The Anchorage Parks and Recreation department may have to convert six full-time positions into part-time work. Mayor Dan Sullivan, along with Parks and Recreation Director John Rodda, said Friday that park users shouldn’t notice any changes in the parks or in activities like the Bonny Sosa Tuesday Night Races.
Rodda said every city department is being tasked with tightening its budget, and for his department that means cutting almost a million dollars.
“Nothing is going to go away,” said Rodda. “The bottom line is we can’t do everything for everybody.”
For the past three years the Parks Department has faced tighter budgets. Beth Nordlund with the Anchorage Park Foundation said park users have picked up some of the slack and contributed more to maintain the parks. She also said the department is tapped out.
“They’re down to no more people to let go,” Nordlund said. “I think if the predicted shortfall happens again next year it’s time to cut facilities.”
