HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 - Parks And Recreation Board - Annual ReportANNUAL REPORT
City of Fort Collins
Parks & Recreation Advisory Board
2022 Annual Report
The City of Fort Collins Parks and Recreation Advisory Board held 9 regular meetings in 2022 at 413 S. Bryan
Avenue and through virtual zoom meetings. The 2022 Board Members were Catherine Carabetta, Ken
Christensen, Bob Kingsbury, Mike Novell, Jesse Scaccia, and Mike Tupa as well as Nick Armstrong, Paul
Baker, Jon Corley, Marcia Richards, and Meghan Willis. The Board elects its officers annually in February
and additional members were added in July, and Ken Christensen was elected as Board Chair, with
Catherine Carabetta as Vice‐Chair and Jessie Scaccia elected as Secretary. Jeni Arndt was appointed as the
City Council Liaison to the Board for 2022. Kurt Friesen, Park Planning and Development Director; Mike
Calhoon, Parks Director; and LeAnn Williams, Recreation Director served as Staff Liaisons to the Board, with
Sarah Olear, Senior Supervisor of Recreation serving as staff support.
1. Parks
a. Address life cycle assessment areas in Parks that lack long‐term funding and encourage
continued discussion of ways to diversify the revenue base and find new revenue sources to
support both new and aging park infrastructure.
i. January 2022: Viewed presentation on Long term Sustainable Funding efforts.
ii. February 2022: Viewed update on Sustainable Funding efforts.
iii. March 2022: Viewed update on Sustainable Funding efforts.
iv. April 2022: Viewed update on Sustainable Funding efforts.
v. July 2022: Viewed update on Sustainable Funding efforts.
vi. August 2022: Viewed update on Sustainable Funding efforts.
vii. September 2022: Viewed update on Sustainable Funding efforts.
b. Advocate for matters related to the Parks Refresh strategy and long‐term consistent
funding.
i. The Sustainable Funding efforts cover Parks Refresh.
c. Review matters associated with Parks Operation & Maintenance.
i. Monthly updates provided on O&M.
ii. September 2022: Viewed a presentation from PlayCore Mobile Data and its pilot
program with Parks using aggregated cellphone and census data to examine the
use of outdoor spaces. Analysis of the data has the potential to guide preventative
and periodic maintenance planning.
d. Promote environmentally friendly water practices that conserve natural resources ‐
Continue to review matters related to the development for new parks.
i. March 2022 reviewed the Traverse and Dovetail plans.
e. Encourage continued dialogue and awareness of public safety concerns in Parks.
i. Monthly updates included challenges with vandalism, i.e. Twin Silo.
ii. September 2022: Viewed a presentation from PlayCore Mobile Data and its pilot
program with Parks using aggregated cellphone and census data to examine the
use of outdoor spaces. Analysis of data has the potential to provide guidance
relating to safety in parks.
f. Continue to identify and secure more funding for Parks and Recreation.
i. March 2022: The board passed a motion to strongly support the codifying of trees
as infrastructure.
ii. October 2022: Viewed presentation from Nina Bodenheimer and Emily Land from
City Gives. Individual board members agreed to promote the FOCO Parks Forever
Endowment Fund by handing out resources and spreading via word of mouth.
2. Recreation
a. Periodically review and offer suggestions for the Recreation Operational Plan action items.
i. Monthly updates regarding the Recreation department from the Director.
b. Work with Staff to support their community relations and marketing efforts.
i. February 2022: Completed Recreator article on Scholarships for Summer
Recreation Programs which discussed the Reduced Fee program.
ii. October 2022: Completed Recreator article on Dark Sky Initiatives in the Parks
department.
iii. Discussed social media and podcasts opportunities.
c. Encourage and review efforts to improve access to, and participation in, City programs and
facilities for historically under‐served populations.
i. February 2022: Completed Recreator article on Scholarships for Summer
Recreation Programs which discussed the Reduced Fee program.
d. Encourage continued dialogue and awareness of public safety concerns in recreation
facilities.
i. Advocated for Infrastructure in the BFO process.
e. Address life cycle assessment areas in recreation facilities.
i. Monthly updates relating to the Aquatics Study overview.
3. Trails
a. Continue to partner with Parks and Natural Areas to develop, fund and maintain an
interconnected, safe trail system within Natural Areas and Parks.
i. Monthly updates related to changes or new parks and trails and their connection to
the current network.
b. Continue to collaborate with FC Moves for an integrated, regional and local transportation
network of parks, trails, bike facilities, pedestrian walkways and accessible recreational
facilities.
i. March 2022: Viewed presentation regarding an update on the Active Modes Plan
from Cortney Geary, Active Modes Manager.
ii. July 2022: Viewed a presentation regarding the Active Modes Plan from Cortney
Geary.
iii. August 2022: The board passed a motion to support the Active Modes plan with a
strong recommendation to overlap with other master plans and work with
community partners.
iv. Collaboration with Cortney Geary regarding missing trail elements in Northern Fort
Collins.
c. Encourage proposals to accelerate funding and land acquisitions to build new trails.
d. Ensure and support the funding of ongoing maintenance and life cycle program of the City’s
local and regional trails
i. September 2022: Parks & Recreation Board liaison to the Transportation Board
collaborated on a Memo to City Council supporting the unfunded BFO offer, “Parks
Hard Surface Trails Infrastructure Replacement.”
4. Communication/Collaboration
a. Work with staff to promote awareness and stewardship of the City’s parks, trails and
recreation facilities as part of a holistic public space network.
i. July 2022: Board member organized a volunteer day at Crescent Park.
ii. October 2022: Board members voted to approve the 2023 Parks and Recreation
Advisory Board Work Plan which will continue to focus areas that promote the
City’s parks, trails, and recreation facilities.
b. Implement ways to regularly share the story of parks and recreation in the community.
i. February 2022: Completed Recreator article on Scholarships for Summer
Recreation Programs which discussed the Reduced Fee program.
ii. October 2022: Completed Recreator article on Dark Sky Initiatives in the Parks
department.
c. Promote and share parks and recreation information to the community including
translation services for increased equity and access.
i. September 2022: The board became aware that CPIO is currently testing the option
for podcasts with Police Services and will follow up with the Parks and Recreation
Advisory board once they analyze if podcasts effectively share information with the
public.
d. Focus on improving communication with other Boards to achieve common goals.
i. January‐May 2022: Mike Tupa is board representative to the Bike Advisory Council.
ii. July‐December 2022: The board passed a motion to appoint Marcia Richards as
liaison with Nick Armstrong as a backup for the Fort Collins Advisory board.
iii. August 2022: Board member attended Community Services 101 to learn more
about department’s and their operations.
iv. September 2022: Parks & Recreation Board liaison to the Transportation Board
collaborated on a Memo to City Council supporting the unfunded BFO offer, “Parks
Hard Surface Trails Infrastructure Replacement.”
e. Participate in, advise and recommend adoption of the Parks and Recreation Policy Plan
Update.
i. This is supposed to be relating to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
f. Actively participate in the BFO process by providing feedback to staff on recommended
offers and support the offers through contact with City Council.
i. March 2022: Viewed presentation on Budgeting for Outcomes.
ii. April 2022: Viewed presentation on offer considerations for Parks, Recreation, and
Park Planning as well as enhancement offers for the 2023‐2024 budget from each
department.
iii. July 2022: Viewed presentation regarding BFO enhancement offer status.
iv. July 2022: Motion was passed to form an ad hoc committee to draft a letter to
council advocating support for budget items that are either yellow or red that
directors recommend they need a show of support from the board.
v. August 2022: The board passed a motion to approve the letter of support regarding
budget items either yellow or red that directors recommended they need a show of
support from the board. Deepen the understanding and collaboration with the
indigenous populations of this region.
g. Deepen the understanding and collaboration with the indigenous populations of this
region.
i. April 2022: Viewed presentation from Elissa Tivona and Christenia Elea
representing a group of indigenous people planning a wellness event at the old
Hughes Stadium site in mid June.
ii. The board advocated for stakeholder groups to be represented in Parks and
Recreation.