Loveland to Host Parks and Recreation Budget Forum December 17
The City of Loveland will present a detailed look at funding sources and budget strategies for its Parks and Recreation Department on December 17 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers at 500 East 3rd Street.
The hybrid event allows community members to attend in person or participate online. Those wishing to join virtually must register at go.lovgov.org/park-rec-funds and will receive confirmation details for online access.
Parks and Recreation Director Kara Kish will lead the presentation, which examines how funding sources support services including parkland maintenance, multi-modal trails, open lands, cemeteries, the Chilson Recreation and Senior Center, special events and golf courses. The session will also address service level budget impacts and management strategies the department has implemented.
Budget Pressures Drive Community Interest
The presentation comes as the department manages significant budget constraints. Loveland City Council approved a fiscal year 2025 budget in October 2024 that required $10.5 million in overall reductions, with Parks and Recreation absorbing $2.95 million in cuts.
The department receives primary funding from the city's General Fund, which is predominantly supported by sales and use tax revenues, according to city budget documents. Fourteen cents of every General Fund tax dollar supports Parks, Recreation, Library and Cultural Services combined.
Additional revenue sources include enterprise funds for golf operations and certain facilities, the Larimer County Open Lands Sales Tax for natural areas and open space, user fees from facility admissions and program registrations, and occasional grants and sponsorships.
The city has invested more than $7 million into the Parks and Recreation system over the past 21 years, primarily for maintenance and improvements, according to city budget records. However, costs to maintain infrastructure and provide services have outpaced available revenue since 2016.
Service Reductions Implemented Across Department
Budget constraints have forced the department to reduce maintenance frequency in parks and on trails, shorten operating hours at recreation facilities, and eliminate or consolidate some programs. The department has prioritized essential and safety-critical functions while implementing cost recovery through increased user fees.
The city will remove select playground equipment at three parks in December due to aging equipment that has reached the end of its useful life and for which replacement parts are no longer available.
The Parks and Recreation Department has provided services to Loveland residents for more than 70 years. The department's scope has expanded significantly from basic parkland maintenance and youth recreation programs to include multi-modal trails, senior services, golf operations, open lands management and special events coordination.
The Chilson Recreation and Senior Center opened in the late 1980s, while the city's golf courses were developed during the 1970s through 1990s. Trail systems and regional parks saw significant expansion during the 1990s and 2010s, particularly following passage of countywide sales taxes dedicated to open lands acquisition and maintenance.
"Our community has shown a lot of interest in the different facets of our municipal budget," Kish said. "A deep dive into the Parks and Recreation budget will help our community connect the dots between the resources available and levels of service we are able to support."
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions specific to parks and recreation during the December 17 presentation.
Additional information about the city's budget is available on the Lets Talk Loveland platform at letstalkloveland.org/budget. Information about Parks and Recreation services is available at lovgov.org/ParksRecreation.