Columbus Parks Board Meeting – February 12, 2026
Columbus Parks Board Meeting – February 12, 2026
The meeting focused on staff reports, financial updates, and approvals. The board unanimously approved minutes from the previous meeting, designated the Board of Works as agent for claims approval, delegated authority to modify job descriptions, and approved claims and payrolls. Discussions covered winter operations, program registrations, upcoming master plans, and lease negotiations.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: Motion carried to approve minutes from the January 8 meeting.
- Resolution – Board of Works Designation: Approved designating the Board of Works as the park board agent for approval of claims, effective for future year-end or delayed meeting scenarios.
- Resolution – Job Description Modifications: Approved delegating authority to modify job descriptions for positions below director and direct reports (associate directors) to streamline hiring.
- Claims and Payrolls: Approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made.
Discussion Items
- Staff Reports:
- Seth Rice (Sports Program Manager): Reported on basketball buddies (19 participants), spring registration (over 1,000 registrants), and youth baseball registration (240 kids with weeks remaining). Hamilton hosted 18 birthday parties, multiple room rentals, 2 Sentinel games, and 24 youth hockey games in January. A new small ice policy replaced a $95 private rental option with $10 drop-in, increasing utilization. Golf revenue was up $1,500 for January 2025; Columbus East boys golf team will use Greenbelt for season; multiple outing groups in discussion.
- Jacob (Other Staff): Announced the signed BCSC MOU for the 2026 season. The U Trip Nationals fastpitch tournament aims to reach 240 teams (currently 180). Field house was fully booked in January with baseball, fastpitch tournaments, and a new Say Sports gymnastics event (350 gymnasts, two more events booked). 14 new events scheduled for the field house. Field crew completed soccer inventory and snow removal. Positions: fitness and wellness manager (15 applicants) and recreation manager posted. Farmers market applications opened; sold-out season expected. Lifeguard registration started; first class Feb 21-22. Pool furniture (lounges/dictators) delivered next week. Five trailheads identified with QR code signs for map/trail etiquette, installation starting in May.
- Casey (Parks Maintenance): Reported on snow removal challenges from 15 inches of snow and three weeks of extreme cold. Vehicle maintenance continued but outdoor work (pruning, shelter repairs) delayed. Crews self-performed snow removal except at Nexus Park (contracted). No major water/heating repairs occurred. Trails are difficult to clear in deep snow; cross-country skiers prefer untreated trails. Flooding concerns minimal; snowmelt expected to be gradual.
- Don (Financial Update): Presented a new financial report format. General fund receives major tax revenue in June and December; January revenues are lower. January 2026 had three payrolls (vs. two), affecting expense comparisons. Overtime costs rose due to snow removal. Program registrations (fees) were strong. The non-reverting, field house, and commons funds are performing well; commons fund tenants full. Cash balances healthy across funds. Board member suggested removing general fund from revenue vs. expense graph and adding bond payoff status. Discussion on finalizing Nexus Park construction close-out (meeting with controller’s office in weeks). New bus stop at Nexus is transit-funded.
- Director’s Report:
- Provided updates on leases: One lease in final negotiations (tenant improvement items); another under review for 10,000 sq ft of park space plus additional space.
- Downtown 2030 Plan: Subcommittee focused on Mill Race Park; high-priority items being integrated into master plan.
- Three concurrent master plans: parks strategic, donor center/aquatics/shelter, and Mill Race Park. Each will have dedicated stakeholder groups; timeline 12–18 months (target end of 2027).
- Applying for a Pacers State Play Grant to renovate Mill Race Park basketball court.
- Acknowledged team’s effort during “snowpocalypse” – proactive closures, inter-departmental support.
- Bartholomew County Public Library master planning: collaborating to avoid duplication.
- Lincoln Turf Update: Artificial turf installation delayed due to permitting setbacks and weather. Tournament schedule cleared for April–May; first tournament expected late May. Nationals in July remain on track. Affected tournaments relocated to other local fields, so Columbus retains the events.
Key Outcomes
- All consent items approved unanimously.
- Financial report format will be refined based on board feedback (remove general fund from graph, add quarterly focus on specific funds, bond debt status).
- Three master plans to proceed concurrently; contract being finalized, board will receive scope and timeline.
- Lease negotiations continue for activating Mill Race Park space.
- Lincoln turf installation to begin Feb 23; delayed tournaments moved but not lost.
- Next meeting not announced; board adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
So that a line policy fine thing we need to do is like a note. It says like they're going to be all fans. Probably where we put that construction. So yeah, so there's no variable. Pretty soon. They won't be shutting up at all. They would just have to know how to turn them all. I have not had a chance to work off. I mean they will lock down the entrances. Yeah. If they're only 24,000. I mean they added it out short. Oh, I think we're on the box like that. They just need to park and make sure they gain this. Yeah. So we said they have to make sure they can't. We just need to make sure we took the work at the house. But we need to make a like undocument. I'll just go with the document. Yeah, I'll bring it back up to speed for the gun game mayor cake. Yeah, something those very long. Yeah. Oh okay. Yeah. Okay. After everybody. All right. It's after four o'clock, and we have a quorum. Um Seth Rice, sports program manager, and I will be reporting for Rep Sports, Hamilton, and Paul today. So in Reg Sports, this Sunday we have the second week of our basketball buddies. Uh Colin, who is our sports coordinator and myself are the coaches of basketball buddies. Um it's awesome to see those kids grow week to week. Uh currently we have 19 participants in that specific sport. Uh you saw the registration just got over. We have over a thousand uh registrants again for the spring season. We're currently in uh registration for baseball, still we're at 240 kids with a couple weeks left in our youth baseball week. For Hamilton, we hosted 18 birthday parties and multiple room rentals during the month of January. We also hosted two sentinel games and 24 Columbus youth hockey games. Uh and then lastly, uh which I'm very excited about, we've put a new small ice policy, it's uh been well received. So before you call it on Monday morning and reserve your spot, yeah, pay $10 drop-in and people treated it essentially as a private rental. Um I did not like that, so we changed that policy. I thought there would be some pushback, but so far people have understood. So you can still do that same policy, but there's some option that that some more people will use that small ice if you come in for the ten dollar drop in. Uh can't pay 90 95 fee to have a private control on that. Um, but it actually has uh resulted in more of the screen that space, so we're excited about that for what we need. And finally, for me at golf, um, despite snow and the cold weather, uh, our revenue is actually up $1,500 for January of 2025. We're doing well on our season passes. I told you guys last board meeting honored brief is closed down this year. So we're expecting a very big year of the golf course, uh, both parking and green bill. Um also very happy to report that the Columbus East Boys high school team, they will be using green belt for their season this year.
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