Parks and Recreation presents 2025 annual report: donations, scholarships and program growth

Megan Vining, Pullman's recreation manager, presented the Parks and Recreation Department's 2025 annual report March 24, reporting broad program growth, volunteer and donor support, and facility activity.

"We collected over $20,000 in donations and sponsorships for our department last year," Vining said, and staff awarded more than $18,000 in scholarships through more than 400 awards to youth and families. The department reported it served more than 75,000 participants and recorded about 147,000 visits across recreation programs, athletics, aquatics and senior services. Vining said the youth athletics division served about 2,300 participants in 18 leagues and that more than 64 preschool children participated across the city's four classrooms.

Parks & Facilities Director Kurt Damon reported operational metrics and capital work: the department maintains roughly 165 acres and 19 miles of paved trails, operates 12 developed parks and multiple natural areas, and completed projects including refurbished hanging baskets, automatic irrigation improvements, pickleball courts reopened after flood cleanup, a rebuilt wall at Cougar Plaza, and an expansion and irrigation installation at the city cemetery. Damon also highlighted completion of the parks, recreation and open space (PROS) master plan adopted in 2025, which positions the city for certain state grant opportunities.

Council members uniformly thanked staff for service and flagged concerns about recent staff losses and library hour changes. Parks suggested recruiting volunteers to help with reshelving and nontechnical tasks to ease staff burdens while the department pursues long‑term staffing and program solutions.

The council received the report; no formal action or budget vote was taken at the study session.