Council weighs three visions for City Park — retain golf, remove it or adopt a hybrid — many members favor modest park upgrades and Sportsplex aquatics

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — City staff presented a multi-year reimagining plan for City Park and sought direction from the City Council on three concept options — retain the golf course with improvements, remove the golf course for events and trails, or adopt a hybrid keeping the driving range and repurposing other acreage.

Why it matters: City Park sits on large public acreage near the waterfront and the council must decide whether to invest tens of millions of dollars in a major redesign, pursue a more modest set of upgrades, or shift major capital focus to the Sportsplex and an aquatic center several council members said the city should prioritize.

Project overview and costs: The project began in 2020 and has included stakeholder interviews, public meetings, a website (reimaginecitypark.com) and surveys. Staff reported three preliminary concepts with high-end, full-amenity estimates: retaining the golf course and upgrading it (estimated roughly $10 million to $13.4 million), removing the golf course and building event space, trails and areas for private gatherings (estimated roughly $12.5 million to $16.9 million), and a hybrid that would keep the driving range while repurposing portions of the course.

Public input and demographics: Staff said the project’s online and event surveys produced about 2,000 responses (approximately 2% of the city). Palmachuk said survey respondents skewed younger and included many non-golfing families who prioritized walking trails, dog parks, athletic courts and event space. By contrast, in-person public meetings drew primarily older residents, many regular golf-course users and boat owners who spoke strongly for preserving the course.

Site specifics and technical notes: Staff described optional shoreline resiliency work and breakwaters near the boat ramp, living-shoreline work, added restroom buildings, and improved egress/parking for large events. The presentation noted a potential need to dredge if the boat ramp were relocated westward and said dredging could be an ongoing expense (staff characterized dredging as recurring roughly every four years in one exchange). Palmachuk reported an internal 2021 golf analysis that showed the golf course operates at a subsidy of about $17–$20 per round. Current published 9-hole rates reported by staff were about $17 for adults and $15 for youth, with other variable rates described between $39 and $53 depending on time and booking.

Council reaction and priorities: Council members repeatedly asked for a firm decision and for staff to stop consuming resources if the council lacked appetite to proceed. Several councilors recommended focusing major capital efforts on the Sportsplex and an aquatic center rather than a full City Park overhaul. Councilman Hugel, Vice Mayor Moody and Councilwoman Bryant argued for prioritizing the Sportsplex aquatics project and for making modest, targeted improvements at City Park (restroom upgrades, improved access, shade, and selective shoreline work) rather than pursuing the highest-cost concepts. Councilmembers also discussed raising golf fees if the city keeps the course to reduce the subsidy.

Equity and participation: Staff noted the survey demographics showed higher response rates from residents age 51 and over at public meetings and stronger participation from younger families in randomized survey collection at sporting events; staff said those differences contributed to the polarized feedback on retaining or repurposing the golf course.

Funding and next steps: Palmachuk asked for “decisive direction” and proposed finalizing a single concept and amenity list and then returning to council with funding options, which could include public-private partnerships and available grants tied to shoreline resiliency. City Manager John Carter framed the choice plainly: “If not, please let us know. We'll leave it alone, and we'll move on.” No formal vote occurred at the session; council instructed staff to bring options and additional feasibility detail and signaled support among several members for prioritizing a Sportsplex aquatics project and targeted City Park improvements rather than the highest-cost redesign.

No formal action was taken at the meeting. Staff stated a goal to complete the concept-selection process by December and to return with cost refinements, funding sources and implementation recommendations.