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Monterey Parks & Recreation reports strong program demand, big projects and constrained staffing
Summary
Department staff summarized the first Parks & Recreation annual report (July–Nov 2025), highlighting strong program enrollment and revenue, major facility projects (Hilltop phase‑1, Solicito lights) and staffing challenges that may inform midyear budget requests.
Shannon, the department manager, presented the Parks & Recreation Department’s operations report for July through November 2025, noting publication of the department’s first annual report and several large and small capital and program initiatives.
She described workforce and program developments: training academies for employees (Monterey Way Academy; First City Academy), a shift to online registration through SmartRec with a reported increase in online‑collected revenue compared with a pre‑COVID baseline, and active facility projects including Hilltop Park Center phase‑1 (described as a roughly $1,000,000 phase‑1 NCIP project), the Via Paraiso basketball court RFP, Solicito ballpark LED lighting (going to council), El Estero playground delivery and a large barbecue shade structure.
Shannon summarized community events and outreach — Fourth of July lawn event, summer and fall festivals, Parking Day and joint city outreach programs — and provided program metrics: examples included a reported increase of 112 campers at Camp Kinsabi compared with 2024, full enrollment and wait lists in various playgrounds and camps, and specific team and participant counts for youth leagues that staff used to illustrate high demand.
On social services, staff reported Thanksgiving meal distributions (1,000 meal kits and 200 sandwich meals) and partnerships for home deliveries across neighboring jurisdictions. Shannon said staff will pursue midyear budget adjustments only as needed, likely for part‑time salaries tied to summer camp demand, and noted the citywide effort to close a $10,000,000 budget gap that will constrain new requests.
Shannon also noted continued reliance on partnerships and grants (NCIP, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Land & Water Conservation Fund possibilities) and advised commissioners that staff will return with recommendations and outreach results as projects move forward.
Next steps: staff will continue outreach and RFP review for capital projects, refine program planning for summer 2026, and coordinate any midyear budget requests with finance and council priorities.
