The Richland County Park District presented its 2026 budget to the Board of Commissioners on Oct. 16, 2025, outlining staffing changes, a planned carryover for a major Fleming Falls development and a proposed increase in contract services and materials.

Jordan, recently promoted to executive director, told commissioners the district did not backfill his prior operations role and instead is redirecting some of those funds to hire junior seasonal staff. “We actually decided not to backfill the position that I was previously in. So that helps to, kind of rebalance the budget a little bit,” Jordan said, adding the change increases field staff and reduces administrative overhead.

Jordan said the district intends to set aside carryover funds to provide the local match for a second‑round Clean Ohio grant application for Fleming Falls. Clean Ohio grants require a 25% local match; Jordan said the project could be a multimillion‑dollar development and that the district will prepare detailed cost estimates beginning in January. He described Fleming Falls as likely to join adjacent conserved lands into an approximately 4,000‑acre natural area with public access and listed partner organizations pursuing adjacent acquisitions.

The presentation named Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Ashland University, Ashland County Park District and the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District as landowners or partners in the broader area Jordan described. Jordan said Fleming Falls should be competitive for Clean Ohio funding because the program favors projects that expand public access to natural areas and have conservation value.

On staffing, the district listed three interns funded by the Richland County Foundation (two education interns and one natural‑resources intern) that will not draw on levy funds. Jordan said the district seeks seven additional seasonal positions paid from levy funds to increase field capacity. Larry, whose title was changed to deputy director with continued finance duties, said the deputy role will cover finance plus broader park operations.

The district also said it used the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association salary survey to set pay bands; Jordan said some junior positions were not recommended for a pay increase this year to align those roles with market averages.

Commissioners asked technical budget questions, including how an extra payroll period would affect wage totals; staff said the packet currently overestimated wages because of an extra‑pay calculation and that the line should be about $20,784 lower when corrected.

The district noted increased contract services and materials as the managers who developed the budget identified recurring annual needs more precisely after the district’s first full levy year.

On trails, Jordan said volunteers will absorb most added maintenance from the Trimble Road connector and the one‑and‑a‑half miles of new bike trail, though some seasonals will assist. “We have a pretty robust volunteer group on the bike trail, and they're gonna be able to absorb most of that,” he said.

No vote was taken on the Park District presentation; commissioners said they will continue budget hearings in the coming weeks.