HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020 - Parks And Recreation Board - Annual Report
PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
2020 Annual Report
December 2, 2020; 5:30pm
Zoom meeting
2020 ANNUAL REPORT Page 1
The City of Fort Collins Parks and Recreation Advisory Board held 7 regular meetings
in 2020 at various park and recreational facilities throughout the City and through virtual
zoom meetings. The 2020 Board Members were Jessica MacMillan, Catherine
Carabetta, Mary Carlson, Ken Christensen, Shari Heymann, Sam Houghteling, Bob
Kingsbury, Mike Novell and Mike Tupa. The Board elects its officers annually in
February, and Jessica was elected as Board Chair, with Catherine Carabetta as Vice-
Chair and Mary Carlson elected as Secretary. Susan Gutowsky was appointed as the
City Council Liaison to the Board for 2020. Kurt Friesen, Park Planning and
Development Director; Mike Calhoon, Parks Director; Bob Adams, Recreation Director,
and Aaron Harris, Interim Recreation Director served as Staff Liaisons to the Board,
with Salina Hemmen, Business Support III and Shanae Core, Business Support I
providing staff support.
1. PARKS
• The Board provided review and input on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan update
focusing specifically on sustainable life cycle and park refresh funding options.
• Reviewed matters associated with Parks Operation & Maintenance and communicated
to Council the necessity of sustainable and continuous funding.
• Continued to review matters related to the development of new parks. The Board
reviewed the designs for Trailhead Park and conceptional designs of Montava including
the Northeast Community Park. Also, the Board engaged in the refresh process of
Eastside Park. As well as reviewed plans for City Park restroom.
• Review expanded use of existing parks such as the Cyclocross course at Rossborough
Park.
• Encouraged continued dialogue and awareness of public safety concerns in Parks.
2. RECREATION
• Periodically reviewed and offered suggestions for the Recreation Operational Plan
action items as modified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Work with staff to support their community relations and marketing efforts.
• Encourage and review effort to improve low- and moderate-income citizens access to,
and participation in, City programs and facilities.
• The Board reviewed childcare and recreation educational programing related to COVID.
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
2020 Annual Report
2020 ANNUAL REPORT Page 2
• The Board was informed and supportive of the furloughed staff situation, possible facility
closures, and that the revenue stream for Recreation was continually declining due to
the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. TRAILS
• Continued to partner with Parks and Natural Areas to develop, fund and maintain an
interconnected, safe trail system within Natural Areas and Parks.
• Continued to collaborate with FC Moves for an integrated, regional, and local
transportation network of parks, trails, bike facilities, pedestrian walkways and
accessible recreational facilities.
• Encouraged proposals to accelerate funding and land acquisitions to build new trails.
• Ensured and supported the funding of ongoing maintenance of the City’s local and
regional trails.
• Continued to collaborate with Park Planning and Development of new trails such as
Lincoln Middle School Trails Spur, the trail crossing of Timberline near Bacon as well as
the Power Trail crossing at Harmony.
• Reviewed and supported a multiagency GOCO grant application for Poudre Trail
crossing at I-25.
• The Board received and made recommendations for a E-bike pilot program presentation
allowing class 1 and class 2 e-bikes on the trail system.
4. COMMUNICATION/COLLABORATION
• Worked with staff to promote awareness and stewardship of the City’s parks, trails and
recreation facilities.
o Focused on improving communication with other Boards to achieve common
goals.
o Regularly participated on the Bicycle Advisory Committee and received updates
from our Board Liaison. This Committee is comprised of a variety of members
representing other Boards.
o Advised and recommended development and adoption of the Parks and
Recreation Plan update.
o Considered concept of an ambassador to promote the Parks and Recreation
Master Plan implementation throughout the community.