Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Committee Budget Review and Analysis - October 2, 2025
Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Committee Budget Review and Analysis - October 2, 2025
The Indianapolis City-County Council Parks and Recreation Committee met on October 2, 2025, to review and analyze the proposed 2026 parks budget. Director Crohn presented an overview of recent achievements, including Lilly Endowment grant projects and a revenue recovery task force. Public commenters urged greater investment in parks and green space, while councilors debated funding shortfalls. The committee subsequently voted to approve the parks portion of the 2026 budget.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ms. Brookwater (no affiliation stated) advocated for the adoption of a wheel tax and impact fees to generate dedicated park funding. She also referenced the Holiday Park playground project and called for a larger vision for funding sources.
- Jeff Stant (zip code 46219) called for a citywide discussion on budget priorities, noting that the parks allocation ($33 million out of $1.709 billion) is a "pittance." He urged progress on acquiring forest properties at Haverstick Creek, East Side Flatwoods, and Goose Creek.
- Mike Cole (zip code 46219, founder of Forest for All) thanked the council for opposing a recent data center and acknowledged past urban forest preservation funding, but described the budget proposal as "heartbreaking." He compared Indianapolis’s park ranking unfavorably to nearby cities and urged structural investments.
- Judith Thomas (President and CEO, Indy Arts Council) stated that the Arts Council is working with civic partners and the mayor’s office on new funding models for arts and public spaces. She noted that arts funding is lower than in 2005 and called for strategic partnerships.
Discussion Items
- Director Crohn’s Presentation: Director Crohn reported on attending the National Recreation and Park Association conference, the awarding of contracts for Lilly Endowment grant projects, and the department’s CAPRA certification. She highlighted that the 2025 parks budget ($33 million) is more than double the inflation-adjusted 2015 budget, but stressed the need for diverse funding sources to maintain momentum.
- Revenue Discussion: In response to a question from Councilor Booth, Director Crohn confirmed that an internal revenue recovery task force is meeting weekly to review fee structures. Any fee changes would be voted on by the parks board after consultation with councilors and community members.
- Holiday Park Playground Update: In reply to Councilor Dilk, Director Crohn and her chief communications officer indicated that a ribbon cutting for the Holiday Park playground is planned for late October 2025.
- Councilor Concerns: Councilor Evans voted for the budget but expressed frustration with the lack of sustainable funding, calling on the Parks Alliance and Arts Council to help develop creative revenue solutions. Councilor McCormick highlighted a coming ribbon cutting for the B&O Trail. Chair Boots echoed concerns about underinvestment in quality-of-life amenities, warning of a "brain drain" and urging the city to prioritize parks and green space.
Key Outcomes
- Budget Approval: The committee adopted Proposal 259, adopting the 2026 city budget (parks and recreation portion), by a voice vote. Councilor Evans voted "reluctantly yes," all other councilors voted in favor.
- Revenue Task Force: Director Crohn confirmed that a revenue recovery task force will continue meeting and plan to return to the committee in the coming months with concrete proposals.
- Holiday Park Playground: A ribbon cutting for the Holiday Park playground is expected by the end of October 2025.
Meeting Transcript
There is a sign up list or have a country. Oh my god, just looking at the electric. Mr. Chairman. We should meet on time. I'm gonna write my name further down. You have to take one on. I doubt that's gonna happen. Yes. Good thanks. I hope you all this is on. Yeah, usually we view an analysis boom. I was in an out yesterday, fifteen minutes from mine. Yeah. All right. Thanks everybody. Um we are here this evening on the twenty-fifth of or no, I'm sorry. This is the wrong. We are on October 2nd, 2025 for the uh parks and recs committee. Um we are gonna start with introductions down with uh counselor Dilk. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mike Dilk, District 24. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Jesse Brown, District 13. Thank you, Mr. Chair, Brianne Delaney, District Two. Thank you, Chairman Jessica McCormick, District 16. Good evening, Chairman Booth, Krista Carlino, District 11, West Side. Frank Miskear, District 19, Southeast Side. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Jared Evans representing District 17. Thank you, Counselors. I'm Dan Boots, District 3, and I have the honor of chairing this committee. And this evening we're gonna hear some of the budget review and analysis of the uh parks budget. We're gonna start with a presentation from Director Crohn. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and to all of you this evening, um, our committee members, we as always appreciate your love and support um for our neighbors and and our parks that participate in uh recreation in our spaces. Uh so we do have a very brief presentation, wanted to provide a few updates um for you all, and then we can move right along as you see fit, Mr. Chair. So last week I wanted to brag a little bit. Um I had the opportunity with a few of my team members to attend the National Recreation and Park Association conference. Um this is a annual conference that this this past year took place in Orlando. Um and it was an amazing um valuable learning opportunity for our team and me, especially as I continue to grow in this role. As many of you know, I have crossed my 90-day mark um and I actually got to celebrate that 90 days with some of my team members at this conference um at educational sessions and connecting with other um urban uh park system leaders as well. So hearing from those parks professionals across the country. They shared with me that they're facing many of the same challenges and opportunities that we are here in Indianapolis and being connected with the parks professionals who attend these conferences and teach the sessions at these conferences are one of the ways that we maintain our standing as one of the only three Indiana park systems to hold our CAPRA certification. So we're very proud as the Indianapolis Parks and Recreation to hold that certification and meet the standards that are required by us for that certification.
openpublica.com