Coventry Parks & Recreation reports strong summer demand and staffing needs as budget is reviewed

During the March 12 special budget meeting, Lesley Munshower, Director of Parks and Recreation, presented FY2026–27 highlights and budget requests and told the council the department is operating at growing capacity.

Munshower listed department successes over the past year — nine free community events, employment of 39 Coventry residents, high program participation and 8,508 beach visits — and described a strong public response to summer-camp registration that created "a waitlist on day 1." She said staff recruitment is underway, especially for lifeguards, and asked that residents call to join waitlists if camps fill.

Councilor Mark Wheaton raised concerns that projected revenues do not match listed expenses and that the budget as presented could require an additional $60,000 general fund transfer; Finance Director Cherie Trahan and Munshower reviewed the numbers and identified line-item placement issues that overstated expenses. Munshower confirmed fee-generated revenue is expected to support park operations and asked for continued use of past general-fund transfers to support staffing per council goals.

Munshower told the council she did not anticipate immediate negative impacts from pending state legislation; she noted bills under consideration could lessen summer-camp requirements, but Coventry already meets current standards.

The council also reviewed a draft Citizen’s Budget Guide circulated by Town Manager James Drumm and proposed editorial changes to wording, punctuation, tax-calculation examples and the inclusion of an email contact for comments. Members asked Drumm to compile edits and bring a revised guide back to the March 16 meeting.