Parks & Recreation reports rising summer camp demand, seeks repairs and clarifies beach renovation estimate

Parks and Recreation staff told the Town Council at the Jan. 22 budget hearing that summer camp enrollment continues to grow while several maintenance and capital requests are pending.

Parks & Rec staff reported very strong summer camp registrations: staff said they logged 1,040 registrations on the first registration day and had surpassed 1,200 by the meeting date; last year the department finished the summer with about 1,340 registrations. The department also said the after-school program is in its second year and currently serves about 33 children across two elementary schools, an increase of roughly 30% from year one.

John O’Leary Adult Community Center coordinator Steve Dembo presented his operating budget request of $41,080 (excluding wish-list items) and told the council the biggest change was custodial services: the center’s long-time cleaning contractor reduced service and the new contract runs approximately $95 per cleaning compared with $45 per service previously, increasing annual custodial costs. Dembo also listed exterior exterior repairs and lighting improvements (an approximate $25,100 estimate for exterior safety lighting and some electrical work), and a wish list for landscaping and exterior painting; he asked the council to consider routine exterior maintenance that falls to the town.

Parks & Rec director Matthew (identified in the hearing by his first name) reviewed several items on the parks side. He said the department had flatlined the recreation revolving fund request and outlined a single infrastructure capital request for FY25: a left-side beach renovation project at the town beach. The beach work, Matthew said, is intended to fix erosion, exposed tree roots and trip hazards and add an Americans with Disabilities Act–accessible pathway; it would not involve dredging of the lake in the current design. In the meeting an initial cost estimate near $100,000 was shown and staff and councilors identified an apparent $25,000 dredging line on the quote; councilors asked staff to verify with Public Works whether dredging is required and whether that $25,000 figure should be removed from the estimate.

Matthew also raised concerns about the O’Gara Drive skateboard park’s remaining useful life and said the park may need future investment or a relocation agreement with the school district before the town makes a major capital expenditure. He and councilors discussed a Parks truck replacement request and whether vehicle purchases and usage could be shared or consolidated with Building & Grounds to reduce duplicate purchases.

The council and staff agreed to verify the beach cost estimate, the potential revenue from signage sponsorships for the youth athletic association (NYA) and to return with clearer figures at the Jan. 29 deliberation meeting.