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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 - Parks And Recreation Board - Annual ReportPARKS AND RECREATION BOARD 2007 ANNUAL REPORT The City of Fort Collins Parks and Recreation Advisory Board held 9 Regular Meetings in 2007. Board Members were Mary Carlson, Michael Chalona, Ann Hunt, Cathy Kipp, Mark Lueker, Jessica MacMillan, Greg Miller, Walt Peeples and William Pickering. Annually in February the Board elects its officers, and Michael Chalona was elected as Board Chairperson, along with Mary Carlson elected as Board Vice Chairperson. Kelly Ohlson served as City Council Liaison to the Board in 2007. Marty Heffernan, Executive Director of CPRE, Craig Foreman, Park Planning & Development Manager, and J.R. Schnelzer, Director of Parks, served as Staff Liaison to the Board, with Dawn Worth, Administrative Aide, and Carol Rankin, Administrative Support Supervisor, providing staff support to the Board. Citv Reoreanization Darin Atteberry, City Manager, attended the January P&R Board meeting to discuss the City's organization and how it will affect Marty's service areas. He explained that Marty Heffernan will now report to Diane Jones, Deputy City Manager. He also said that Natural Resources and Environmental Services will be moving to Marty's area and the Library will become their own District. It was suggested that this may allow us to cross -train for better efficiency. Darin said that he is looking forward to the transition between Natural Resources & Parks and Recreation and he believes this change will benefit the organization. This year the CLRS (Cultural, Library and Recreational Services) title was also changed to CPRE (Culture, Parks, Recreation and Environment). 2007 Budeet The Board was updated on the budget issues throughout 2007. Kelly Ohlson, City Councilmember and Liaison to the P&R Board, discussed budget issues and explained the City's budget process with the Board in May. Buildine Community Choices (BCC) Projects The BBC Sidewalks/Parking lot was completed. Northside Aztlan Community Center The opening of the new NACC was pushed back because of the winter weather. The center officially opened its doors to the community on November 30, 2007. Parks and Recreation Policy Plan The City hired GreenPlay LLC., a nationally renowned park and recreation consulting firm to help put together the Parks and Recreation Policy Plan. They came throughout the year to speak to the Board. GreenPlay completed the following items in 2007: Met with City staff and has become familiar with our existing parks, trails and recreation facilities and programs. Discussed the Policy Plan update with the Parks and Recreation Board at the Board's January 24, 2007 meeting. ■ The City contacted over 70 user groups for focus group meetings on February 15th and 16th, 2007. Over 110 people attended the three meetings. GreenPlay conducted the meetings and asked the participants a series of questions such as: what are the parks and recreation system's current strengths and weaknesses; how is the City currently meeting their needs; should the City add or eliminate any services; what facilities/programs should the City have in the future; what is the community's satisfaction with the level of maintenance, and how do users rate the quality of outdoor and indoor facilities. ■ Collected data on facilities and features in the existing parks and recreation system and has rated their quality. GreenPlay will compile a comprehensive inventory and assessment of not just the quantity, but also the quality of our system. ■ Prepared a survey with questions similar to those given to the focus groups that will provide statically valid input from the community. This survey was mailed to a random sample of 3,500 to 4,000 homes in Fort Collins in March. GreenPlay spoke to the Board about the survey results in May. • Took the Policy Plan to the City Council Work Session on September 11`". ■ Develop options, recommendations and action items to address focus area issues— September/October ■ Review options, recommendations and actions items with Boards and interested community members— November/December/January Policy Plan Remaining Schedule: ■ Present options, recommendations and action items to Council —April 08 • Finalize plan — May 08 ■ Request Council adoption of plan — June 08 Water Craft Course The course is located by the old power plant. McLaughlin is working on the project. Neiehborhood and Community Parks ■ Case Park The park was named after Stewart Case, an influential person in Fort Collins. The parks design stems from "The Last Waterhole," Stewart Case's film attempt to make Colorado West Slope and East Slope residents realize the recreational values and other usages that water offers if developed and not disputed in legal battles and other squabbles." The Parks new phase features a new playground and plaza area, shelter, site furnishing, sidewalks, basketball court and landscaping. The changes were completed in the summer. ■ Golden Meadows The City formed a partnership with the Poudre School District to convert the irrigation pond water to domestic water. This will save the City and the School District each around $7,000 a year. Connell completed the project. ■ Provineetown This park is located in the Provincetowne community and is scheduled to open to the public in 2008. • Spring Canyon Community Park After 20 months of construction, Spring Canyon was open to the public on October 271'. The Inspiration Playground is Colorado's first universally accessible playground. Spring Canyon Community Park also plays a key role in connecting Fort Collins hard surface trail system as Spring Creek Trail and Fossil Creek Trail connect at the park. Trails • Fossil Creek Trail Construction started in 2006 on the trail underpass of Highway 287 at Fossil Creek. The underpass was completed in July. The new section of trail also ties to the Mason Street Corridor. The connection of the Fossil Creek Tail from west of the Taft Canyon Subdivision to Spring Canyon Community Park will be completed in 2008/2009. • Northeast Trails An underpass of County Road 52 was installed. The northeast trail system will connect south to the Poudre River Trail and east into the Old Town area. • Power Trail The section from Horsetooth to Golden Meadows was completed.