Public works and recreation staff reported a $1,000,000 Hellman Foundation award for an urban-forest plan, ongoing supervisor vacancies and recruiting for tree-trimmer roles, expansion plans for the Richmond Tool Library and mobile tool library, and new or expanded recreation offerings including aquatics staffing and programs.

Designers presented a conceptual overhaul of Kavanaugh Park that would remove an existing berm, add playgrounds, a half basketball court, walking paths and bioswales; consultant and staff said berm removal could cost about $1 million and the project will need council approval to amend the CIP budget.

Parks and recreation staff presented the department's four‑tier fee model, program counts and the city’s special‑revenue fund. Staff said the special fund covers about $10 million of operations and warned that funding the same services from property taxes would require raising the millage rate roughly 10% (to about 5.5591 mills), increasing some homeowners' bills substantially.

An ad hoc Parks & Rec group reported meetings with the mayor and council about pool options; the City engaged Lane 4 for a $10,000 feasibility study with a 90-day turnaround. Commissioners pressed for inclusion in the study and clarified that use of Nordoff or a city-owned facility remain under consideration.

The committee recommended multiple parks actions to the full board or finance committee, including Bird City designation application, several lease renewals, a telecommunications agreement amendment, a USDA cooperative deer-management agreement, a $250,000 grant to Royal Oak Township and acceptance steps for the Turtle Woods acquisition.

At its Dec. 1 meeting the Harnett County Board of Commissioners approved a slate of consent-agenda items — including a greenway feasibility study, detention-center camera upgrades and a three‑year Paytel contract extension — and selected Eddie Jaggers as chairman and Matt Nickel as vice chairman.

City parks staff told the Parks Commission the Seco/Second Lake projectscope has expanded to about $19.7 million (from roughly $13.3 million) and gave updates on multiple park renovations; staff also described planning to host a June 2026 Route 66 Centennial Great Race stop along Mount Vernon Street.

Mayor Steven Reed and city leaders opened a 12-court, lighted pickleball complex at Fame Park, saying the facility is meant to serve residents across districts and foster intergenerational recreation; Reed also said a regional health-care "solution" involving the governor and Jackson Hospital could be announced soon.

Council approved related consent actions after a staff presentation on a purchase-and-sale and priority-use agreement for Bright Park, which depends on a $15 million Outdoor Recreation Legacy Program grant and Washington Unified School District approval; residents urged clearer timelines after earlier promises to 'break ground' in November.

The Northampton Preservation Committee voted Nov. 19 to recommend four projects for City Council funding and to place a pump track in the shopping cart with a $561,000 bonding recommendation, a 5–4 vote driven by concerns about available cash and future housing requests.

Council approved the consent agenda and adopted several resolutions (road maintenance agreement tied to annexation; water-main contract; playground CDBG contract; Tiny Mobile Robots purchase; legal-services amendment; homeland-security grant application) and multiple second-reading ordinances including FY2026 appropriations, advances, transfers, fees and the salaries-and-benefits ordinance (which added 9,000 part-time firefighter hours).

Presenters proposed a River Roots Discovery Gardens, six tennis courts plus six pickleball courts, and a relocated disc-golf course on county land near the new high school; board members gave general consensus to support the concepts so staff can draft MOUs and applicants can pursue grant deadlines.

The Yukon Parks and Recreation director reported completion and ribbon-cutting for four $50,000 neighborhood playgrounds and said the city approved $400,000 for additional sites, with plans to install them by spring break; site-specific plans, drainage and safety upgrades were discussed.

At its Nov. 19 meeting the Crown Point Board of Public Works and Safety approved an INDOT joint‑use maintenance agreement with a 10‑year settlement responsibility clause, accepted change orders for asbestos removal at a downtown demolition, and approved an $8,100 easement payment to Lake County Parks and Recreation.

The Wakulla County Board accepted the 2025 adopted infrastructure plan and removed references to a proposed Forest Service land swap; residents urged moving recreation facilities away from SR 319 and questioned traffic, burnability of the Ivan Tract, and public notice of earlier proposals.

County staff presented 10 candidate properties to the Board of County Commissioners for the Seminole Forever conservation program, highlighted top-ranked sites and a roughly $10.7 million fund balance, and said staff will begin due diligence and pursue grant partnerships as directed by the board.

The committee recommended the board endorse schematic design elements for the Loudoun Trails & Waterways (LTW) signature project, an 18‑mile loop that will connect existing trails, construct bridges and trailheads, and rehabilitate the Broad Run Toll House in conformance with federal and state historic preservation standards.

The council recorded several unanimous votes Nov. 12, including SPIF fee updates, playground procurements, adoption of development standards and a trail design amendment.

The board adopted long-range plans for the Rice Creek North Regional Trail and Lake George Regional Park, approved a three-part grant amendment to extend planting funds and reallocate $200,000 in savings to Rice Creek Chain of Lakes projects, and authorized contracts for reforestation and lighting to support park improvements.

The board adopted a countywide fee schedule effective Jan. 1, 2026, after public comment objected to a proposal to double day-use park fees from $5 to $10 and raised concerns about fair-related fees charged to youth by outside groups.

Liz Hookwater, recreation division manager for Buncombe County Parks and Recreation, and Joseph Guzman, Buncombe County project manager, told the Recreation Advisory Board on Nov. 12 that recommendations from the passive-recreation subcommittee will be presented to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and members should watch or attend the commission presentation.

Staff previewed that the passive recreation lands subcommittee will recommend seven open-space projects totaling about $4.37 million to the Board next Tuesday; Rachel also reported HMGP has 429 total applications (277 seeking acquisition), with 206 properties returned in signed batches to the state so far.

City consultants presented a 27,000-square-foot aquatic/fitness concept budgeted at $15 million, but multiple council members and YMCA advisors told the developer that amount likely wont deliver a competition-capable pool and therapy spaces; the developer agreed to re-scope and return with options by Dec. 2.

Staff announced Silverland Park repair bids due Dec. 22 with construction to begin in March; FEMA funds accepted for Riverside Park ($29,000 for pavilion upgrade and $51,000 for other repairs); $2.1 million passive-recreation funding recommendation will go before Buncombe County commissioners; Taylor's Wave is advancing toward water infiltration in

After community debate, council agreed to temporarily fund the Lake June Park pickleball courts from town reserves with expected grant reimbursement and approved moving forward with lighting and pavilion upgrades while consultants incorporate pickleball into a broader 'synergy' park plan.