Jackson folds Parks and Recreation into two departments after 6-1 council vote

The Jackson City Council voted last week to eliminate the Parks and Recreation Department and fold its staff into the Department of Public Works and the Department of Human and Cultural Services to help address an estimated $23 million deficit, city officials said.

Chief Administrative Officer Pieter Teeuwissen said the city will save roughly $143,000 in salaries and benefits by not filling the currently vacant director and deputy director positions. He told the council additional savings are expected from eliminating overlapping administrative and operational functions.

Council members approved the plan on a 6-1 vote, with Councilwoman Tina Clay casting the lone dissent. “I agree with the thought of combining departments, but I really think Parks and Recs could stay as a department,” Clay said, suggesting the city start a program to help college students interested in park and recreational leadership.

Some residents expressed concern about reduced youth programming. Mavis Pope, a 64-year-old grandmother, said her grandchildren attend department-sponsored summer activities. “I don’t understand it. Those people say we must do something about youth violence, but they go and do this,” she said, adding, “Makes no damn sense.” Her 14-year-old grandson, Stephan, said many of his friends attend summer basketball camps run by Parks and Recreation.

Teeuwissen and Mayor John Horhn said the move does not mean the city will get rid of parks. Teeuwissen said the city will continue to operate three of four pools, maintain summer youth programs and renovate park infrastructure. The ordinance is set to take effect in mid-June, and a 2025 audit cited by city officials said the city’s debt grew over years of mismanagement, unpaid property taxes, uncollected water bills and declining collections amid rising expenditures.

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