks would represent about $216,038 in savings.
The parks division asked for a wishlist allocation of $366,000 to address zoo building needs (roofs, heating, windows, doors, electrical) that the city is responsible for maintaining even though the zoo is operated by a partner. Ash said clubhouse renovations and golf course maintenance have produced savings; the department has three current vacancies (heavy equipment operator, grounds maintenance, and a park form position) and said those are specialized and in demand.
Facilities director John Kerrigan described routine work orders, HVAC and school capital renewal coordination, and a facilities wish list that includes larger HVAC projects (city hall and Tapley Street) that would require capital funding. Kerrigan warned that cuts to OTPS and workforce would reduce the division’s flexibility to respond to inspections and deferred maintenance, but said the department will coordinate closely with finance to prioritize required safety‑critical work.
Councilors praised Forest Park and other recent park improvements and asked parks to explore CPA or other funding sources for zoo needs; Ash said the zoo could pursue those avenues if eligible.
