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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 - Parks And Recreation Board - Annual Report2015 P&R Board Annual Report Page 1 of 2 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD 2016 ANNUAL REPORT The City of Fort Collins Parks and Recreation Advisory Board held 10 regular meetings in 2016 at various park and recreational facilities throughout the City. The 2016 Board Members were Ragan Adams, Mary Carlson, Brian Carroll, Bruce Henderson, Kenneth Layton, Jessica MacMillan, Scott Sinn, Kelly Smith and Dawn Theis. The Board elects its officers annually in February, and Scott Sinn was elected as Board Chair with Bruce Henderson as Board Vice-Chair. Dawn Theis was elected as Secretary. Gino Campana served as City Council Liaison to the Board. Kurt Friesen, Park Planning & Development Director; Mike Calhoon Director of Parks; and Bob Adams, Recreation Director, served as Staff Liaisons to the Board, with Carol Rankin, Administrative Support Supervisor, and Coleen Elliott, CSR II Technical Specialist, providing staff support. The Board achieved the majority of its 2016 work plan. • Budget • Board was involved in the Budgeting for Outcomes process and provided a letter of recommendation in support of offers made by Staff, including support for the Parks Life Cycle Program, (Southeast) Twin Silo Community Park, Recreation Facility Improvements and Equipment Replacement, PSD After-School Programs for Title 1 Schools & the Poudre River Downtown Project. • Board provided a letter of recommendation in support of the NRPA Great Urban Parks Grant requested to help fund a proposed park at the Streets Facility site at Lemay/Vine. • Communications • Board members wrote quarterly articles in the Recreator to promote awareness and stewardship of the City’s parks, trails and recreation facilities. • Board members participated in Rec on Record interviews, a project which seeks to provide the community with more insight into the goings-on of the Recreation Department and provide an additional option for providing input. • Sustainable Practices • Board was updated on the Utilities Water Conservation Planning proposal, which plans to reduce the water usage to 130 gallons per person per day by 2030. Board supported their plan and made suggestions tie in public communication on West Nile Virus prevention to water conservation. • The Board was advised of Recreation working with Climate Action Plan to develop Extreme Heat/Air Quality Policy thresholds for outdoor programming to provide safety triggers when actions should be taken (i.e., water breaks, shade breaks, cancelling activities, etc.). • Parks • The Board reviewed the Poudre River Whitewater Park project design phases. • The Board was updated on updates to funding the (Southeast) Twin Silo Community 2015 P&R Board Annual Report Page 2 of 2 Park & construction progress. • The Board worked with staff to revise the Tree Protection Guidelines Slacklining Policy following community feedback. The board approved the new policy that addressed the three major concerns of User Safety, Safety for the other Park Users and Safety for the Trees. • The Board was provided with information on Refreshing Parks; which would be a new component in the Park Planning process. • Trails • The Board was updated on the Longview Trail project which will connect Fort Collins and Loveland the Cathy Fromme Prairie to 57th Street along Shields Street. The project is projected to cost approximately $5.2 Million, funded by a partnership between Loveland, Larimer County, Fort Collins, a $1 million CDOT Transportation Alternatives Program grant & a $1 million Great Outdoors Colorado grant. • The Board was presented information on the NoCo Trail Report by the Parks department. The NoCo Trail Report is a collaborative website project with Natural Areas, Parks & Larimer County to provide real-time updates on trail closures to the public. • Recreation • The Board was kept apprised of the renovation, re-opening & 30 th anniversary celebration of the Edora Pool and Ice Center. • The Board was updated on the re-accreditation process and reception of accreditation for the Senior Center, which is the only accredited Senior Center in Colorado. • The Board was updated on Recreation Strategic Plan action items including establishing new policies to improve safety & security at Recreation facilities & establishing a standardized refund policy & procedure for patrons. • Other Projects/Programs • The Board worked with Pickleball Ambassadors and neighborhoods to address Park & Recreation facility needs for the growing sport. • The Board provided input on the Downtown Plan to address concerns about large public events in the Downtown area and including an emphasis on open, natural spaces in the city.