Budget cuts to be felt at Kent Co parks

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - As Kent County prepares to cut up to $6.5 million from its $168 million budget, the question is: Will the public even notice?

The answer is yes, at least at county parks.

The county's parks director has proposed $1 fee hikes at the popular Millennium Park Beach. Family reunions at enclosed park shelters would cost more, as would camping at Wabasis Lake Campground in northern Kent County.

"We realize the economy's tough, and yet, the budget targets we've been given ... are a reality," County Parks Director Roger Sabine said.

At John Ball Zoo, admission prices also could jump by $1, county officials said. And, the zoo has proposed closing for the winter -- November through March. About 6 percent of the zoo's 420,000 annual visits are made during those months, zoo director Bert Vescolani said.

At some county parks, restrooms could be closed more often, or replaced by Porta Johns, Sabine said. And, gates could remain closed at smaller, remote parks.

"There'll be a reduction in mowing and, in some parks, they may not see the gates open up and they may have to park outside the gate and walk in," Sabine said. "They may see restrooms close a little more often."

All county departments are considering cuts as Kent County grapples with cuts in revenue from property taxes and from investment income, County Administrator Daryl J. Delabbio said.

"Kent County is no longer immune from the economic situation that exists," Delabbio said. "We're in the same bind as everybody else; we're trying to do the best we can with what we've got."

The tight budget could lead to the equivalent of 82 full-time job cuts across county departments, including 33 at the sheriff's department. Two of those positions are road patrol deputies, but those jobs have been vacant and the public shouldn't notice, Delabbio said.

The cuts at the parks could be most noticeable -- chopping about a quarter of the 168 seasonal workers, whose jobs include mowing and cleaning bathrooms.

At many parks, including Johnson Park in Walker, the county already has cut back on mowing, allowing nature to take over large sections.

The county estimates that its 37 parks attract 1 million users a year.

"We'll do our best to maintain things, but I hope the public has a little patience with us while we work through this," Sabine said. "We'll manage through the next two or three years the best we can, but this is uncharted territory."

The county's finance committee is expected to meet four times through Dec. 1 to work out details of the budget. A public hearing is scheduled Nov. 19. Then, the full County Board is expected to act Dec. 10.