City Council approves $3.7 million in parks and recreation budgets
Salem parks secure $3.7 million in FY27 budgets. The City Council Committee on Administration and Finance unanimously recommended operating budgets for seven facilities including the Witch House, drawing 97,000 annual visitors with a proposed $5 ticket surcharge for high school funding; the Council
City Council · Meeting of June 8, 2026
Salem parks secure $3.7 million in FY27 budgets. The City Council Committee on Administration and Finance unanimously recommended operating budgets for seven facilities including the Witch House, drawing 97,000 annual visitors with a proposed $5 ticket surcharge for high school funding; the Council on Aging at $592,206 addressing housing instability and social isolation concerns; the Golf Course at $758,807 managing rising electricity costs from electric cart charging; Parks and Recreation Administration at $1.36 million with over $12,000 in scholarships to ensure participation regardless of financial circumstances; and Winter Island at $343,820 planning kayak ramps and accessibility improvements. Pioneer Village's $32,080 budget prompted discussion of a proposed relocation to Camp Naumkeag while the current site continues operating through Halloween season.
In the full story:
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Source: the City Council meeting of June 8, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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