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Residents urge more parks and tennis funding, crossing guards and fare-free transit at Durham budget hearing
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Summary
At a March 1 public hearing on the FY2026–27 budget, dozens of residents urged the council to prioritize tennis court repairs and maintenance, parks programming, permanent funding for a crossing guard at University and Dixon, continuation of fare-free transit, and investments in community violence intervention and youth employment.
The public hearing on Durham’s FY2026–27 budget drew broad participation on March 1 as dozens of residents and civic groups urged council to prioritize recreation infrastructure, pedestrian safety, transit and violence-prevention investments.
Parks and tennis courts: Multiple speakers representing the Eno Community Tennis Association, Durham Orange Community Tennis Association and local coaches urged the council to include capital funding for tennis-court resurfacing and a recurring maintenance plan. Sarah Lawrence, representing local tennis organizers, said Durham’s leagues have grown and the city needs safe courts and working lights; others noted USTA matching grant opportunities and the potential for tournaments to generate revenue.
School crossings: Parents including Ashley Trice asked the council to permanently fund a crossing guard at University Drive and Dixon Road, describing near-misses and noting that a pilot subcontract that provided a guard is scheduled to end in June. Speakers asked that the pilot be transitioned to a permanent funding mechanism to retain the safety benefit for Hope Valley families.
Transit and active-transportation: Bike Durham and other speakers urged continuation of fare-free GoDurham service and asked the city to negotiate with Durham County for transit sales-tax funding rather than raising property taxes. Speakers also encouraged funding the bike-and-walk plan recommendations via the ten-year CIP and requested investment in a street-design manual to speed project delivery.
Public safety and CVI funding: Community violence-intervention organizers urged the council to treat CVI as public-safety infrastructure and proposed multi-year funding (speakers cited numbers in the millions per year for a scaled CVI program) to rebuild community-based interruption work.
Other priorities and process comments: Firefighters requested a 5% base pay increase and full funding for merit raises; residents urged tax-relief measures, more youth employment funding and audits of prior ARPA-funded projects. City staff said the manager will present a proposed budget to council in May and hold a second public hearing on June 1 before final adoption on June 15.
What’s next: The city manager will present a proposed FY2026–27 budget on May 18; council will accept additional public comment on June 1 and consider final adoption on June 15. Speakers asked that council and staff factor their requests — court resurfacing, crossing guards, transit support and CVI funding — into deliberations.
