The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Park needs grow, shift says National Trail leader

Changes in the way we use recreation district facilities will help guide funding decisions, board members hear.

Hillside Church to hold block party
Updated 22 min. ago
New cable barriers to increase safety on I-675
Updated 28 min. ago
More people hurt in I-675 accidents
Updated 28 min. ago
Strickland criticizes Kasich in visit to Springfield union
7:46 a.m.
Brown Publishing asks to sell assets to lenders
9/3/10
> More headlines

E-mail this page

By Samantha Sommer, Staff Writer 10:29 PM Monday, February 8, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — Recreation isn’t what it was four or five decades ago, and the National Trail Parks and Recreation District might need to redefine some of its programs as it adapts.

Its hard tennis courts have deteriorated and aren’t used nearly as much anymore. Its softball programs probably don’t need to play on lighted fields because demand has significantly declined.

Those are some of the types of decisions facing National Trail board members, CEO Tim Smith told them at their annual retreat Monday, Feb. 8.

“These are dramatic changes from what historically we have been involved in,” he said.

The board discussed the issues it faces, including its infrastructure needs and future funding options.

National Trail started 10 years ago, combining city and county programs with the goal of securing independent funding. Attempts at one city levy and three district levies have failed, and the city and county face their own tight budgets as the economy has soured.

The recreation district’s 2010 budget calls for about $3.9 million in expenditures and includes subsidies of $1.45 million from the city and $83,500 from the county. The budget has been cut from $4.7 million in 2007.

In the meantime, several of its facilities have deteriorated. The district faces major infrastructure and equipment needs, Smith said, from inoperable restrooms to stagnant ponds to aging mowers.

“We’ve got to start sitting down and saying these are the things that need to be repaired and replaced and where is that money going to come from,” Smith said.

The district also needs to stabilize its funding, Smith said. Funding options could range from continuing the existing system to returning to a city department to seeking another levy or reshaping the size of the district.

Before deciding on funding options, board members Maureen Massaro and Terry Weinburger asked Smith to prioritize the needs and estimate those costs.

“We need to know the scope of the problem,” she said.

She also asked Smith to list the pros and cons of each funding possibility.

Smith likely will report back to the board on those requests in April.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

use the money for the ice skating rink to fix the parks and buy mowers...its a smarter idea then to build a ice rink that only a few people want...everyone uses the parks at least once a year,i doubt that many will use the ice rink!

mooshaker
1:53 PM, 2/21/2010

REPORT ABUSE

Lets not hire retirees. The baby boomers had their chance now let others get jobs they need to support their families. Thankfully the day is coming when the baby boomers will start dieing in record number.

Chuck Siner
6:09 PM, 2/9/2010

REPORT ABUSE

Tim Smith sucks. Get rid of him!

Rick Dinnen
6:07 PM, 2/9/2010

REPORT ABUSE

Whoa, can't imagine what park employees salaries must be if they can't even afford a new mower. It's always all or nothing, full steam or dump parks. ?? If they add 1/2 % sales tax again without a vote I'll hit the roof. Something's not right here. Even with a tight budget, it's a park for gawd's sake. Have they tried donations/volunteers? With just 100 people or businesses giving it could save a small fortune. Hire retirees - will work for less. So much more could be done to save.

wow
2:46 PM, 2/9/2010

REPORT ABUSE

So? When the SKATING RINK gets built. How will pay to keep it running?

L
12:38 PM, 2/9/2010

REPORT ABUSE

There are 10 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.