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Waynesville commission urges council to seek county funding for regional rec center

Town of Waynesville Town Council · February 10, 2026

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Summary

The Waynesville Recreation and Parks Commission asked the council to request that Haywood County reinstate an annual contribution to the Waynesville Recreation Center, saying the center serves primarily county residents, faces wait lists for youth programs, and requires subsidy to operate.

Dan Schultz, chair of the Waynesville Recreation and Parks Commission, urged the Town of Waynesville to ask Haywood County to reinstate an annual contribution for the Waynesville Recreation Center, arguing the facility operates as a regional resource and that county residents comprise the majority of users.

"The Waynesville Rec Center operates as a regional facility," Schultz said during the presentation, and he told council members that county leaders previously contributed "$70,000 annually up until 2009" and never restored that line after the subsequent recession. Schultz said membership and participation have grown, reporting roughly "2,800 participants" served annually and membership-related revenue of "$684,000" in the most recent fiscal year.

Schultz said 65% of participants are county residents and that popular youth programs — especially summer camp and after-school programs — routinely fill and generate wait lists of "150 to 200 children." He said the town currently subsidizes the center's operation and estimated unrealized annual revenue between "$75,000 and $100,000" due to limited staffing that prevents program expansion.

Councilmembers debated possible ways to make a case to county leaders, including asking candidates for county commission during the election season, proposing county employee reimbursement for fitness-center use, prioritizing town residents in enrollment, and exploring naming-rights or fee-based options for amenities such as the dog park. Several council members said they support taking the request to the county and pressed the commission for additional data (town vs. county wait-list breakdowns and clearer cost estimates) to strengthen the appeal.

The council voted to "authorize town council to move forward as a unified body to engage the Haywood County Board of Commissioners in discussions regarding the reinstatement of annual county funding for town recreation facilities and programs with the funding amounts to be determined," a motion that was seconded and approved by voice vote.

What comes next: council staff and the recreation commission agreed to assemble the requested breakdowns and to coordinate outreach to Haywood County, and the council asked staff to notify members when presentations to county commissioners are scheduled.