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Parks & Recreation outlines FY27 priorities: amphitheater programming, turf fields, cemetery maintenance and vehicle replacements
Summary
Parks staff presented FY27 highlights for O'Fallon City including expanded amphitheater programming, additional turf fields, Hessie Park upgrades (pickleball lights, shade structures), purchase of replacement trucks and multi‑use mowers, and a cemetery budget of $246,000. Several projects are grant‑dependent.
Parks & Recreation staff presented the department’s FY27 priorities and a summary of large spend items to the committee, emphasizing programming and maintenance investments alongside equipment replacements.
"Goal number two was to invigorate the sense of place and community," a staff presenter said, listing actions that include expanded programming at the amphitheater and implementing recommendations from a recent feasibility study. Staff also identified ongoing work to implement the bike master plan, develop mountain‑bike course locations, expand turf fields to meet youth demand and implement an urban forestry management plan.
On capital and equipment, staff outlined purchases intended to restore vehicle inventory and replace aging machines: two F250 replacements (procured off‑bid this year), a multi‑force mower with attachments, a steel sprayer for turf maintenance, a front loader attachment for existing Kubota units, temporary outfield fencing and shade structures for new turf fields, and pickleball lights and bathroom upgrades at Hessie Park. Staff noted some Hessie Park upgrades are contingent on a St. Clair County grant.
The cemetery budget was presented at $246,000 — an 8% increase driven in part by equipment purchases, including multi‑force mowers and additional columbarium units. Staff said the new columbarium units will be ordered to match existing units and estimated cost at roughly $37,000–$40,000 for the pair discussed.
On revenues and overall budget posture, staff reported parks expenses of about $6.5 million (a roughly 1% increase over FY26). Revenue sources cited included sales tax (26%), utility tax (18%), program revenue (18%), pavilion/field rentals (13%) and concessions (9%). Staff noted grants, particularly the annual St. Clair County grant (typically $30,000–$50,000), will continue to support specific projects.
Committee members asked clarifying procurement questions, and staff explained a process of soliciting multiple dealer quotes when state bid options are not available. Recreation staff also highlighted active hiring for summer camp counselors to expand programming if sufficient staffing is secured.
What’s next: Staff will return with further details as quotes and grant awards are finalized; planned programming will be published in a summer brochure expected in the coming weeks.
"We're going to program [the amphitheater] quite a bit and we'll still have some kids shows there this summer," staff said, noting the department had set aside $10,000 from economic development funds to expand amphitheater programming.
