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Parks & Recreation budget up about one-third; town eyes grants, capital repairs
Summary
The Board of Finance reviewed a Parks & Recreation budget that rose roughly one-third, citing higher summer staff wages, facility maintenance and camp expenses; staff noted about $18,000 in expected registration revenue and several capital priorities including Town Landing railing and AEDs at Plattwood and Devitt Fields.
Finance staff reviewed the Parks & Recreation proposed budget, which officials said increased by approximately one-third this year. The rise reflects adjustments to summer program staff salaries (moved to meet minimum-wage requirements), increased maintenance needs across town facilities and higher camp expenses.
Officials noted program details: the department employed 10 counselors last summer, registration fees are expected to generate about $18,000 and most programs (pickleball, a 5K race, youth basketball, hiking groups, discount-ticket programs and youth volleyball) are self-funded. Summer camp remains the only program not yet fully self-funded.
Board members discussed potential joint programming with neighboring Chester, which officials said declined participation, and staff said they are exploring grant opportunities through the Middlesex Camp Fund to offset camp costs. Capital priorities for FY 2026–27 include a high-priority railing at Town Landing (with possible help from the Lions Club), AED installations at Plattwood and Devitt Fields (grant opportunities being explored), volleyball court renovations and a pavilion at Plattwood.
No formal vote on the Parks & Recreation budget line items is recorded in the transcript; the discussion fed into the board’s broader budget development work for FY 2025–2026.
