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Vienna Parks & Recreation proposes $5.75 million budget, highlights revenue growth and tree-planting goals
Summary
Parks & Recreation presented a proposed FY26 budget of about $5.75 million with projected revenue of $1.93 million; staff described reorganization, program-driven revenue increases, new contract funding for irrigation/mowing, a tree-planting push supported by ARPA/Robinson Trust funds, and several park projects including Meadow Lane improvements and Glendon Park paving.
Parks & Recreation Director presented the department's proposed FY26 budget and a multi-pronged plan emphasizing program revenue, staffing reorganization and urban-forestry investments.
Director Lehi Herman told council the department's proposed budget is approximately $5,750,100 and that salaries and benefits account for about 63% of that total. Staff projected roughly $1.93 million in department revenue — driven primarily by class and camp fees, theater and event ticket sales, and rentals.
Herman described an internal restructuring that moved several positions between divisions to better reflect program responsibilities and allow clearer expense tracking. Staff added a full-time performing- and visual-arts assistant and promoted several internal employees to superintendent roles. The reorganization reduced some authorized positions while preserving service levels through a mix of reallocated full-time roles and targeted part-time hires.
Parks maintenance and urban-forestry initiatives include expanding the Green Streets plantings (73 trees installed), a tree inventory (about 10,000 trees tracked), and a report identifying roughly 4,000 trees needing maintenance and 1,200 plantable sites. The FY26 budget moves one previously vacant FTE into a recurring contracts-and-services line (irrigation and mowing) and adds approximately $131,260 to fund those contracts.
Capital and project highlights include improvements at Meadow Lane Park (additional stalls and court lighting, new bathroom), ADA-compliant paths and parking work at Glendon Park, and stream-restoration staging at Southside Park. Staff noted ARPA and Robinson Trust funds had helped increase plantings.
Council members asked about program supplies at the Bowman House pottery program and about the teen center's funding. Staff explained supplies (clay, glazes, chemicals) come from program-supply budgets and said the teen center receives county funding in support of operations.
On the annex property, Fairfax County has requested weekday commuter parking during a nearby construction project. Staff described conditions (restricted hours, quiet requirements, no weekend parking) and council debated whether to charge the county for short-term use. The town manager said staff will finalize terms and return with agreements for council review.
Next steps: the parks budget will be part of the upcoming public hearing and final budget vote; staff will provide follow-up details on specific projects, contract changes and obligations.
