Staff presents 2025 parks impact report as board weighs 5% budget cut

Trish Georges, the Parks & Recreation staff liaison, presented the department's 2025 Impact Report covering the fiscal year from 10/01/2024 to 09/25/2025 and told the North Port Parks & Recreation Advisory Board that the department achieved a 51.3% cost-recovery rate overall. "We were able to obtain a 51.3% cost recovery rate," Georges said, noting that the figure is well above a commonly cited national recreation benchmark.

Georges broke down several major revenue and attendance items: Warm Mineral Springs was reported as generating significant revenue and showing about 148% cost recovery on its own; the recreation department and the North Port Aquatic Center also produced revenue. Georges said the department implemented a new visitor-counting tool and door counters that showed roughly 850,000 visits to parks and recreation facilities in the reporting year. "So for a population of 96,000, that's pretty significant," she said.

Board members asked for more detail. Chair Joan Morgan praised the department's outreach and safety work: "I am so proud of our parks," Morgan said, adding that learn-to-swim programs can be life-saving and that the numbers suggest broad community use. Members requested a fiscal breakout for events and core programs and sought clarification about which activities are enterprise funds versus general-fund supported services.

Georges warned that the department is planning for a 5% reduction in its operating budget in the next cycle because of potential reductions in property-tax revenue and sustained inflation. "This year, we're asking for a 5% reduction," she said, adding that nonessential, low-revenue events such as movies and some concerts are likely to be cut first.

On programming, Georges said infant "survival swim" classes are not currently authorized under the department's Red Cross arrangement and would require outside providers and additional insurance. She also highlighted that some high-performing programs recover more than their costs; for example, Georges said some summer camps show over 100% cost recovery and that the department plans modest fee increases in the coming schedule.

The report also listed services and achievements: lifeguards were honored for lifesaving efforts, a new esports lounge opened at the Morgan Center, invasive-species removal and nature walks drew community participation, and maintenance crews completed field repairs and new signage. Georges noted that the Hope Park playground replacement is fully funded by a CDBG grant and therefore will not be charged to the city's general fund.

Board members requested that Georges produce a full parks-and-recreation budget presentation for the next meeting so they can evaluate recommended cuts and potential fee changes with complete line-item information. Georges agreed to bring back the requested budget information.