Grand Island parks department seeks staff and funding to advance four major projects including $15.9M Island Oasis renovation

Todd McCoy, the Parks and Recreation presenter for the City of Grand Island, laid out the department’s proposed fiscal 2026 operating and capital plans on Aug. 19, asking council for one full‑time maintenance position, $120,000 in additional operating funds for park operations and $150,000 of revenue offsets tied to work in the Good Life District.

McCoy told the council the department submitted a personnel increase of 8.8% and a 12% operating increase overall that reflects the parks master plan’s recommendations. He said the department is prioritizing a two‑pronged near‑term approach: hire one FTE (a skilled maintenance worker) and increase contract hiring for irrigation and tree services while phasing in further master‑plan staffing and operating changes.

The request comes as four large capital projects — the Island Oasis water‑park renovation, Ryder Park baseball field renovation, a Stolley Train area renovation paid largely by private donors,…