Director Trace Hillett told the Parks, Recreation & Harbor Advisory Committee on Monday that staff will use the citys 2021 facilities master plan to shape capital requests for the coming budget cycle and to prioritize short- and mid-term projects.

Hillett said engineering design work is underway for Cascade Park, a signature downtown park, and that staff discovered a "significant leaking issue" in the parks fountain that has forced them to scale back daily operation and run the fountain only for special events, such as weddings. He said the engineering phase will update circulation and other site elements identified in the master plan.

The director outlined plans for playground replacements, noting typical play-structure lifespans of about 1518 years; Williams Park is next in line for replacement, Hillett said, and Talbot Park (formerly Second Street Park) may be delayed until another nearby development (the Y project) is complete. He said staff will consider accessible and sensory features in upcoming RFPs rather than only duplicating previous composite play structures.

On trails, Hillett said staff added lighting along several trail sections, including at a footbridge and at Gateway Park, and described a partnership with the Bangor Noontime Rotary to fund and support trailhead signage and volunteer improvements. He said the city has funding available to continue targeted lighting installations along the trail system.

Hillett also reviewed recent work at the Union Street athletic complex: crews installed new LED field lighting for three softball fields, added drainage and resurfaced infields. Combining the three-field work into one contract produced mobilization savings, he said, and the LED fixtures should reduce electricity costs going forward.

On Sawyer Arena, Hillett said staff discovered significant damage to the arenas refrigeration coils while attempting to restart the chiller; the city rented a temporary chiller and reopened about two-and-a-half weeks late. "All of this recovered by our insurance," Hillett said, and contractors (Trane) have begun coil repairs. The arena continues to host youth hockey, high-school teams and the citys learn-to-skate program, Hillett added.

Hillett said staff will return to city council to discuss placing a recreation-center question on the ballot, targeting the June election if council approves. He described the process as subject to a state timetable for ballot language and to councils review of financing and possible bonding. He said private donations could be pursued after voter approval.

The meeting also covered midterm projects such as the city forest and Essex Woods trail management plan, ongoing community-garden activity (about 270 beds), and smaller site work across parks; Hillett encouraged committee feedback ahead of the departments internal February budget timeline.

Hilletts presentation included multiple cost placeholders from the 2021 plan and repeated that some dollar figures are "a little stale" and will be refined during engineering design and the capital-request process. The director said staff will bring refined estimates and any supplemental funding requests to council as part of the FY27 budget cycle.

The committee had no formal votes related to these projects at this meeting; Hillett asked members to weigh in during February as staff prepares capital requests.