Casper Council Kicks Off Budget Season and Honors Veterans Park Progress

 Casper City Council Pre-Meeting Recap

Date: November 4, 2025
Highlights: Budget season begins, Veterans Park Task Force concludes its mission, and new Washington Park improvements proposed.

 

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Budget Calendar Kicks Off

City staff officially launched budget season for the upcoming fiscal year.

Finance Director Jill Will presented the annual budget calendar, outlining key deadlines and deliverables. Items highlighted in red apply directly to Council; black and blue mark staff work and priority-based budgeting sessions.

Council accepted the calendar with little discussion — marking the start of months of planning and financial review.

 

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Veterans Park Task Force Wrap-Up

 

Parks Manager Randy Norvell and staff presented the Veterans Park Task Force’s final report, celebrating a year of improvements and community collaboration.

 

Key upgrades completed:

• Removal of the deteriorating council ring (approved April 2024)

• Tree maintenance, fertilizing, and broadleaf weed control

• New concrete work, ADA ramp, and connecting pathways

• Replacement of old wood lighting with LED aluminum fixtures

• Installation of donated military benches and new trash receptacles

• Roughly $10,000 in private donations helped fund the work

Task Force Chair Eric Distad, along with members Joseph Lackey, Kelly Ivankovich, Ray Wolf, and Dean Welch, praised the partnership with city staff, particularly Norvell’s parks team.

 

Next Steps & Recommendations:

• Veterans Park will remain at its current location as the permanent site honoring Natrona County veterans.

• Council will consider a proclamation recognizing the park as a lasting symbol of the city’s appreciation for veterans.

• The Veterans Park Task Force will formally conclude, passing future advisory duties to the Natrona County United Veterans Council.

• The council serves as a joint body of local veteran organizations including the Legion, VFW, DAV, Marine Corps League, and others.

The city applauded the task force’s work and unanimously agreed to move forward with the proposed recommendations.

 

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  Washington Park Phase 4 Grant Proposal

 

Next up, the city discussed plans for Phase 4 improvements to Washington Park, focused on the west-side sledding hill area.

 

Proposed features:

• Burying overhead power lines at the hill’s base

• Adding a warming hut for sledders and trail users

• Expanding natural vegetation and ADA-accessible soft trails

• Building a pergola/council ring overlook for gatherings

 

The total estimated cost: $1.5 million, with a $750,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant requested as a 50% match.

City staff emphasized this phase follows community feedback gathered during the park’s original master plan. If funding is awarded next year, final design work will include further public input and consultation with the local outdoor recreation community.

 

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  Additional Notes

 

• A previously listed police firearm purchase item was removed from the night’s agenda for further review and strategy development.

 

• Council will see the Washington Park grant resolution at its next regular meeting before the November 30th application deadline.

 

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  What’s Next

 

Casper City Council meets again for its regular session following this pre-meeting. Expect continued updates on:

• Budget workshops and departmental funding requests

• Progress on Washington Park’s grant application

• The city’s formal proclamation honoring Veterans Park and local service members