Part 14 in a series reviewing the City of Palm Coast’s adopted Fiscal Year 2026 budget
Palm Coast doesn’t run Parks & Recreation as a single line item. In the city’s budget documents posted online, the work is spread across five separate budgets: Parks & Recreation, the Aquatic Center, the Southern Recreation Center, the Golf Course, and Parks Maintenance. Put together, those five come to $10,163,044 for Fiscal Year 2026, with all of it coming out of the General Fund, the city’s primary pot for day-to-day services.
The full budget with line-by-line expenditures for each department can be found here.
What the Department Does
The department oversees Palm Coast’s park system and more than 130 miles of connecting trails. It also runs major public facilities, including the Palm Coast Community Center, Palm Harbor Golf Course, Palm Coast Southern Recreation Center, Palm Coast Aquatics Center, Indian Trails Sports Complex, and James F. Holland Memorial Park. On top of the facilities, it’s the group behind community staples like Movies in the Park, Food Truck Tuesdays, Arbor Day, Fireworks in the Park, and the Intracoastal Waterway Cleanup.
Parks & Recreation: $2,802,611
For FY2026, the core Parks & Recreation budget is set at $2,802,611. That’s $251,695 higher than the $2,550,916 adopted for FY2025. By comparison, actual spending in FY2024 came in at $2,301,403.
Those dollars are divided into four categories. Personnel Services are budgeted at $1,630,380, up $56,070 from the $1,574,310 adopted for FY2025, with FY2024 actuals at $1,491,831. Operating Expenditures jump to $1,062,231, an increase of $195,625 over the $866,606 adopted for FY2025, while FY2024 actual spending was $785,622. Grants remain at $110,000, the same as FY2025, though FY2024 actuals were $21,889. Transfers to Other Funds stay at zero, unchanged from FY2025, with FY2024 actual transfers at $2,061.
| Actual FY2024 | Adopted FY2025 | Adopted FY2026 | Change FY25–FY26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel Services | $1,491,831 | $1,574,310 | $1,630,380 | $56,070 |
| Operating Expenditures | $785,622 | $866,606 | $1,062,231 | $195,625 |
| Grants | $21,889 | $110,000 | $110,000 | — |
| Transfers to Other Funds | $2,061 | $0 | $0 | — |
| Total | $2,301,403 | $2,550,916 | $2,802,611 | $251,695 |
Staffing is steady at 21.28 full-time equivalent positions in FY2026, the same as FY2025, after sitting at 22.28 in FY2024.
| Fiscal Year | Full-Time Equivalent Positions |
|---|---|
| FY2024 | 22.28 |
| FY2025 | 21.28 |
| FY2026 | 21.28 |
Aquatic Center: $500,301
The Aquatic Center budget is unchanged for FY2026 at $500,301, matching the FY2025 adopted amount. Actual spending in FY2024 was $455,739.
Even with the same total, the internal balance moves around. Personnel Services drop to $317,392, which is $38,831 less than the $356,223 adopted for FY2025, compared with $325,373 spent in FY2024. Operating Expenditures rise by that same $38,831 to $182,909, up from $144,078, and FY2024 actual operating costs were $130,366.
| Actual FY2024 | Adopted FY2025 | Adopted FY2026 | Change FY25–FY26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel Services | $325,373 | $356,223 | $317,392 | ($38,831) |
| Operating Expenditures | $130,366 | $144,078 | $182,909 | $38,831 |
| Total | $455,739 | $500,301 | $500,301 | — |
Staffing declines from 6.95 full-time equivalent positions to 5.55, a cut of 1.40.
| Fiscal Year | Full-Time Equivalent Positions |
|---|---|
| FY2025 | 6.95 |
| FY2026 | 5.55 |
Southern Recreation Center: $761,508
The Southern Recreation Center is budgeted at $761,508 for FY2026. That’s an increase of $97,013 over the $664,495 adopted for FY2025. Actual FY2024 spending was $560,374.
Four budget lines make up the total. Personnel Services are set at $427,718, up $41,455 from the $386,263 adopted for FY2025, with $372,018 spent in FY2024. Operating Expenditures climb to $321,700, an increase of $43,468 over the $278,232 adopted for FY2025, while FY2024 actuals were $185,437. Capital Outlay appears at $12,090 after being zero in FY2025. Transfers to Other Funds remain zero, unchanged from FY2025, and FY2024 actual transfers were $2,919.
| Actual FY2024 | Adopted FY2025 | Adopted FY2026 | Change FY25–FY26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel Services | $372,018 | $386,263 | $427,718 | $41,455 |
| Operating Expenditures | $185,437 | $278,232 | $321,700 | $43,468 |
| Capital Outlay | — | $0 | $12,090 | $12,090 |
| Transfers to Other Funds | $2,919 | $0 | $0 | — |
| Total | $560,374 | $664,495 | $761,508 | $97,013 |
Staffing ticks up from 5.78 full-time equivalent positions to 6.05, a net gain of 0.27. In FY2024 it was 5.53.
| Fiscal Year | Full-Time Equivalent Positions |
|---|---|
| FY2024 | 5.53 |
| FY2025 | 5.78 |
| FY2026 | 6.05 |
The report also measures usage through rounds played. Tennis activity is listed as 7,842 passholder rounds, 1,202 youth clinic rounds, 485 adult clinic rounds, 1,481 round robin rounds, and 601 league play rounds. Pickleball totals 40,938 passholder rounds, 957 youth clinic rounds, 590 adult clinic rounds, 39 round robin rounds, and 1,736 league play rounds.
| Round Type | Tennis | Pickleball |
|---|---|---|
| Passholder rounds | 7,842 | 40,938 |
| Youth clinic rounds | 1,202 | 957 |
| Adult clinic rounds | 485 | 590 |
| Round robin rounds | 1,481 | 39 |
| League play rounds | 601 | 1,736 |
Golf Course: $2,182,422
Palm Harbor Golf Course comes in at $2,182,422 for FY2026, up $233,084 from the $1,949,338 adopted in FY2025. Actual FY2024 spending was $1,864,472.
The budget is again split into four lines. Personnel Services drop to $441,734, down $49,543 from the $491,277 adopted for FY2025, compared with $501,378 spent in FY2024. Operating Expenditures rise to $1,462,253, up $38,270 from the $1,423,983 adopted for FY2025, with FY2024 actuals at $1,363,094. Capital Outlay is listed at $278,435 after being zero in FY2025. Transfers to Other Funds fall to zero, a decrease of $34,078 from the $34,078 budgeted in FY2025.
| Actual FY2024 | Adopted FY2025 | Adopted FY2026 | Change FY25–FY26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel Services | $501,378 | $491,277 | $441,734 | ($49,543) |
| Operating Expenditures | $1,363,094 | $1,423,983 | $1,462,253 | $38,270 |
| Capital Outlay | — | $0 | $278,435 | $278,435 |
| Transfers to Other Funds | — | $34,078 | $0 | ($34,078) |
| Total | $1,864,472 | $1,949,338 | $2,182,422 | $233,084 |
Staffing goes from 9.28 full-time equivalent positions to 8.38, a reduction of 0.90, after sitting at 9.38 in FY2024.
| Fiscal Year | Full-Time Equivalent Positions |
|---|---|
| FY2024 | 9.38 |
| FY2025 | 9.28 |
| FY2026 | 8.38 |
Rounds of golf are reported by quarter: 11,489 in the first quarter, 14,863 in the second, 14,091 in the third, and 11,246 in the fourth.
| Quarter | Rounds of Golf |
|---|---|
| Q1 | 11,489 |
| Q2 | 14,863 |
| Q3 | 14,091 |
| Q4 | 11,246 |
Parks Maintenance: $3,916,202
Parks Maintenance is the largest of the five budgets at $3,916,202 for FY2026. That’s $533,397 more than the $3,382,805 adopted for FY2025. Actual spending in FY2024 was $2,983,731.
This one is divided into three categories. Personnel Services are budgeted at $2,135,668, up $109,185 from the $2,026,483 adopted for FY2025, compared with $1,717,772 spent in FY2024. Operating Expenditures rise to $1,678,311, an increase of $321,989 over the $1,356,322 adopted for FY2025, while FY2024 actual operating costs were $1,265,959. Transfers to Other Funds are budgeted at $102,223 after being zero in FY2025.
| Actual FY2024 | Adopted FY2025 | Adopted FY2026 | Change FY25–FY26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel Services | $1,717,772 | $2,026,483 | $2,135,668 | $109,185 |
| Operating Expenditures | $1,265,959 | $1,356,322 | $1,678,311 | $321,989 |
| Transfers to Other Funds | — | $0 | $102,223 | $102,223 |
| Total | $2,983,731 | $3,382,805 | $3,916,202 | $533,397 |
Staffing holds at 24.00 full-time equivalent positions in FY2026, the same as FY2025, after being 23.00 in FY2024.
| Fiscal Year | Full-Time Equivalent Positions |
|---|---|
| FY2024 | 23.00 |
| FY2025 | 24.00 |
| FY2026 | 24.00 |
The Five Budgets Combined
Across all five areas, Palm Coast budgets $10,163,044 for Parks & Recreation-related operations in FY2026. The breakdown is $2,802,611 for Parks & Recreation, $500,301 for the Aquatic Center, $761,508 for the Southern Recreation Center, $2,182,422 for the Golf Course, and $3,916,202 for Parks Maintenance. Taken together, staffing is roughly 65 positions.
| Budget Area | FY2026 Budget |
|---|---|
| Parks & Recreation | $2,802,611 |
| Aquatic Center | $500,301 |
| Southern Recreation Center | $761,508 |
| Golf Course | $2,182,422 |
| Parks Maintenance | $3,916,202 |
| Total | $10,163,044 |
Performance Measure
The department lists one primary performance metric: promoting its offerings by creating new CivicRec accounts, the online portal used for programs, events, and parks registration, for first-time users. The target was 2,000 new accounts. The department reports it hit 103 percent of that goal, for a total of 2,071 new accounts.
| Performance Metric | Target | Result |
|---|---|---|
| New CivicRec accounts (first-time users) | 2,000 | 2,071 (103 percent) |
A Record-Breaking Year
In the progress report, FY2024-25 is described as a year with record participation. The department offered 320 programs, including 18 new programs, and reports a record 86,864 participants, which is 6,864 more than the prior year. Special events rose as well: 35 were held, up from 28, and the city estimates 44,354 residents attended department-hosted events. Feet 2 Feast, the Thanksgiving run, set a new high with 1,100 registrations. The city also hosted its first Palm Coast Women’s Professional Tennis Tournament. The Florida United Father’s Day Lacrosse Tournament is described as record-setting too, with more than 150 teams and an estimated $1.8 million in economic impact. The document includes attendance figures across FY23, FY24, and FY25 for events such as Senior Games, Feet to Feast 5K, Tree Lighting, Egg’Stravaganza, Starlight Parade, Food Truck Tuesday, and Fireworks over the Runway.
Two ordinances are noted as being adopted with City Council backing: a smoking ordinance that limits smoking in all city parks, and a public art ordinance. On the capital side, the report points to four new clay tennis courts, LED lighting, an expanded viewing deck, and a new 140-seat Friends Court at the Southern Recreation Center, paid for through a $700,000 USTA Growth Grant. It also cites the completion of Long Creek Nature Preserve Phase 2 and a lighting upgrade at Indian Trails Sports Complex. For youth programming, the report highlights Fun in the Sun Summer Camp with 140 campers, and notes that Indian Trails Sports Complex hosted the National Croquet Championship for the first time.
Disclaimer: All information in this article is public record and was pulled from budget documents published on the City of Palm Coast’s website. More detailed budget information would need to be requested through a FOIA (public records) request.
Another budget series for Palm Coast will be published when the budget hearings have been completed, outlining the budget for the fiscal year 2026-2027.
The post Play Ball: Palm Coast’s Parks and Recreation Budgets Top $10 Million first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
