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Ames reviews recreation budget with focus on scholarships, new Fitch facility and outreach
Summary
City staff told the council the parks and recreation budget for 2025–26 emphasizes program access through scholarships and donations, advances planning for the new Fitch facility, and expands partnerships and services at the 60 Forward center and other sites.
The Ames City Council on Feb. 5 heard a Parks and Recreation presentation that emphasized program access, volunteer support and planning for the new Fitch recreation facility. Parks staff told the council they plan to rely on a mix of fees, scholarships, donations and friends groups to preserve access while expanding services.
City parks director Keith (name as spoken in the meeting) said the department employs about 29 full‑time staff and roughly 400 part‑time and temporary employees over the year, and highlighted that the department’s per‑capita parkland and cost‑recovery metrics compare favorably with national numbers from the National Recreation and Park Association.
Staff described scholarship and outreach efforts to keep programs affordable. Keith said scholarships totaled “less than about $7,000” across scholarships and…
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