Orleans Recreation Director Briefs Finance Committee on FY27 Budget and Eldridge Park Timeline

ORLEANS -- March 19, 2026, Orleans Finance Committee reviews recreation budget and Eldridge Park funding shortfall. Recreation Director Tom DiCervo told the committee Thursday that the town has approximately $3.5 to $3.6 million remaining for construction at Eldridge Park after a $219,000 to $220,000 engineering contract was awarded to Weston and Sampson, well short of the project's $5.5 million to $5.8 million original estimate. DiCervo said a previously submitted grant application was withdrawn because funders required firm cost figures and a standalone public input meeting, but that the department plans to apply for a PARC reimbursement grant opening in May. The department's recreation revolving fund currently holds approximately $174,000, with the bulk of annual registration revenue, primarily summer camp, opening March 23, still to come; DiCervo estimated annual user fee collections of $50,000 to $60,000 against a $516,000 operating budget. Committee members agreed by consensus to continue having two members, referred to as Tracy and Jamie, serve as liaisons to design meetings with Weston and Sampson beginning the following week. DiCervo warned the committee that certain project features, including a half basketball court near the middle school, may have to be deferred or restructured as add-alternate bid items given the funding gap.