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College Station proclaims Parks & Recreation Month; department reports major growth and projects
Summary
The council issued a proclamation for Parks and Recreation Month and heard a biannual update from the Parks & Recreation director detailing 2025 visitor and program statistics, capital projects and a planned 360‑space columbarium addition.
The City of College Station recognized July 2026 as Parks and Recreation Month and received a detailed update from the Parks and Recreation Department at its July 9 council meeting.
Kelsey Hayden, the department director, summarized 2025 activity: the city hosted 23 tournaments that generated an estimated 100,000+ visitors, recorded more than 3,000,000 park visits, maintains 57 developed parks and 42 miles of trails, and had 72 full‑time and 192 part‑time employees supporting programming. Hayden also noted CAPRA accreditation, the Tree City USA growth award and new volunteer and engagement programs. (Kelsey Hayden)
She outlined current projects including replacement playgrounds, a slide replacement at Adamson Lagoon, parkland dedication work at Summit Crossing Park, and a columbarium addition at the College Station Memorial Cemetery; the new columbarium is planned for 360 niches. Councilmembers thanked staff for large public events (including the July 4 I Heart America celebration, which Hayden said drew about 13,648 attendees) and requested a workshop to discuss cemetery operation, fee structure and equity between capital and ongoing maintenance funding.
Hayden and staff said more detail about cemetery fees, resident versus nonresident charges, and whether organizations could purchase spaces will return to council in workshop format. No formal action was taken beyond the proclamation.
