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Richmond parks superintendent seeks 1% food-and-beverage tax to fund Glen Miller plan and repairs
Summary
Denise Rets, Richmond park superintendent, told the Board of Public Works she supports a proposed 1% food-and‑beverage tax that would fund parks, trails and the gorge. She outlined projects including dredging Glen Miller Pond, playground and roof repairs, an amphitheater and a riverwalk, and said public hearings are scheduled.
Denise Rets, Richmond’s park superintendent, told the Board of Public Works on Dec. 11 that a proposed 1% food-and‑beverage tax would provide a dedicated funding stream for parks, trails and the gorge and allow the city to address deferred maintenance and new projects.
“Parks are the heart of our community,” Rets said. “The new 1% food and beverage opportunity will support our future goals in providing active public spaces, accessible trail systems, and unique regional destinations.”
Rets described the proposal as organized into three priorities: sustain what the city already has (repairs and maintenance), make necessary improvements (playgrounds, signage, facility renovations) and create new destinations (an amphitheater and riverwalk). She identified dredging Glen Miller Pond, replacing a 26‑year‑old playground and splash pad, repairing more than a dozen park roofs, improving irrigation at Highland Lake Golf Course, and upgrades to trail and signage as immediate needs.
Rets noted the redevelopment commission previously approved $40,000 toward a Glen Miller Improvement Plan and said the consultant contract with MKSK would take roughly eight months once a purchase order is issued. “This Glenmiller Park improvement plan will benefit not only the park system, but the city as a whole,” she said.
Rets and board members discussed statutory limitations on revenue use. Rets said the ordinance mirrors the Indiana code in restricting the tax revenue to parks, trails and the gorge, and she pointed out that regular grocery sales would not be taxed — only prepared food sold with utensils or as catering would fall under the tax.
Board members expressed general support and cautioned that phase 1 should focus on maintaining existing assets before expanding new projects. Rets said public hearings on the proposal were under way: one held the evening of Dec. 11 and a second scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m.
Rets also summarized outreach and an advisory “FAB” team convened to advise the proposal, naming local participants and liaison roles. She said the riverwalk design has funding while the amphitheater still needs funding and estimated an amphitheater could accommodate roughly 2,000 people if built.
The presentation closed with an appeal to see the tax as an opportunity to preserve and enhance the park system and to fund shovel‑ready improvements that city leaders say will attract visitors and support community events.
