Parks staff outline 2025 events calendar, Jennings Park status and program participation

Iredell County Parks & Recreation staff presented the department’s 2025 events calendar and monthly highlights at the Recreation Advisory Board meeting on Jan. 2, 2025.

Austin Setzer, Sports Events & Facilities Manager, said his division manages field rentals, fairgrounds reservations and bookings for community buildings including Scotts Rosenwald and East Iredell Lions Club Community Park. He noted Stumpy Creek and Jennings Park have separate field rental rates because one site uses turf and the other grass. Austin also noted Marty Haneline, his one full‑time maintenance employee, recently received a 10‑year service award from the county.

Jacob Wentink presented the staff and park report, which listed recent programming and participation figures: a Disc Golf Tournament at Stumpy Creek with about 100 participants; a Toys for Tots pickleball tournament with 14 participants; and Recreation Center membership reporting 1,309 current membership accounts (1,982 total individuals across categories) and 4,874 total check‑ins for the month. Park reservation totals for November showed Stumpy Creek as the busiest property with 19 reservations and 3,923 participants; overall reservations totaled 157 with 6,881 participants for the month reported.

On Jennings Park, Daniel Leatherman reported playground equipment is on site and installers are coordinating with contractor Edifice on installation and drainage; the department has reached out to previous renters for preferred mid‑March dates but cannot guarantee the park will be open by that date. The county purchased acreage across Deitz Road for overflow parking. Daniel said the ropes course was recently accessed but an email about required maintenance arrived the same day, and staff must complete work before reopening that feature to the public. He also said the Duke Energy project at Stumpy Creek Boat Landing remains under construction, with the nature trail cut and substantial concrete work completed.

Staff reviewed upcoming deliverables including continued FY26 budget preparation, marketing for January membership specials and new adult and youth program offerings. Jacob said he expects to have a preliminary budget to share at the next meeting and encouraged advisory board members to participate in department events as stated in the bylaws.

The board agreed to add a new‑member orientation and requested a parks tour in the spring.