Council keeps $350,000 parks grant focused on parking, playground and track rather than an indoor gym

A committee convened by the Parks & Recreation Department recommended that Green Level spend a $350,000 grant on a new parking lot, new playground structures and an extension of the walking track, and the council previously approved that recommendation at its April 11 meeting.

Parks & Recreation Director Brandon Enoch told the council the committee — which included the mayor, council members, the town administrator and staff — met to consider project options and concluded smaller, deliverable projects better matched the available grant funding. Councilmember Michael Trollinger questioned why the committee recommendation did not align with a resident survey that expressed strong interest in an indoor gym space.

Town Administrator Barrett Brown said building an indoor gym would require utilities, HVAC and staffing that would exceed the grant’s funding and that the committee focused on projects the grant could complete. Mr. Enoch noted lights for the football field were included on the survey but are not required by the grant. The Parks & Recreation Department reported modest department revenues and said it will present a cost analysis of youth football inventory needs at the next meeting.

The town also outlined upcoming parks programming and events, including football registration, Saturday workouts beginning in June and a Juneteenth celebration scheduled for June 16, 2024.