Richmond Senior Recreation Center will again see an infusion of youth once the new school year begins.
Girls Inc. will use the senior center for after-school activities until its storm-damaged building is ready for use. During its July 9 meeting, the Richmond Parks and Recreation Board approved changing its facility use agreement so Girls Inc. can use the senior center beginning Aug. 1 for as long as it needs.
Denise Retz, the city’s parks superintendent, said Girls Inc. fit seamlessly into the senior center while using the space during May. However, once school was out for the summer, Girls Inc. needed full-day availability and moved into Richmond Community Schools’ Hibberd building.
The parks department does not charge Girls Inc. for the space, and Girls Inc. provides all of its supplies, Retz said.
The parks board also approved an agreement with Richmond Indiana Pickleball, which maintains and uses courts in Clear Creek Park. Retz said the club and parks have a good partnership, but that an agreement is important moving forward. The Clear Creek courts were recently resurfaced with club funds.
A contract with Joe Augustin to book musical acts for all parks programs was amended to pay up to $10,000. The contract originally called for a maximum $5,000 in payments.
Amber King, who works on contract as the department’s facility and guest services coordinator, told the board the parks department implemented a survey for renters of park facilities. She said the department’s average score is 4.72 stars out of five, and the surveys provide valuable feedback.
The department is considering a $10 increase in rental rates for enclosed and open-air facilities during 2027, King said. The department has already subsidized more than $80,000 in goods and services for local nonprofits, King said.
Food and beverage
July’s revenue payment from the food and beverage tax was $116,459.79. The third payment continued the trend of increasing revenue.
Through three payments, the parks department has received $319,407.07 from the 1% tax levied on transactions involving prepared foods and drinks within the city limits.
Retz said the food and beverage tax seems to be going well. The $1.3 million she’ll budget for 2027 from the tax nearly offsets the department’s expected $1.4 million loss from property tax circuit breakers imposed by the state legislature.
The parks department spent $15,000 to replace the Cordell Municipal Pool slide’s motor, limiting the slide’s down time. The parks department expects to receive 100 new picnic tables and 50 new trash cans and will begin work on the new Glen Miller Park playground and splash pad in September.
A version of this article appeared in the July 15 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
