Parks division proposes carry-in/carry-out policy, reduced mowing after FY27 budget cut

Bridal Summers, Parks Division Manager for New Castle County, told the Public Works Committee that the parks budget was reduced roughly 14% for FY27 and that staffing and contract pressures require operational changes including reduced mowing and a phased carry-in/carry-out trash policy.

Summers said the division manages about 6,000 acres of parkland and that roughly 890–900 acres are maintained as turf. The department currently has 76 full-time employees, 68 of whom work in the field. Summers said the FY27 budget reductions left four funded positions vacant and about 10 field positions defunded (not currently fillable).

To reduce recurring costs, parks staff identified 55 acres across 11 sites for a reduced- or "low-mow" regime (mowed once a year, typically in winter) and about 11 acres to be designated as no-mow. Summers said roughly 20 acres were identified to revert to forest to provide buffers and habitat; the division estimated those reductions would save about $41,000 annually.

On contracted services, Summers told the committee the mowing contract was rebid in January 2026 and drew six bidders, but bid pricing for vendors was about 30% higher than the previous year; the county's annual contracted mowing cost is about $250,000. The contractual trash service that operates in summer covers 17 locations once a week and costs about $75,000 per year; contractors empty about 422 cans per week during their seasonal work.

Summers proposed phasing in a carry-in/carry-out model for neighborhood parks and public open spaces to reduce illegal dumping and reallocate staff to higher-priority maintenance tasks. "What we are proposing to do, and hope to do in the next month or so, is to remove the trash cans from those neighborhood parks and public open spaces," she said, adding the county has about 103 neighborhood parks and open spaces, 32 of which currently have trash cans (56 cans total) and that those 56 cans would be the initial focus for removal and signage.

Council members asked for a targeted rollout and advance communication with district councilors. Councilman Tackett praised staff efforts but emphasized the need to alert local constituents and help manage expectations. Councilor McHardier suggested coordinating with environmental protection officers and a camera program to deter illegal dumping and asked whether tipping fees at Cherry Island Landfill could be reimbursed for cleanup; Summers said tipping fees are paid as part of the budget and the county uses RFPs for dumpsters, and that some emergency reimbursement funds exist but are limited.

Summers said the division will place carry-in/carry-out signs where trash cans are removed and will provide education materials and outreach through the MyNCC app and other channels. She also described inspection and safety protocols the division will maintain, including playground safety inspections per the National Playground Safety Institute and annual bridge and court evaluations.

Several council members encouraged volunteer cleanups and offered district support for public education and signage; the division agreed to follow up on specific illegal-dumping hot spots offline.