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Parks director asks council for staffing, new bookmobile outreach and event investments
Summary
Parks and Recreation presented multiple FY26 requests including new outreach and maintenance staff, a bookmobile outreach librarian, a minibus and enhancements to special events; staff said they will prioritize items in the CIP and explore sponsorship revenues.
Lancaster County Parks and Recreation officials asked the County Council Committee of the Whole for staff and equipment increases aimed at expanding outreach, maintaining existing facilities and supporting larger special events.
Parks Director (presented as "Mr. Clouden") told council the department needs additional operations and maintenance staffing — including an assistant maintenance supervisor and four park attendants — plus new park rangers to secure properties during events and evenings. He also requested an outreach librarian position to staff a new bookmobile and a full‑time adaptive sports coordinator to expand inclusive programs.
"We need an outreach librarian to run the bookmobile specifically in our Indian Land area," the director said, noting the county recently obtained a donated bookmobile through grant support and local partners that will help reach assisted‑living facilities and neighborhoods with limited transportation. He told council library circulation and outreach have increased as the county’s population ages.
Parks staff also asked for a portable event stage, digital road signs to standardize facility signage across multiple parks, resurfacing and ADA upgrades (Walnut Creek tennis courts and restrooms), a minibus for program transport and shade structures for several playgrounds. Director Clouden said the portable stage and digital signage would improve the visitor experience at July‑4, Easter and Halloween events that drew more than 12,000 people last year.
The department proposed several fee‑schedule changes — including a nonprofit pool‑party rate and new parking‑lot rental fees — and told council it will pursue sponsorships and naming rights to offset capital costs. Council members asked staff to identify which requests are critical versus optional, to show which items relate to the planned regional park and to return with a list of revenue opportunities tied to specific capital requests.
Clouden said the parks division continues to expand participation but must also manage increased service demand: "We are creatively trying to meet that need through grants," he said, while asking council for help funding staff expansion and a maintenance budget that keeps pace with new amenities.
