Retiring director Dave Fair reviews department growth, finances and priorities

Park and Recreation Director Dave Fair presented the department's 2025 review at the Nov. 25 commission meeting and reflected on his impending retirement, offering operational metrics and forward-looking priorities.

Fair said the department had "a good year" and highlighted key figures in the packet: cemetery services (84, a slight decrease), lot sales (112, a large increase) and parking and boat-launch daily revenue of $132,851. He noted that 73% of cemetery services in the period were burials rather than cremations and said that trend will require the city to obtain more cemetery land "if we wish to continue being in the cemetery business." Fair also discussed program enrollment (~11,000) and attendance hours, scholarship needs funded by donations and partners (e.g., Kiwanis), and the drop in volunteer hours since COVID.

On strategy, Fair urged commissioners to continue acquiring land adjacent to parks, pursue connectivity such as the railway corridor when vacated by Burlington Northern, consider a field house/community center to reduce dependence on school district facilities, and diversify revenue sources including sponsorships and rentals. He closed by thanking commissioners and staff and saying he felt the department was "in good hands." Commissioners offered appreciation and no substantive follow-up action was recorded in the transcript.

The transcript shows no formal transition plan presented during the meeting beyond Fair's remarks; staff and commissioners expressed confidence in department continuity.