Parks director seeks $4.27 million for FY27 as rec center needs major repairs

Tyler Florence, the town’s director of parks and recreation, told the council at a Feb. 17 workshop that staff are requesting $4,270,000 for fiscal year 2027 as part of an approximately $20 million five‑year capital improvement plan. "We are requesting a total of 4,270,000.00 for fiscal year 27," Florence said, framing the plan as “balancing 2 critical goals, reinvesting in our existing assets… and responding to the need for new and improved amenities across our park system.”

The FY27 request is split into two primary investment areas: Florence said roughly 59% would go to park improvements and new community assets, and 41% toward preserving the recreation center. The presentation listed specific requests: $400,000 to replace the playground at Philbo Park, $20,000 for auto‑locking restroom doors at four high‑use sites (estimated to save about $4,000 a year), and a $1.5 million town contribution toward a $2.6 million Phase 1 construction budget for Karnes Meadow Park coupled with a $450,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant application (1:1 match).

On the recreation center, Florence said the original 1993 building’s structural and mechanical systems “are reaching the end of their service life” and noted an external aquatics commissioning assessment is underway. That study, he said, will provide a road map for upgrades. Florence asked the council to approve a $200,000 replaster/retile project for the main lap pool and $150,000 for a pool‑expansion feasibility study to evaluate adding an auxiliary or warm‑up pool and to analyze funding options. "This is the essential first step towards addressing our long term aquatic capacity needs in a fiscally responsible way," he said.

Councilors pressed staff on funding sources and fund balances. Florence estimated the parks and recreation fund balance is currently “somewhere around 5 to $6,000,000” but noted that approved FY26 capital is being funded from that reserve and that the town may need to cover shortfalls through general‑fund or joint budget discussions. Council members also asked whether private fundraising could offset costs for Karnes Meadow. Florence and Parks projects manager Max Moran said they had recent outreach with Friends of Pathways and the Jackson Hole Land Trust and that both groups expressed interest but had not committed funds. "There's an appetite, there's an interest, but no commitments made so far," Moran said.

Florence told the council staff are ordering spare mechanical parts to reduce downtime at the aquatic facility and expect the final commissioning report in about a month; he said staff will return with a more detailed recommendation and that many CIP items will be folded into upcoming budget deliberations. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board reviewed the plan on Nov. 13, 2025, and signaled support for the proposed projects, Florence said.

Next steps: staff will bring the proposal into the budget process and return with additional detail on the aquatics assessment, funding scenarios, and any formal grant awards or fundraising commitments that affect project timing and scope.