Lawrence budget crunch affecting city parks
On Oct. 26 the Parks and Recreation Department will dedicated its newest development, DeVictor Park. Nearly two years in the making, the original master plan included areas for an outdoor classroom, a footbridge bridge and a playground. However, when the park finally opens at the end of this month, the dedication will go on without the playground or footbridge in place.
Currently the park sits on a 42-acre lot bordering Langston Hughes Elementary School. The absent pieces are only visible by the footprints of concrete laid in their place.
Paula Pepin, Vice President of the West Lawrence Neighborhood Association where DeVictor Park is located, has been watching the construction of the park from day one.
“It’s unfortunate, but also good to see that the footprints are there and that one day the playground will be installed,” Pepin said.
Missing playground equipment, unmown lawns and incomplete parks have come to visualize the budget crunch affecting the Parks and Recreation district. Normally the department operates with a $3.5 million budget. However, Lawrence revenues did not come in as expected, forcing departments to prioritize and cut back.
Ernie Shaw, Interim Director for Park and Recreation, says this is the first time since he began that the budget has been cut to such a degree. Half way through 2007, tax projections, made in 2006, were not being met. In order to handle the situation, departments were asked to cut their budget back by 6%.
Initially, Parks and Recreation looked towards personnel. When Fred DeVictor, director of the department for 30 years, retired earlier this year, Shaw took over his position saving the department from the additional cost of hiring someone else. Part time positions were also cut back, from 500 to 400 employees.
With personnel reduced the department had to look towards other expenditures.
“When the money is not there you have to get around it and do what you’re supposed to do,” Shaw said.
The original master plan for DeVictor Park, estimated the total cost at $821,645.00. Included was the playground equipment, at $35,000, and the footbridge, at $45,000. By delaying the installation of the two pieces the department is saving $80,000.
Shaw has also had to cut back on mowers and other maintenance equipment. Areas in city parks, not considered to be high profile areas, have gone without regular mowing. In doing so, the department has not had to strain older equipment.
Gary Moulton, resident of the Hills West neighborhood, regularly visits Holcom Park. Moulton and his wife noticed this summer that areas in the park were not being maintained as they normally are.
“Some areas were not being mowed. It didn’t affect our enjoyment of the park it was just odd, we’ve never seen areas go unmown before,” Moulton said.
Shaw said that in determining areas to keep well maintained, the department determined useable area as well as areas that could compromise safety. Spaces were mowed where a carelessly thrown cigarette or match could ignite overgrown grass.
“It’s just like when a person tries to budget their income. Safety and necessities are automatically going to become a priority,” Shaw said.
Shaw says that delaying maintenance on city parks as well as waiting to replace old equipment will eventually catch up with the department. Unfortunately the outlook for the 2008 city budget is not shaping up to better than 2007.
Ed Mullins, finance director for the city, said that when the city commission determines where cities revenues will go, they tend to focus on a wide variety of areas. Even though Lawrence’s financial situation is limited, the commission continues to try and meet a broad range of objectives and needs.
Shaw and his department recognizes the struggles faced by other departments. With so many needs to be met it’s up to the commission members to juggle the money.
“It’s gets hard when the streets need to replace potholes, and the fired department needs new trucks. Safety needs to be a priority in this city,” Shaw said.
Lisa Patterson, communications director for the city, has seen the balancing test in action. In a recent survey, Lawrence residents rated fire and emergency response systems, police, water, waste and city parks with a 90% approval rating. Since all five departments are ranked as important to the community, they become a balancing test between one another.
“Quality of life is assessed in the community’s needs,” Patterson said.
Patterson explains that although plans may not be completely finished at the moment, that doesn’t mean that they will not be completed in the future.
This holds true of DeVictor Park. Shaw has hopes that in the new year the parks and recreation department’s budget will afford for a natural playground to be installed.