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Parks director seeks a full‑time hire, grant funding to replace playgrounds
Summary
Parks Director Issa Thornell proposed adding a full‑time position (proposed $35,000 start) to improve daily operations and program delivery, and said the department will aggressively pursue grants — including a FirdApp and a T‑Mobile community grant — to fund playground and facility upgrades.
Issa Thornell, director of parks and recreation, told the commission the parks department is proposing one new full‑time hire for FY 2025–26 — a position Thornell said would start at about $35,000 — combined with reductions in part‑time hours to maintain coverage while improving supervision and program continuity.
Thornell described the parks department as the village’s “soul,” listing three new resident‑led programs this year and five special events successfully executed (the department had been budgeted for seven). She said facility rentals and program revenue have increased, and that the department wants to reintroduce a rentable picnic area and reexamine pricing to be competitive with neighboring municipalities.
Why it matters: Thornell argued the full‑time position will address morning coverage gaps — currently Thornell said she operates alone until mid‑afternoon — and will allow better overlap during peak hours and special events. Commissioners raised concerns about long‑term retention on a $35,000 starting salary and asked for a clear job description showing how hours and responsibilities will be split between the new full‑time hire and existing part‑time staff.
Grants and larger capital needs
Thornell said the department will continue working with grant writers to secure funding for playground replacement and other capital work. She highlighted the village’s recent FDOT/Freebee coordination and named a FirdApp grant application and a T‑Mobile community grant (up to $50,000) as potential sources to reduce the village’s out‑of‑pocket share for large projects.
Operational detail and next steps
- Staffing: Thornell proposed moving one current part‑time employee into the full‑time role and keeping three part‑time staff for overlap during peak hours; she said the full‑time schedule would be flexible to meet weekend rental needs. - Revenue: Thornell expects ongoing facility rentals and program fees to continue offsetting operating costs and said some year‑to‑date receipts have not yet been reconciled in the draft financials.
Thornell asked commissioners to consider a timeline for playground repairs and confirmed she will provide a more detailed job description and schedule for the proposed full‑time hire ahead of the next workshop.
