Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Capital topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners review $13 million parks capital request, debate athletic-field lighting and a part-time golf manager
Summary
Parks staff summarized a roughly $13 million FY27 capital ask including a proposed $10.5 million recreation center and $1.2 million for athletic-field work; commissioners debated prioritizing lighting at White Marsh vs. Batts Neck and discussed a $31,000 part-time assistant golf manager enhancement to handle record revenue and seasonal load.
Parks staff walked commissioners through operating and capital requests for parks, landings and recreation during the budget work session, flagging changes and enhancements across several program areas.
The parks capital program for FY27 was presented at approximately $13 million. Major items listed in the capital summary included: $355,000 for various capital equipment; $150,000 for parking lot paving; $120,000 for playground improvements; $600,000 for continued trail development; roughly $1.3 million for athletic field improvements; and $10.5 million proposed for a new recreation center.
On operating needs, the Bay Bridge Airport was projected to see about a 9% rise in expenditures driven by debt service, electricity and consultant costs; the golf course operating budget was shown as up about 5.5% with a requested enhancement for a part-time assistant golf-course manager, estimated at $31,000 for wages and benefits. Golf course staff said last year produced record revenue for three months running and that the part-time position would be seasonal (roughly April 1–Nov. 1) and initially contracted to test the position before seeking a full-time hire should demand persist.
Commissioners discussed athletic-field projects and whether to fund lighting at Batts Neck (two fields) or White Marsh; staff provided a $684,000 estimate to light both Batts Neck fields, and commissioners suggested rounding up to $700,000 for planning. One commissioner noted that taking Batts Neck out of next year’s program freed $300,000 to add to trail development near the county complex/YMCA. “We decided to select White Marsh… so that at a later date it would be cheaper to go ahead and put the poles up to light up the rest of the fields if need be,” a parks presenter said when explaining options.
Parks also flagged a public-landings FY27 capital project: a $250,000 Matta Peak Boat Ramp expected to be fully grant-funded. Enhancements discussed included converting a park technician from part-time to full-time (funded), $50,000 for invasive weed treatment (funded), and a $38,000 stormwater maintenance agreement (unfunded).
Next steps: staff will provide more detailed figures and narratives for projects commissioners want to dive into, and project leads (Todd for athletic fields) will be asked for scope and cost confirmations before final budget decisions.
