Evansville parks board adopts declaratory resolution to start $24 million parks bond process

The Evansville Parks Board on Sept. 23 adopted a declaratory resolution that authorizes the start of a municipal bond process to provide roughly $24 million for parks and zoo capital projects, while board members demanded detailed per‑project cost information before final approval.

The vote does not lock the board into specific projects but allows the city to proceed with public hearings and the municipal financing process required under Indiana law. Outside counsel told the board the declaratory resolution is the first formal step; final confirmation, appropriation and any remonstrance process will occur at public hearings later in October. "This is just the first step in the bonding process," an outside counsel said during the meeting.

Mayor Stephanie Terry, who attended the special meeting, said the projects were "time sensitive" and urged the board to move the process forward while also acknowledging the accelerated schedule. "Is it moving a little faster than we like? Absolutely," Terry said, adding that staff and the mayor's office intend to create more space on regular agendas for board strategic input.

City staff and financial advisers explained the issuance plan is built on increased assessed value reported by the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF), which gives the parks district room to issue bonds without raising the current park district property tax rate. Robert Gunter of the controller's office said the bonds are structured so "property taxes will not go higher than that" current rate, while advisers noted the city has roughly $30 million of total issuance capacity and intends to allocate about $24 million for parks projects.

Staff listed several projects proposed for the parks allocation, including Garvin Park playground and amenities (estimated at about $1.5 million), aquatic facility improvements including a free splash pad and pool maintenance, and zoo capital items (the meeting transcript referenced a large zoo barn project). The board was told no single listed parks project will exceed the $6,350,466 statutory threshold that triggers additional procedures, although certain zoo work was flagged as approaching higher thresholds.

Several commissioners objected to the pace and to receiving long project materials on short notice. One commissioner called it "a lot of money to bind the county to" without adequate time for review. In response staff agreed to provide a detailed per‑project cost breakdown and identified bidders so board members could review estimates ahead of the Oct. 2 meeting. The board was also told a formal public hearing on the declaratory resolution will be held Oct. 16 and bond closing is anticipated around Dec. 17.

The board adopted the declaratory resolution by roll call; Commissioners Stewart, Kenny, Cleon and Peterland voted in favor during the recorded roll call. The vote advances the formal process but preserves the board’s ability to confirm, modify or rescind the projects at the upcoming public hearings.

Next steps: staff will circulate a per‑project cost list and related documents to board members ahead of the Oct. 2 meeting; the board will hold the required public hearings, and any final appropriation or confirmatory vote is expected to occur on Oct. 16 with bond closing anticipated before year end.