Lede: Michigan City park officials told the finance committee on Sept. 24 they will remove a previously budgeted charge for the zoo train and instead keep it free, and they reported stronger-than-expected revenue from parking stickers and rentals in 2025.

Nut graf: Parks staff said sticker sales and rentals recovered after pandemic declines and that removing the zoo-train fee — which had appeared as $6,146 in the draft budget — will be offset by modest increases in admissions and other fee lines. The parks director also recommended upgrading a longtime administrative assistant to an exempt administrative director to preserve institutional knowledge and continue grant activity.

Body: Shannon Eason, parks works superintendent, told committee members the zoo train will remain free and that staff will recoup revenue through admission and other adjustments. "This revenue line should be zeroed out rather than 6,146," a council member recommended and Eason agreed; the finance committee recommended removing the $6,146 revenue line.

Eason said highway and street parking sticker sales exceeded projections in 2025 as residents responded to continued outreach, and memorial-park rentals also brought in more revenue than expected. The parks department reported bringing in about $3.1 million in grants and sponsorships last year, according to Eason, and officials said they will continue to pursue private and grant funding to support facilities.

Staff described a succession plan and staffing change request: promoting a full‑time non‑exempt administrative assistant to an exempt administrative director to document budgeting, grants and operations as the parks director plans for retirement. The parks budget included equipment wish‑list items — a pickup/plow prioritized by the mayor, a zoo carry‑all and other small capital needs; a larger request to buy a bulldozer (to replace recurring $40,000 annual rental costs) remained on a department wish list but not in the mayor's prioritized purchases.

The finance committee recommended accepting the parks budget as presented and approved removing the zoo‑train revenue line for 2026.

Ending: Parks staff will proceed with the revised revenue approach and continue grant and sponsorship efforts while council consideration proceeds in October.