Manhattan Park Board Reviews 2025 Annual Reports, Highlighting Growth in Camp Enrollment and Special Events

Manhattan Park Board Meeting | March 12, 2026

Article Summary: The Manhattan Park District Board received comprehensive 2025 annual reports detailing facility rentals, youth programming, athletics, and summer camps, reflecting a strong year of community engagement and facility utilization.

2025 Annual Reports Key Points:

• Summer camp participation grew to 1,148 in 2025, up from 1,013 in 2024.

• The district generated $23,541 in total combined facility rentals, with the Hansen Community Center accounting for $10,388 of that revenue.

• The Sip of Summer concert series drew an estimated 2,075 attendees across five dates.

• Youth soccer leagues saw strong engagement with 372 participants, supported by 70 volunteers.

The Manhattan Park Board on Thursday, March 12, 2026, reviewed a series of comprehensive 2025 annual reports, highlighting robust attendance in summer camps, steady facility rentals, and strong turnout for community events.

During the meeting, Park District staff members Lacinda Shawver, Evan Vogt, Jake Kaplan, and Senia Chavez presented detailed data reviewing the previous year’s rentals, general programming, athletics, and camp operations.

Following the presentations, Board President Bridget Hope praised the staff for their extensive preparation and the positive trajectories shown in the data.

“It’s obvious that staff are on top of their responsibilities and that it’s impressive to see, and the future is bright,” Hope told the room.

According to the 2025 Annual Rental Report presented by Shawver, the district saw a total of 128 facility rentals, generating $23,541 in combined revenue. The Hansen Community Center was the district’s most utilized space, hosting 67 rentals and bringing in $10,388. Central Park facilities accounted for 30 rentals generating $4,938, while the Round Barn hosted 25 rentals for $2,563.

The Events and Programming Report, presented by Vogt, highlighted high community turnout for major district initiatives. The Sip of Summer concert series, which featured bands like Midlife Crisis and Hoodwinked, drew an estimated 2,075 attendees. The series incurred a total cost of $6,000 for bands and generated $5,093 in revenue, supplemented by $1,000 in sponsorships.

Other notable event turnouts included the Trick or Treat Trail, which drew an estimated 2,000 attendees, and the Round Barn Heritage Fest, which saw between 1,500 and 1,600 visitors. The Round Barn Winter Fest brought in an estimated 1,400 attendees for its forest walk and barn decorations.

In the athletic department, Kaplan reported sustained participation across seasonal leagues. Youth soccer proved highly popular with 372 participants spread across 38 teams, utilizing 70 volunteer coaches. The Youth Baseball and T-Ball leagues maintained solid numbers as well, with 214 total participants across 20 teams.

Summer camps also experienced a notable boom in 2025. Chavez presented the Den and Camp report, which revealed that total summer camp participation reached 1,148 children, a significant increase from the 1,013 participants recorded in 2024. The “Chipmunk” camp program was the largest contributor to those numbers, hosting 700 campers throughout the summer.