Parks staff seek funds for wayfinding, Cotton Belt amenities and a capital campaign for Addison Circle Park

Janet Tippel, Director of Parks and Recreation, outlined July 1 a package of parks one‑time requests and multi‑year capital items that include wayfinding signage, Cotton Belt trail amenity enhancements, Celestial Park entrance and lighting improvements, asset management needs across parks, and the start of a capital‑giving campaign to fund the Addison Circle Park vision.

Wayfinding signage: Tippel said a consultant’s design work this fiscal year produced concepts and preliminary cost estimates and staff propose implementing the signage in two fiscal years—about $785,000 in year one and roughly $804,000 in year two—to fabricate and install directional, campus and pedestrian signs and associated footings and utility work.

Cotton Belt trail amenities: staff requested $250,000 to complete design of signage, landscaping, lighting and pedestrian amenities for the trail corridor through Addison, with a likely FY2027 construction budget of roughly $1.5 million to add trail furnishings, lighting and landscaping that grant programs typically do not cover.

Addison Circle Park capital campaign: Tippel proposed a $196,000 package to refine the park design, create marketing and donor materials including a dedicated web page, and begin outreach to corporate partners and philanthropic donors. Staff said a full build of the vision could be in the tens of millions and a private capital campaign could reduce the town’s direct cost; the campaign consultant would also assist with naming rights and donor stewardship concepts.

Asset management and smaller park projects: staff listed a set of park asset items—water‑garden replastering and lighting upgrades, playground lifecycle and buoy repairs, landscape restoration and replanting in shade areas, Celestial Park entrance stabilization and parking‑area lighting—totaling several hundred thousand dollars as one‑time needs tied to lifecycle replacement and safety/maintenance.

Council response and next steps: councilors asked for phasing options, alternatives for materials and more detail on parking/lighting needs; staff said some design work is already budgeted and the requests are intended to move projects into implementation if council so directs during the FY2026 budget process.

Ending: Tippel said several projects would be grant‑eligible but grant programs usually exclude signage and furnishings; the council asked staff to return with cost breakdowns and phasing alternatives during the budget workshop schedule.