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Sedalia parks director outlines repairs, new facilities and proposal to raise Hecker membership fees
Summary
Parks Director Amy Eppley reported heavy program participation, repairs to Liberty Stadium and lagoon, new pickleball courts, Memory Lanes opening planned for November 2026, and said the parks department aims to break even in FY2027 with a planned fee increase at the Hecker Community Center to offset rising wages and costs.
Sedalia — Amy Eppley, Sedalia’s parks director, told the City Council on Jan. 20 that parks and recreation participation remains high, several capital repairs were completed in 2025 and staff is planning projects that will affect future budgets.
Eppley listed participation metrics: more than 2,000 registered-program participants across more than 25 programs, over 4,000 new members at the Hecker Community Center and more than 200,000 check-ins. She also cited completion of Liberty Lagoon repairs, resurfacing of the pool slide, 6 new pickleball courts at Liberty Park and ongoing work on Liberty Stadium; some stadium work slipped into the current fiscal year and contributed to reserve draws.
On the capital side, Eppley said Thompson Meadows and Memory Lanes projects are progressing and that Memory Lanes is anticipated to open in November 2026; she also flagged a planned ballfield-lighting project that could exceed $1 million in cost and a Phase 2 parks security-camera rollout to reduce vandalism and operating losses. Eppley said the parks budget dipped into reserve in 2025 to cover unplanned repairs but that staff intends to return to break-even in FY2027.
“Next fiscal year of ’27, we will just be trying to break even. That is what our goal is,” Eppley told council.
Eppley also said the Park Board approved delaying a planned Hecker fee increase until April 1 (from an earlier January target) and that the department will review fees across programs to offset rising labor costs; she cited the jump in minimum wage as a contributing factor.
Councilmembers asked about volunteer coaches, security at Vermont Park, and clearer advertising for community events (Popsicle Patrol and Light Up Liberty). Eppley said staff will provide schedules and enhance postings; she also confirmed city police partnership for certain neighborhood outreach events.
The council received the presentation and asked staff to report back with schedules and a clearer mapping of program revenue to city fund uses.
