Castle Pines parks board recommends $8.54 million 2026 parks, recreation and open-space budget to City Council

The Castle Pines Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on Oct. 23 voted to recommend that City Council approve a proposed 2026 Parks, Recreation and Open Space budget totaling $8,540,000.

Director Marcus Graves presented the staff proposal, saying proposed revenues total $5,461,000 — about a 4% increase from last year — and that the recommended expenditures reflect growth in the department’s responsibilities. "The proposed budget for the revenues is a 5,461,000. That's a 4% increase from last year," Graves said, and later explained the larger spending increase is driven by the city taking on additional parks and the higher cost of water and maintenance.

Graves told the board the department expects to assume maintenance responsibilities for newly accepted parks and open space, and that those added assets drive the bulk of the budget increase. He highlighted irrigation and utilities as a major ongoing cost and said the city has separated administrative and shared line items to provide clearer, park-level accounting moving forward.

During the presentation Graves also provided scale metrics to justify maintenance costs: "We have almost 60 miles, 59.96, parks, a 122 acres and open space, 1,867 acres," he said, noting how acreage and trail miles affect mowing, weed mitigation and contract costs.

Board members pressed staff for detail on specific accounts, including a question about the park UV disinfection system (Graves said the system exists as a secondary disinfectant but has been offline and that primary disinfection currently uses monitored liquid chlorine). Graves also described carryover and project phasing for Coyote Ridge, saying the package includes earlier commitments and design costs rolled into future years.

Board member Olsen moved to recommend the 2026 budget to City Council; after receiving a second the advisory board voted 3–0 in favor. Those recorded as voting to approve were Chair Ball, Chair Pro Tem Guerra and Board member Olsen; Deputy City Clerk Cohen recorded the vote.

The board’s recommendation will be considered by City Council at upcoming budget hearings; Graves said staff will circulate the public hearing schedule and supporting materials to board members so they can provide comments during the council process.

The advisory board adjourned at 6:15 p.m.