MPR budget enhances park experience
Trail improvements
The Maryville Parks and Recreation advisory board Thursday night finalized a $1.5 million balanced operating budget for the new fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
The new budget proposes a total of $1,587,290 in expenses to be offset by matching revenues.
“I would sum up the budget goals as enhancing the public’s experience,” Maryville Parks & Recreation Director Aaron Dobson said. “There will be several projects that we will be working on to improve those experiences.”
The new budget’s largest single expense item projects $1,489,534 for general operations, with $97,756 for capital improvement projects.
The largest scheduled improvement will direct $58,000 toward park maintenance, including filling and reseeding of the athletic fields at Donaldson Westside and Beal parks. A new pavilion and swing set surface upgrades are in the works for Sisson-Eek Park, as are new drinking fountains at Sisson-Eek and Franklin parks. Sidewalk and bridge repairs at Judah Park and trails at Robertson-Crist to be funded through matching grant funds are also in the plans.
“When I was interviewed for the position, the park board joked around about the dandelions at our parks,” Dobson said. “Then this spring, I saw firsthand that they were not joking.
“We will attempt to reseed the majority of Donaldson Westside Park and Beal Park,” he said. “We will be adding fill dirt to level the fields at our athletic complexes. We will also make repairs to the Beal Park scoreboard.”
Other projected capital improvements include $15,000 for the Maryville Aquatic Center for upgrades and repairs, and $24,756 for the Maryville Community Center for new office equipment, air-conditioning replacements, and renovation of the former Shake Shop area.
“At the MAC, we have seen the poor condition of the lawn chairs,” Dobson said. “ We will attempt to refurbish as many lounge chairs as we can for next season.”
The former Shake Shop at the community center will become a stretching and core-fitness area.
Dobson said the air conditioning of the meeting rooms will be another major upgrade.
“For the last few years, these rooms have not had air conditioning available to them and this has limited the programming we can offer and minimized the rental use of the rooms,” he said.
Dobson said he is anxious to begin upgrades at Robertson-Crist Park, perhaps the most overlooked park in Maryville.
“We are working to secure grants to help create a nature trail through Robertson-Crist Park,” he said. “Once the trail is installed, we will have the opportunity to make more nature enhancements.”
Programming improvements are also in the budget for the coming year with the expansion of summer camp to 10 weeks. Changes will include increased selection options for 6-to-12-year-olds attending the Monday-through-Friday programs.
Dobson’s plans also envision increased utilization of the amphitheater at Donaldson Westside Park.
“We have a great, but severely underused, amphitheater there,” he said of the seldom-used outdoor facility. “I am excited that we will start offering concerts in the park.
“I’d like to see our concerts become a central meeting place for the public …,” Dobson said. “I see it fitting in well with our goal of enhancing the community’s experience in our parks.”