Shelby McNabb, assistant director of parks and recreation, told the Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission on Dec. 15 that the Measure P 2024 annual report (reporting period July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024) summarizes work across parks, programs and capital projects funded and tracked under the Measure P ordinance.

The report catalogs 108 parks and facilities the department maintains, McNabb said, and shows that 33% of Fresno residents live within a half‑mile walking distance of a maintained park. McNabb said the department counts participation in 15 Measure P‑funded programs and estimates total program attendance at about 640,000 for the reporting period, a figure the presentation described as the attendance total rather than unique participants.

"The annual report is a requirement of Measure P," McNabb said. "During this time period there were 108 parks and facilities in the inventory." She highlighted capital accomplishments including 12.3 miles of new sidewalk, more than 400 ADA ramps, roughly 2,900 new trees and a higher number of completed capital projects than in the previous year.

Commissioners pressed staff on why Fresno’s national park score remains low despite Measure P investments. Chair McCoy and several commissioners noted that the Trust for Public Land rankings have shown Fresno around the high‑90s and asked whether the city’s local amenities or outreach are being undercounted. McNabb said staff completed a detailed review of the Trust for Public Land rubric, found some misalignment with locally prioritized amenities, and is working with the Trust for Public Land and on grant pursuits to address gaps.

"We really looked carefully at all the data that was being reported so that we can ensure we were really capturing all the different elements that get scored," McNabb said. "We're hopeful that closer look ... and some of the larger parks coming online will help the score improve."

Several commissioners also questioned park ranger staffing. Commissioners noted Measure P envisioned a parks ranger program with 20 rangers. Parks staff said 19 rangers had been trained and assigned during the reporting period and that departments continue recruiting to reach the 20‑ranger goal. Staff attributed some turnover to candidates leaving the post shortly after hiring and to background checks and civil‑service rules that filter applicants; they said some attrition is positive when rangers later promote or transfer within city service.

The report also lists deferred‑maintenance and operations activity: staff said the department processed more than 4,800 maintenance requests for FY24 and tracked 123 capital projects across initiation, design, construction and completion phases.

The department made the full report and the Measure P audit available on the city Measure P web page and encouraged commissioners to review appendix tables and project audit references for line‑item detail.

The commission did not take formal action on the annual report at the meeting; staff said the report is intended to inform future budget and grant work and to serve as a baseline for the five‑year evaluation process.