Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
New Hernando splash park draws crowds; parks staff asked to reassign boat‑ramp attendants rather than add payroll
Summary
Parks officials said the county's new splash pad is busier than expected and requires more on‑site operational staffing than planned because of sight‑line and crowd‑control issues. Staff proposed repurposing boat‑ramp attendants rather than hiring new positions; the board directed staff to manage within the existing workforce and return with data.
Hernando County Parks and Recreation briefed the commission on operational challenges at the county's recently opened large splash pad. Rob Talmadge, parks administrator, and Chris Lensback said sight‑line limitations and feature layout led to crowding, food and safety violations, and instances of older children monopolizing play structures. "We have to have eyes on both the front and the back of the splash pad at all times," Talmadge said, explaining why the initial staffing model (two attendants per shift plus technical pool service) proved insufficient.
Rather than add new payroll, staff proposed repurposing existing boat‑ramp/dock attendants to the splash pad during peak hours and reducing hours in the off season; staff also agreed to pilot gating technology, clearer signage and stepped scheduling by peak hours. The board asked parks to collect per‑hour attendance data and present a seasonal staffing plan; commissioners suggested trialing electronic gate controls and incremental user fees if long‑term staffing needs persist. The board directed staff to manage within existing positions for now and return with a detailed operational plan and usage analytics.
