Tuesday, May 12, 2026

FY 2027 Budget Narrative: Recreation Department

From the Town Administrator's FY 2027 Budget narrative, each department's story is worth sharing.


General Purpose

The Recreation Department is responsible for delivering exceptional recreational programs and facilities that enhance the quality of life for our residents. Through a steadfast commitment to consistency, dependability, and a deep sense of obligation to our community, we strive to elevate the well-being of all those we serve. As a self-supporting department, we rely on program fees to sustain operations while fostering partnerships with local sports organizations, the Franklin Public School Department, residents, private groups, and other town departments. Our impact is far-reaching, with over 12,000 individuals benefiting from our programs, parks, and playgrounds annually. This year alone, our registration numbers exceeded 7,200 participants, reflecting our ongoing growth and success.

Core Functions

● Coordinating recreation activities with youth and adult sports organizations (e.g., youth baseball, youth and adult soccer, youth and adult lacrosse, youth softball, youth football, youth and adult cricket, adult pickleball, and youth and adult street hockey).
● Expanding partnerships with public schools, nonprofits, and citizen groups.
● Trail maintenance efforts led by Eagle Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts.
● Enhancing resident participation in program development and park planning.
● Developing new self-supporting programs and securing additional funding through grants, donations, and sponsorships.

Staffing

● One (1) Recreation Director
● One (1) Deputy Director
● One (1) Program Coordinator
● Three (3) part-time Program Coordinators
● One (1) part-time Administrative Assistant

Strategic Initiatives & Accomplishments

● Revenue Overview
○ In FY25, our revenues were $844,702, marking a 6.5% increase from the
$793,230 generated in FY24. This growth is driven by:
■ Increased participation, rising from 7,136 in FY24 up slightly to 7,179 in FY25.
■ So far in FY26, we have seen higher monthly revenue peaks, with August 2025 reaching $131,000, February 2026 hitting $82,000, and March 2026 reaching a record high $156,000.
■ Expansion of programs and facilities, attracting more participants and broadening our offerings by moving to the Gerald F. Parmenter complex in June 2025.
■ Anticipated revenue growth in FY26, with a projected total of
$868,000.
■ As we grow, we are committed to reinvesting in our programs, staff, and facilities to enhance community engagement and accessibility
● Facility & Infrastructure Improvements
○ King Street Memorial Park Master Plan: Seeking Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding for new electrical service, additional parking near the pickleball/basketball courts and community garden, restroom/concession building for summer camp, 4 additional pickleball courts, improved field lighting, and security enhancements.
○ New 70’ baseball batting cage at Fletcher Field with synthetic turf surface.
○ Construction of a press box at Beaver Pond turf field.
 
FY27 Requested Budget Highlights

● Budget realignment: increasing our Other Contractual Services line by $1,000 due to expenses related to basketball referees and concerts on the common. However, we have decreased our Printing and Meetings/Conference line item by $1,000 to match.
● Increasing our Recreation Programs line by $10,000 due to expenses related to programs offered by our department. These expenses will be recouped by revenues.

FY27 Requested Budget Summary

We remain committed to fiscal responsibility, ensuring that revenue growth aligns with strategic reinvestments. Through careful budgeting and diversified funding, we continue to strengthen our self-sustaining model while enhancing the quality of our offerings. With projected revenue of $875,000 in FY27, we aim to:
● Expand recreational programs to meet rising demand.
● Improve accessibility and inclusion across all facilities.
● Pursue additional grant opportunities to reduce financial barriers for residents.
● Continue infrastructure enhancements to maximize community benefit. Our consistent growth in participants and revenue reflects the Recreation Department’s commitment to delivering exceptional services and enriching the lives of Franklin’s residents. We expect to see further growth in FY27 and anticipate our revenues to surpass the $875,000 mark.




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