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), including renovations at Frederick Douglass Park, Krannert Park and the Grassy Creek Environmental Community Center. She noted specific programs and services: Indy Parks’ meal programs served about 111,000 meals in 2025 (about 50,000 between May and July), park food pantries at Windsor Village and Riverside have served roughly 7,200 patrons, and the Drive & Dish grocery program expanded from one pilot site to seven locations this year.

Capital and grant funding Crone highlighted larger capital and grant awards that undergird projects: a $6.8 million grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources administered through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support an outdoor archery range at Riverside, ARPA and Lilly Endowment investments that funded dozens of playground and park projects, and a 2025 County Option Income Tax allocation of $2 million to parks. She said the department continues to deploy philanthropic and corporate partnerships and volunteer efforts to supplement city funding.

Budget specifics and line adjustments CFO Jonathan George presented fund and character changes. He said character 1 (personnel) increased modestly to cover COLA and health insurance, while department leaders identified 19 long‑term vacant positions to hold vacant for 2026; George said most relate to Willard Pool and are tied to anticipated construction impacts from the Indigo Blue Line project. Character 2 (operating supplies and concessions) fell by roughly $174,000, including a near $88,000 reduction in seasonal concessions and about $31,000 fewer water‑treatment chemicals based on historical underspend. Character 4 decreased by approximately $75,000 tied to an expected grant timing difference; character 5 increased because of parks maintenance chargebacks.

Staffing, uniforms and program impacts Deputy Director Kim Campbell told the committee the department would still provide essential uniforms for seasonal staff, including lifeguards and day‑camp counselors, but may scale back nonessential shirt distributions for long‑tenured staff and reduce camper giveaway shirts to manage the clothing budget. "We will still be able to purchase uniforms for our seasonal staff," Campbell said, adding that camp counselor and lifeguard safety equipment remains a priority.

Deferred maintenance and maintenance governance Deputy Director Don Colvin estimated deferred capital and maintenance needs in the range of $300 million to $400 million to maintain system operations; he said that figure excludes larger visionary projects and reflects backlog just to stay operational. Several councilors pressed for clarity about an MOU with the Department of Public Works (DPW) that assigns some grounds maintenance to DPW; Crone said she and DPW’s new leadership have begun conversations to review and improve the agreement and the contractors DPW uses. Crone said the budget before the committee does not change maintenance received under that MOU.

Grant stability and federal funding questions Councilor Frank Muscari and others asked whether federal grants are secure given national fiscal uncertainty. Crone and George said the department is monitoring its largest grants — including awards tied to the Department of Education (food programs) and the Department of Natural Resources — and have no immediate reason to expect reimbursements to stop. "We do receive regular alerts from them," Crone said.

Council reaction and next steps Several councilors voiced strong support for increased investment in parks as tools for public safety, youth programming and quality of life. Councilor Josh Behn and Councilor Jared Evans framed parks as prevention and opportunity for youth, urging the administration and council to find additional funding sources rather than accept cuts. Councillors asked for follow‑up information on exact salary/FTE changes and for a fuller accounting of deferred maintenance needs.

Crone said the department is exploring alternative revenue measures, including modest fee adjustments, expanded fundraising through the Parks Alliance and more creative partnerships; she offered to return to the council with a formal plan once those options are developed.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the budget at the meeting; staff noted the department will continue budget conversations with the Office of Finance and Management and the council during review and analysis sessions.

Ending note: Crone and the CFO closed the presentation and opened the session for committee questions on grants, staffing and maintenance, with councilors indicating continued interest in protecting parks services and pressing for long‑term funding solutions.