PITTSBURG, Kan. — Parks and Recreation was the final department to present in front of the Pittsburg City Commission Tuesday evening, as part of a series of presentations highlighting each of the City’s departments. Parks Director Kris Loy described his department’s structure, responsibilities and plans for the future.
The department currently operates on a budget of $2.7 million.
The department is broken into three divisions: Golf, Parks, and Recreation. The Golf Division is responsible for the Four Oaks complex, including the 18-hole golf course, mini golf, the RV park, and the new pickleball courts. The division includes four full-time staff, four part-time maintenance staff, and 12 part-time club house staff. The division generates about $350,000 to $400,000 in revenue annually.
The Parks Division is responsible for maintaining the city’s 15 parks with 15 full-time and nine part-time employees. These parks are scattered throughout the city, from downtown locations like the Miners Memorial, Immigrant Park and Europe Park to natural settings like the Wilderness Park and the 23rd Street Bike Park. Then there are more traditional parks like Lincoln, Deramus, Schlanger and Lakeside, as well as parks sponsored by Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs.
The last division is Recreation, responsible for entertainment and community programs. The division is also responsible for Kiddieland, the band dome in Lincoln Park, sports and athletics fields, the aquatic center, and the Farmers’ Market. The division has nearly 80 full- and part-time employees, of which 34 are seasonal lifeguards at the pool.
The Recreation Division is also tasked with creating and maintaining community programs, sports clinics, youth programs, and community celebrations, such as the Christmas Parade and lighting of the city’s Christmas tree. The division typically generates between $70,000 to $80,000 annually.
The department is planning upgrades to Wilderness Park to include informational and educational placards about local history, flora, and fauna. Construction on a newly approved soccer complex will begin soon that will require additional staff to maintain. A new dog park is in the works in the downtown area, the band dome needs a new dome, and Lincoln Center needs a new roof. There are plans to add a couple of cabanas at the aquatic center that will be available to rent and cart paths at Four Oaks are continually upgraded through a partnership with Pittsburg State’s School of Construction.
Of all the city’s departments, Parks and Recreation is the one most often interacting directly and indirectly with the public on a daily basis.
This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews
