City Parks

In My Opinion

In spite of the best efforts of a dedicated Director, her meager staff and a bevy of volunteers, the parks face a slow death by funding starvation. Volunteers have to have materials and equipment to work with and those items cost money. Due to recent budget balancing cuts by City Council the department has been forced to choose between operating costs and maintenance of existing facilities. Making permanent improvements will have to wait for better times.

Most citizens of Wilmington and many from the surrounding area have benefited from the park system. Youth soccer, tennis, baseball, softball, basketball and other sports related activities have been offered to all regardless of their ability to pay.

Sports are just one aspect of the parks offerings. Family gatherings, special events and fundraisers for local organizations, are weekly occurrences during the outdoor season.

 Area and even statewide tournaments bring teams, their supporters and their money to the local hospitality industry. Motels and restaurants welcome these events because of the economic impact on their bottom line.

The money story is this:

The 2013 the parks budget was $346,000 none of which came from the city funds.

Past years amounts were: 2012 $392,000; 2011 $436,000 with $91,000 from the general fund. This was the last year for general fund transfer; 2010 $475,400 ($113,350 transfer)

City portion of the Hotel lodging or “bed” tax in 2013 was $85,000; 2012 $84,000; 2011 $72,000; 2010 $90,000

There is a dire need for some additional funding and due to the slow growth in city revenue the council feels constrained from spending general fund dollars on the parks. My suggestion to council is, and has been, that since the Park helps to generate revenues for the hospitality businesses a portion of the council controlled lodging (bed) tax be allocated to the parks budget. A mere $20,000 would be a good annual investment in this revenue generating department. That small amount diverted from the Visitor’s Bureau’s $250,000 overall budget that, at present is given the all of the bed tax.

Paul Hunter paulhunter45177@gmail.com