Sheridan parks director outlines staffing, maintenance needs and projects including Kendrick pool and Emerson Park grant

Parks Director Steve Gage told the Sheridan City Council on Monday that the parks department is operating ‘‘small but mighty,’’ with 11 full‑time staff and roughly 28 seasonal employees who sustain the city’s parks, trails, cemetery and golf course.

Gage gave an overview of responsibilities and ongoing projects, noting the department manages roughly 112 acres of natural spaces including South Park, Malcolm Walnut Park, Gateway Park and Hume Draw; operates Kendrick Golf Course; maintains three city dog parks and the Sagebrush Community Garden; and supports city landscape and snow‑removal work.

The update sketched near‑term work and funding efforts. Gage said the Kendrick pool renovation is active this summer. Landscaping work for the Black Tooth Park inclusive playground—installed last fall—should be put out to bid this summer for turf, irrigation and trees, and wayfinding signage work may appear by July. The department applied for a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant for a remodel of Emerson Park; Gage said the city will learn results this fall.

On the municipal cemetery, Gage introduced Cemetery Coordinator Adam Miller and said the city has a 48‑niche columbarium that is about half full; he estimated ‘‘probably got a couple of years’’ of availability at current demand. Gage noted cremations have trended upward while full burials have declined.

Gage emphasized deferred maintenance as a growing focus. He said some parks facilities and pathway segments date to the late 1990s and need attention; Washington Park and Emerson Park were called out specifically. He summarized a 15‑year inventory comparison showing the city’s tree inventory has grown to about 5,500 trees and that staff levels have increased to keep pace. He said the department’s current staffing ratio is roughly one full‑time maintenance employee per 29 acres.

Council members asked several operational questions; a council member asked about Japanese beetle monitoring, and Gage replied he would check with the community forestry staff and follow up. Gage also introduced Parks Maintenance Coordinator Casey Leggy and praised the maintenance crew for irrigation, snow removal, equipment upkeep and support for special events.

Gage closed with historical photos showing changes to Kendrick Arboretum and Black Tooth fields over the last decade. Council members did not take formal action on the update; the presentation was accepted for the record.

Ending: The council moved on to the evening’s public hearings after thanking Gage for the presentation.