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, and the South Locust Trail connection — approach procurement and construction phases. McCoy described Island Oasis as the largest near‑term item (presented in materials as roughly $15.9 million), said Ryder Park’s $3.7 million renovation design is complete and the city hopes to award a bid in October, and said Stolley Train design is near complete and expected to be bid within 30–60 days. He estimated the South Locust trail could be a roughly $6 million project in current design and said the Pure Lake trail work is still in study and may be deferred to 2027.

Council members pressed staff on schedules and tradeoffs. Councilmember Pollack noted the “big four” alignment could yield a busy capital year; McCoy said three of the four could be completed and open to the public in fiscal 2026 if bidding and weather cooperate, and he indicated the city might bond Island Oasis (staff suggested a bond term up to 20 years if borrowing is used). Councilmember Lanfear and others asked about dual‑use designs (tennis/pickleball) and ongoing maintenance commitments for volunteer‑led projects such as Stolley Park improvements; McCoy and other staff emphasized the parks department is working alongside volunteers and partners, but said additional recurring maintenance requests would likely come back to council if volunteer capacity wanes.

Contract operators at city facilities also spoke. Justin Arlt of Landscapes Golf Management summarized five years of operational improvements at Jackrabbit Run and fielded questions about irrigation capital needs. Jason Hornaday, representing the Heartland Public Shooting Park operator, asked that the council consider a future capital project (a storage building) and clarified scope and costs for sport‑clay loop and drainage items in the shooting‑park budget.

Public commenters praised recent park improvements and the golf‑course operator, and urged council to ensure maintenance funding for new and privately funded facilities. McCoy said existing carryover park capital is substantial (packet: $6.8 million budgeted last year, roughly $3.3 million spent, and carryover of about $2.5 million) and that the department is proposing targeted efficiency investments such as a robotic turf line painter and more irrigation capacity in house.

Council took these presentations under advisement; no final appropriation was made at the meeting. Staff indicated they will return with details on bonding options, timing and the FY2026 capital budget as the council finalizes choices.

The parks presentation also included updates on planned playground replacements, cemetery columbarium additions, tennis/pickleball court renovations, and a federal West Connector Trail design grant. McCoy said landscapes and Hornaday representatives were available to answer follow‑up questions as the council works through its capital priorities in coming weeks.