Department of Parks and Recreation staff presented the FY26 capital budget and six‑year capital plan to the PHED Committee on Nov. 6, describing how funding was adjusted in response to Council requests and which projects were moved to outer years to match shovel‑readiness.

Claire Wurstel, capital budget manager, summarized the department’s four CIP priorities: stewardship of existing assets, funding implementation of current projects, expanding inventory to meet resident needs and equitable distribution of resources. She said the FY26 budget was adjusted upward in the cycle to account for grants and program priorities; the FY26 budget increase and six‑year plan increases reflect strategically moving projects not yet shovel‑ready into outer years while funding near‑term priorities.

Staff provided details on Dinosaur Park: the project has received state grants and planning funding, and the department recently hired a paleontologist. Current plans include an exhibition and fossil lab, programming and a gift shop, with a proposed immersive nature trail connecting Dinosaur Park to Abraham Hall. Wurstel said the department added $2 million to FY26 funding and expects total funding in the project account to grow as future budgets are passed; she stressed that FY26 figures show amounts added in the FY26 budget rather than total available funding across all years.

Committee members asked about school partnerships and STEM outreach. Parks staff said they already bring students to the site, are developing expanded partnerships with the school system and are exploring outreach such as sending paleontologists to STEM events and coordinating summer camps. Members suggested the department pursue stronger ties to county STEM nights and school programs to increase use of the resource.

Members also asked about the Public Playhouse historic preservation project, vegetation management and the College Park community center procurement. Parks staff said they are modernizing and potentially expanding the Public Playhouse to add program support spaces and a black‑box option; they confirmed funding is assigned and a project manager is in place. Vegetation and invasive species management remain funded priorities and the College Park community center project is in procurement with bids due later in the month.

The committee concluded the briefing and adjourned. No committee action or vote on the CIP presentation was recorded in the transcript.