Parks director requests targeted funding for maintenance, senior center staffing and tennis/golf upkeep

Parks Director Leland (surname not provided) asked the City Board for targeted increases in the 2026 budget to address maintenance shortfalls across a growing parks system, to staff a new senior facility and to fund recurring maintenance at the ResMed tennis and golf facilities. Why it matters: ongoing expansion of trails and park acreage plus high‑use athletic facilities require recurring maintenance dollars to preserve user experience and avoid accelerated asset deterioration. The parks director said the department manages about 6,500 acres and currently operates with roughly 130 full‑time staff, about 20 positions short overall. He asked for two additional full‑time maintenance positions focused on ballfield and recreation maintenance, estimated at roughly $100,000 in recurring cost, and for part‑time/contract dollars to operate a new senior center set to open next year; the senior center operating ask was described as about $315,000 for new staffing and operating costs. ResMed Tennis Center and golf operations were highlighted as high‑use, revenue‑generating facilities that require recurring capital work. The director said resurfacing multiple tennis courts for an upcoming tournament cost the department roughly $100,000 and that ongoing tennis and golf upkeep has no dedicated capital stream within the parks budget. On contracting and leases, the director said roughly half the city parks are under private maintenance contracts and that several contracts come up for rebid in 2026; rising costs mean the department expects those maintenance contracts to be more expensive. Parks said it is implementing a work‑order system and will continue pursuing grants and partnerships; no board votes were taken during the presentation. The director said more detailed budget materials will follow in October as part of the regular budget schedule.