Lebanon Park Board - June 10, 2026

The City of Lebanon, Missouri Park Board held a meeting on June 10, 2026, focusing primarily on financial and operational updates for the parks and recreation department. The board reviewed the finance report, noting that sales tax revenue was slightly below budget projections, while capital expenditures were significantly under budget by approximately $600,000. Discussions included budget variances in utilities and materials, and the classification of certain expenses as operating versus capital. The board also reviewed recent park activities, including baseball and softball tournaments, visitor statistics from events like the Route 66 festival, and pool usage data. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing a proposed $1.8 million capital improvement project to install turf fields on 10 baseball infields. The board debated the economic benefits, maintenance savings, and community impact of turf installation, including potential increased tournament attendance and reduced rainouts. Concerns were raised about equitable investment across different sports and the possibility of turf fields for soccer or multi-use purposes. No final decisions or votes were taken on the turf project during this meeting, but the board agreed to gather more detailed cost-benefit analyses and explore options for phased or diversified turf installations. The discussion also touched on rental fees for tournament fields, concession revenues, and the impact of tournaments on local economic activity.