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Council discusses phased approach for $78M parks master plan, mall tree program
Summary
Staff told council the parks master plan total is about $78 million and proposed a phased approach: $500,000/year in FY27 for high‑impact, low‑cost projects and a staged park refresh program; council sought clearer definitions of lump‑sum accounts and tree replacement phases for the downtown mall.
Charlottesville City Council spent a portion of its FY27 work session examining parks funding, maintenance needs and a proposed phased approach to implementing a $78 million master plan.
Staff said the FY27 CIP currently includes $500,000 allocated to parks for small, high‑impact projects and maintenance refreshes. "What staff recommended was let's try to look at high impact for the first year or two with low cost," a parks staffer said, noting examples such as new park signage, bench replacement and targeted shelter or canopy improvements near splash pads.
Mall trees and life‑cycle management: councilors asked staff to clarify two tree accounts: the active life‑cycle account (annual trimming, hazard branch removal and routine maintenance) versus the larger downtown mall tree management project, which involves removal, soil remediation and replanting on a multi‑year schedule. Staff outlined a two‑year phase for each mall segment: a design/architect year followed by construction. "The first year is going to be a work…the second year is construction," one staff member said of phase one.
Capital vs. maintenance: councilors pressed staff on what qualifies as capital expenditure versus maintenance for parks (bench replacements versus multi‑park refreshes). Staff said they generally treat projects over roughly $50,000 as capital and that a 'capital refresh' could bundle multiple bench replacements or small projects into a bondable package.
Next steps: staff will provide more detailed line‑item descriptions of what the parks lump‑sum allotment has funded historically and outline phased priorities so council can consider whether to increase allocations in future budget cycles. The council indicated it wants clearer implementation plans and options for new revenue or grants before making larger commitments.
