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Parks & Recreation presents heavy use, limited FY27 increases; director asks for staffing to maintain downtown gardens
Summary
Parks & Recreation Director Amy Lovisek told the Laconia City Council on May 26 that the department saw more than 2,100 facility uses last year and is proposing a FY27 budget with only minimal increases tied to contracts and utilities; councilors pressed for a fee schedule, more staff for downtown gardens and clarity on capital vs. maintenance spending.
Amy Lovisek, director of Laconia Parks & Recreation, told the City Council at a May 26 budget meeting that the department recorded 97 facility-use requests totaling 2,162 uses last year and serves more than 1,000 organized youth-sports participants.
Lovisek highlighted recent events hosted on city property, including NHIAA baseball semifinals at Robbie Mills, large softball tournaments, concerts at Rotary Park, a jet-ski race at Opechee Park, the 4th of July celebration at Opechee Park and the Laconia Pumpkin Festival downtown. "We strive to provide a safe, fun place to play at our parks, athletic fields and beaches as well as opportunities to recreate throughout the year," Lovisek said.
She also described the scale of the department's responsibilities: maintenance of multiple parks and trails (including Bartlett Beach, Opechee Park, Rotary Park and the WOW Trail), eight fields at Opechee Park and two at Robbie Mills, several cemeteries and 11 city buildings. Lovisek said the department's seven full-time maintenance staff completed about 7,000 work orders in FY25.
On the FY27 budget, Lovisek said the department followed direction to keep increases minimal; only contract-driven items such as janitorial services, utilities and the SEA clothing allotment were included. "I would need more staff," Director Lovisek said when asked what it would take to maintain downtown gardens without outside help.
Councilor Soucy asked for the parks department fee schedule and suggested adding a skate park near Lakeport and more amenities at Sanborn Park. Lovisek explained that nonresident charges are collected in a user-fees account and that last year the downtown TIF paid for flowers, which freed budgeted funds for monument cleanup at Veterans Square.
Other councilors raised staffing and budget-classification issues: Councilor Hildreth sought clarification whether downtown flower funding came from the TIF or the parks budget; Councilor Bogert recalled a seasonal DPW worker who previously handled downtown maintenance; and Councilor Haynes said he was concerned that recurring maintenance items such as tree pruning appear in capital reserve requests rather than in operating maintenance.
The presentation also listed new and upcoming programs, including adult volleyball, a Night Sky Observation with the New Hampshire Astronomical Society, lunchtime fitness classes, a youth sport gear exchange and planned offerings such as Opechee Day Camp, a Teen CERT program and archery classes at Tardiff Park.
No formal council vote on the Parks & Recreation budget was recorded at the meeting. The council followed with a library presentation and adjourned at 6:44 p.m.
