Parks director outlines Big Spring Park opening, pool resurfacing and multi-field turf plans; county to seek partnership on community stadium field
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Summary
Parks Director Rich Pichter presented a parks-and-recreation budget that funds Big Spring Park finishing touches and indoor-pool resurfacing; the county plans turf for youth fields and will seek cost estimates for the community stadium field to explore a multi-party partnership with the school and city.
Director Rich Pichter told the committee that Big Spring Park renovations are near completion, with playgrounds under construction and benches and bike racks expected within weeks; he said contractors project a grand-opening about a month away. "Everything is looking tremendous down there," he said.
Pichter described the parks budget as a 7.9% overall increase driven largely by capital projects, specifically two indoor-pool improvements — resurfacing and ceiling painting — that together account for much of the change. With those two projects removed, he said the budget increase would be roughly 1.1%. Pichter said health insurance was budgeted at a placeholder 10% increase pending final numbers from the treasurer and that there are no new full-time positions proposed this year.
Key capital items in the proposed parks budget include HVAC digital control software to replace legacy controls, playground upgrades at Russell Town Park, unified park signage, shade and side amenities at Big Spring, resurfacing and re-striping of existing tennis/pickleball courts to add basketball lines, replacement of an outdoor pool pump and continued removal of invasive plantings.
Pichter said the county is actively seeking bids and cost estimates for a multi-project phase that would add turf and lighting to youth ball fields and create a multipurpose football/soccer/lacrosse field; he said the estimated total from earlier work was about $2 million and that the county expects a 50-50 split with the city for the immediate project scope. Pichter told the committee he will include an addendum to turf bids to capture a price to replace the community stadium's existing turf and that he expects to provide firm project costs by the end of May.
Pichter also said Big Spring Park’s new construction performed well during recent historic rains and that the design kept water in the lower great lawn as intended; staff reported that the area drained within a few days and that playgrounds and sidewalks remained dry during the high-water event.
The committee had no questions that changed the budget presentation; Pichter said he will be available to answer follow-up questions by email and will present updated turf numbers when they are ready.