Parks and Recreation Committee Budget Meeting - September 10, 2026

The Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Committee met on September 10, 2026, at 5:32 PM (though the official timestamp for the meeting is 2026-09-10 10:45:00+00:00) to review, analyze, and adopt the proposed 2027 budget for Indy Parks. The meeting included opening remarks from Director Crohn, extensive discussion on staffing, fees, safety, partnerships, and infrastructure, and concluded with a unanimous vote to adopt the budget.

Consent Calendar

• No consent calendar items were noted.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Brandon Beasley (zip code 46218), founder and executive director of Triple Bless Inc. and a member of the Clinician-Led Crisis Response Team, spoke about his youth experience in Indy Parks (Washington Park, Douglas Park, Riverside Park). He emphasized the importance of park directors actively engaging youth in neighborhoods, stating that when he was young, directors like Kiambi Thomas, Tony Johnson, and Eddie Hannon would come into the community and pick up kids. He expressed that current access is not the same and urged the department to return to that mindset of caring for youth as a way to reduce crime. He praised his work with safety administrator Eric Davenport and called for getting the right people in facilities with programs willing to give back.

Discussion Items

• Opening Statement and Clarifications from Director Crohn: Director Crohn announced that splash pads will remain open through September 27, 2026, due to maintenance team efforts. She clarified that the proposed park safety ambassadors team in its initial phase would not be law enforcement – they would not carry badges, firearms, or weapons; instead, they would focus on community engagement, de-escalation, and identifying safety hazards. In the parks general fund, a 6.6% increase ($986,000) is allocated for COLA and step/grade adjustments, and the attrition rate has nearly halved compared to 2026. A staffing assessment is underway and expected to be completed by December 2026, with a commitment to present findings to the committee in January 2027.
• Staffing and Vacancies: Chairman Boots noted that full-time positions are budgeted at 168, with 26 vacancies (15.5% vacancy rate). Director Crohn outlined efforts to address vacancies, including evaluating position descriptions, addressing non-competitive pay, and repurposing long-vacant roles.
• Golf Fees: Councilor Scar suggested adding $1–$2 per round of golf to raise revenue (338,000 rounds annually). Director Crohn stated the department would take the recommendation seriously and discuss it with golf operators.
• Fee Increases and Equitable Pricing: Councilor Delaney inquired about fees at Holiday Park and broader fee evaluation. Director Crohn confirmed fees were increased in various areas, particularly for rentals (shevters, athletic fields, rooms) and programs based on peak hours and recent park investments. She noted that fee increases were not applied across the board and that the department considers equitable access. Councilor Wells cautioned against pricing that could effectively segregate park usage, emphasizing that parks should remain affordable for all residents regardless of neighborhood.
• Pool Operations and Year-Round Model: Councilor Delaney asked about the move toward year-round indoor pools. Director Crohn explained that aging outdoor pool infrastructure (some built in the 1970s–80s), rising chemical and staffing costs, shortened summer seasons, and a shrinking seasonal workforce create a perfect storm. Currently, Indy Parks recovers only about $1 for every $6 spent on pool operations. A year-round model would extend access and help manage costs.
• Partnerships and Community Engagement: Councilor Brown raised concerns about privatization and the handling of partnerships, citing the RBI group managing baseball fields. He noted a positive interaction but also a padlocking issue that was resolved. Councilor Ossley strongly criticized the department for rejecting volunteer and community partnerships, specifically citing world heavyweight boxing champion Layman Brewster being denied use of a regulation boxing ring for youth training. Deputy Director Kim Campbell responded that the program was not stopped and that the department has asked for required insurance and specifications to ensure safety, but the ring was constructed without prior approval. Councilor Ossley pressed for a concrete timeline to resolve the issue and ensure summer 2027 programming; Director Crohn agreed to provide a plan date to the chairman.
• Safety Investments: Chairman Boots confirmed that none of the camera funding will go toward Flock cameras – they are security cameras similar to those at the CCB. Director Crohn detailed safety investments including mobile and stationary cameras at park centers, the hiring of a park safety administrator (Eric Davenport), and efforts to train staff and update emergency action plans. The park safety ambassador program was not funded in the final budget proposal; instead, the department will pivot to a volunteer-based community ambassador model.
• Program Participation and Technology: Director Crohn outlined plans to grow program participation through a marketing strategy, evaluation of popular programs, and implementation of a new recreation management software (RecTech) with integrated credit card readers to improve access and transparency.
• Five-Year Comprehensive Master Plan: Director Crohn stated that the department is evaluating the existing 2023 master plan and will issue a bid for a consultant before the end of 2026. Public engagement will begin in 2027, with the new plan expected to be published in 2028.
• Brookside Park Playground Delays and Department Coordination: Councilor Brown expressed frustration with the 26-month delay in replacing two playgrounds at Brookside Park (contract signed August 2023, opened July 2026), attributing the failure to poor interdepartmental coordination and mayoral leadership, not to Indy Parks staff. He criticized the low staffing levels (five park rangers for the entire city) and inadequate wages.
• DPW Collaboration: Councilor Brown noted improved maintenance coordination with the Department of Public Works (DPW), resulting in fewer complaints about grass and trash. However, he cautioned that the collaboration should not compromise quality of service.

Key Outcomes

• Budget Adoption: The committee voted unanimously to adopt the 2027 budget for the Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Department (motion and second, all in favor, no opposition).
• Commitments:
  • Director Crohn committed to presenting the findings of the staffing assessment to the committee at the January 2027 meeting.
  • The department will work with Councilor Ossley to provide a timeline and plan for after-hours programming and the boxing ring issue for summer 2027.
  • The department will continue to evaluate and possibly revise fees based on council feedback.
• Next Steps: The five-year comprehensive master plan bid will go out by end of 2026; public engagement begins in 2027. The park safety ambassador program will transition to a volunteer community ambassador model, with Eric Davenport leading the effort.