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Committee hears budget and project updates; pickleball lights remain under utility control
Summary
Committee members reviewed parks master‑plan benefits (additional maintenance hires and equipment), noted a $16,000 donation for the skate park, and discussed that Duke Energy owns pickleball lights that currently stay on overnight; staff said they are working on timers/photo‑cells and expect automated control by August.
Committee members reviewed several park infrastructure updates, budget items and operations changes tied to the city’s parks master plan.
Staff said the master plan helped secure two new maintenance positions and equipment purchases (mowers) for grounds crews; restrooms and a shelter for lower fields remain a next‑year priority in capital requests. The staff update said the municipal budget is expected to be approved in June and that automated lighting control for athletic fields is planned for rollout around August.
On lighting, members noted that pickleball court lights currently are owned by Duke Energy and remain on overnight, turning off only at sunrise. Committee members said they had raised the issue with city council previously; staff reported ongoing work with the utility to add timers or photo‑cells so lights can be set to turn off at park closing and so that users can reserve lights through the parks office once automated controls are in place.
The committee also heard about park projects: the skate park is open; the splash‑pad project aims to finish in June; 12‑Mile park has line painting almost complete and restroom renovation planned; and the city received a donation of just over $16,000 from Peter Hart and an Upstate club earmarked for skate‑park work.
Why it matters: The staffing increases and equipment purchases respond to long‑running maintenance needs identified in the parks master plan. The lighting issue highlights a utility ownership question that affects park operations, closing times and community expectations about late‑night use.
Next steps: Staff will continue to work with Duke Energy on automated controls, track implementation against the August target, and return with budget and project timelines.
