Rec Department adds staff, park improvements in proposed FY27 budget

The Parks-Recreation Board approved its fiscal 2027 budget, with new staff positions and park improvements as part of its spending plan.

The department, which presented its budget at its meeting on Wednesday, wants funding to hire an assistant superintendent of rangers, four employees to help with the maintenance of the 200 Trapelo Road property and an additional administrative assistant. 

Other new spending will go to maintenance at the department’s recently acquired Lawrence School property.

Additional FY27 spending increases will fund the amusements at Prospect Hill Park and 200 Trapelo Road as well as supplies for park rangers.

Next, Hebert will sit down with the mayor and discuss whether or not the budget is feasible. The fiscal 2026 budget is $2,436,095. This year’s budget will be larger than last year’s budget, but the total amount was not announced during the public meeting. Hebert said that the fiscal 2027 budget will be nearly $300,000 more than the fiscal 2026 budget in an email to The Waltham Times on April 10.

Work progresses on city’s recreation sites

Recreation Director Kim Hebert said the expansion of the parking lot at 200 Trapelo Road was almost complete. The current amount of parking has required visitors to make parking reservations for weekend visits, so the hope is that the 30 additional spots in the new parking area will alleviate this need. Once contractors are finished with that project, they will start on the construction of an amphitheatre. The design process for the nine-hole golf course and the pool planned for the property is underway as well.

Hebert also said the partial demolition, or “detaching,” of the Fitch School from the gymnasium is set to begin no later than April 13. Additionally, the resurfacing of the playground at Nipper Mahr Park and a renovation of the softball infields at the Veterans Memorial Athletic Complex are on the docket as well.

In other business, the board:

• Read a proclamation from Mayor Jeanette A. McCarthy congratulating Hebert for 25 years of service with the department.
• Heard a presentation about the Waltham Youth Football and Cheer program from president of the organization Francois Joseph. Joseph reported that the program continues to grow while other municipalities in the league have seen a decrease in participation. He also said the team had recently gotten new helmets that include the latest safety features.
• Approved the use of Prospect Hill Park for a May 31 road race benefitting the Community Day Center.