Bangor Parks Committee reviews golf course donation policy and FY27 budget

The Parks, Recreation & Harbor Advisory Committee reviewed a draft donation policy for the Bangor Municipal Golf Course, discussing geographic eligibility and application limits. Staff also presented the FY27 budget, highlighting plans for bunker renovations, building repairs, and the transition of seasonal park ranger and sports coordinator positions to permanent status.

Key points

• Committee members debated the geographic scope of the golf course donation policy, ultimately agreeing to limit eligibility to organizations located in or serving the city of Bangor.
• Staff proposed a cap of 30 green fee passes annually for donations, requiring applicants to be 501c3 non-profits aligned with recreation, youth development, or health and wellness.
• The department requested the conversion of one seasonal park ranger and the sports coordinator to permanent positions to support ongoing outreach and program management.
• Staff reported that $90,000 per year for three years has been allocated for bunker renovations and drainage work on the Kelly Nine golf course.
• A separate $60,000 annual budget was approved for building improvements, starting with roof and HVAC replacements at the golf course facility.
• The committee discussed the expansion of fiber optic cabling and security cameras along the waterfront to improve safety and connectivity.

Next steps

• Staff will revise the golf course donation policy to reflect the committee's feedback on geographic limits and application procedures.
• The department will return to the committee next month to finalize the mission statement and values language for the Parks and Recreation department.
• Staff will continue reviewing proposals for the Mansfield Stadium light fixture replacements to ensure consistency with existing fixtures.

Read the full transcript