What Colorado Springs City budget cuts could mean for your family this summer
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - A Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Advisory Board meeting on Thursday revealed what budget cuts for local parks could mean.
According to the 2026 preliminary budget, these cuts will prompt a decrease in the availability of portable restroom units and reduce access to permanent restroom facilities throughout the park system.
This will also include a scale-back of maintenance and repair of damaged or vandalized playground equipment, resulting in the removal of affected equipment rather than its replacement, according to the preliminary budget.
In addition to the other cuts, the city is planning to halt periodic cleaning and restoration of the Julie Penrose Fountain at America the Beautiful Park for 2026, 2027, 2029 and 2030.
The city shared this list of several service-level adjustments that will be implemented across park operations due to reduced budget allocations for 2026.
Bluegrass Turf Maintenance & Horticulture Practices - $525K
Reductions will affect Downtown medians, neighborhood and community parks, sports complexes, and Cimarron/I-25 landscape areas:
- Landscape Bed Maintenance: Contracted maintenance will be discontinued in neighborhood and community parks. Any bed maintenance will be handled by internal staff
- Turf Care: Reduced mowing frequency and decreased fertilizer and broadleaf weed control applications.
Vandalism/Theft Response
- Overall reduced funding to respond to repairs and replacement caused by vandalism and theft - impact TBD -$75k
Permanent Restrooms
- Approximately 25% (10) of neighborhood park permanent restrooms will remain closed for the 2026 season. $100K
2026 Neighborhood Park Restroom Closure List
Park District Bonforte SE Boulder SE Dublin NW Ford Frick NE Golden Hills NW Pinon Valley NW Sandstone NE Thorndale SW Wasson SE Westmoor NW Portable Restrooms - $50k
- None will be placed in neighborhood parks except for special events or sports activities (typically 8–10 parks have them).
Playground Repairs
- Approximately 50% reduction in funding for repair parts and an additional $50% reduction for playground surfacing materials (engineered wood fiber). $100K
Asphalt Repairs
- Approximately 50% reduction in funding for pothole and asphalt repair work in parking lots in $50K
The city says the only fountain that will close in 2026 is the Julie Penrose Fountain at America the Beautiful.
Community members who were enjoying the beautiful weather at the America the Beautiful Park on Thursday, Feb. 12, thought the cuts were unfortunate.
"It's very inconvenient, and it doesn't make the parks very usable for a lot of people, especially because there aren't many restrooms nearby. Like public restrooms, businesses, you know, you have to buy something to use those. And so, especially for people with young kids, it's not very accessible. And yeah, it doesn't make the park as appealing to go to," shared Lyndsey Gaddy.
Gaddy studies urban design and says public restrooms are a major draw for public parks.
"Bathrooms and things like that are really crucial to encouraging people to actually utilize the park system," said Gaddy.
She says that she understands the cuts due to the budget shortfall, but tells KRDO13 that, in her opinion, closing restrooms is not the best option.
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