Indy Parks presents 2026 budget; councilors press for more funding as department trims some lines

Director Elizabeth Crone and Chief Financial Officer Jonathan George presented Indy Parks’ proposed 2026 budget at the Indianapolis City-County Building before the Parks and Recreation Committee, outlining small net reductions in some operating lines while prioritizing people and core programs.

The budget presentation, delivered during the committee’s meeting, emphasized three priorities: “we protected people and programs,” “we rightsized lines that were underspent or noncore,” and “we leveraged outside dollars,” CFO Jonathan George said. Crone framed the department’s work around access and equity, noting operational statistics and recent capital projects.

Why it matters: The budget affects pools, summer camps, maintenance and public-safety presence in parks — services councilors said are critical to neighborhood livability and youth engagement. Committee members repeatedly pressed staff for details about deferred maintenance, the stability of federal and state grants and how cuts will be felt by residents.

Indy Parks overview and highlights Director Elizabeth Crone said Indy Parks manages 218 parks across about 11,000 acres and serves more than 10 million visitors annually. She described a workforce of roughly 780 full‑time, part‑time and seasonal staff and said summer staffing grows substantially — the 2025 season included about 279 seasonal aquatics hires and more than 600 seasonal employees systemwide.

Crone listed recent completions funded by Circle City Forward, the Lilly Endowment and the American Rescue Plan (ARPA),…