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Parks & Recreation highlights accessibility, master plan and rising security costs; reports roughly 4,000 needles picked in city parks
Summary
Parks administrator Tim Street told the council his department's 2025 request is a stable platform for maintenance and planning, highlighted $127,000 for a master plan and activation plans for Hopewell Commons, and cited nearly $400,000 in security contract costs and roughly 4,000 needles picked in parks annually.
Tim Street, administrator of Bloomington's Parks & Recreation Department, presented the division's 2025 budget request and framework Tuesday evening, saying the department seeks a stable platform for planning and maintenance after several years of rapid expansion.
"Our staffing levels are stable," Street told council members, noting the salary ordinance lists 65 full-time staff and about 62 temporary positions; last year's temporary count equated to 382 unique temporary staff. He highlighted the department's recent events and investments, saying the eclipse event drew "about 8,000 people in Switchyard Park." Street also cited new accessible investments (a tactile map and accessible minibus) and two new solar installations.
Street warned that parks face rising costs tied to behavior and safety responses. "Almost $400,000 of our budget next year is going to security," he said, describing an unarmed security contract that does daily checks, intervenes in risky situations and, he added, has likely saved lives. In response to a council question about drug-overdose interventions, Street said the security contractor "typically have Narcan available in their trucks," subject to confirmation.
On public-health concerns Street reported that needle pickups in parks are alarmingly high: earlier in the presentation he said 2024's number was "a little over 3,000" and later updated the council: "we find to pick up about 4,000 needles in parks a year." He called the problem an ongoing epidemic that strains staff time and operations.
Street asked the council to fund a 2025 master plan for parks and recreation, estimating a $127,000 direct fiscal impact to hire consultants for statistically representative outreach and focus groups with a mid-2025 final plan target. He also outlined Hopewell Commons activation plans and said initial operating costs will be held in the parks nonreverting account while potential reimbursements from nearby developments are explored.
Council members asked follow-up questions on tree-shading plans for the Beeline, edible landscaping and bus service to Griffey Lake; Street described urban-forestry plantings under a bicentennial tree program and noted a past partnership with Bloomington Community Orchard and trade-offs in street-tree choices.
Next steps: Parks staff will return with requested details and cost breakdowns; council members flagged a desire to coordinate master planning with broader budget and infrastructure discussions.
