Steve Mcdaniel ~ Director on May 22Nd, Our Department Along with Most of Indiana Moved Into Stage 3 of the Governor’S Back on Track Plan
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Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department Staff Reports May 13, 2020 to June 10, 2020 Steve McDaniel ~ Director On May 22nd, our department along with most of Indiana moved into Stage 3 of the Governor’s Back on Track plan. This stage opened several of our facilities that were closed during stages 1 & 2. To see a complete list, please see the FWPRD’s Back on Track plan. http://www.fortwayneparks.org/images/img/COVID_GRAPH.jpg On May 20th, we cancelled summer camps at both Franke Park and Salomon Farm. Guidelines from the CDC along with research our team has conducted showed that our two camps could not operate in the same capacity that it typically does. It is always our goal to provide quality camp experience and be able to maintain the necessary precautions to keep campers and staff safe. The Marketing team has adjusted the Fun Times with input from all of our program staff showing all of the recreational opportunities that are available this summer. I want to commend the staff for being very versatile and creative in their approaches to providing classes, events, and activities for our community. On May 21st in Governor Holcomb’s Executive Order 20-28, he changed his stance on when playgrounds would open from previous plans. We continue to keep our playgrounds and splash pads closed until he identifies when that directive changes. Additional investigations shows that recommendations from the CDC specifically call out that splash pads should remain closed along with playgrounds. The Theater concert series is the next big decision we have to make this season due to the COVID-19 virus. Social distancing guidelines within the house or audience stands are going to determine if we can successfully conduct our concerts. I along with several staff members continue to participate in weekly webinars about the impacts of Covid-19 on a state level and national level as it relates to the field of Parks and Recreation. Share ideas and information about all aspects of the impact is helping our department as well as others. Park and Trail attendance numbers are increasing dramatically over the last few months. Google has been researching mobility changes during the Covid-19 event. Their information for Indiana is broken down by county. It has shown that in our county, park usages are up almost 200% from baseline for the last 6 weeks. Also, trail counters have documented that trails usage increased from 46,759 in March to 87,569 Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department Staff Reports May 13, 2020 to June 10, 2020 in April citywide. The trail in Salomon Farm is the highest used trail in Fort Wayne with 22,144 counts in April. We will see a significant decrease in our seasonal staffing levels this year. Typically we hire up to 350 seasonal staff members at our peak of June & July. This year the numbers of seasonal staff hired will be closer to 200. We have received a summary report from the Needs Assessment surveys that were mailed out in January. There is a lot of useful information that was gathered by our community. I want to thank the people of Fort Wayne who took the survey. This input is very important and helps us determine how to plan for the future. Chuck Reddinger ~ Deputy Director, Recreation, Athletics, Special Event, Headwaters Park, Promenade Park, Community Center (Downtown) Travel Service General We have created a new recreational coordinator and recreational supervisor positions. These positions will be able to work in a wide variety of recreational settings as well as special maintenance projects. We are in the final phases of hiring about 35 recreational coordinators and supervisors to perform a variety of work this summer and assist in areas of highest importance for the department. We have new rental and participant COVID 19 and general liability waivers that rentals and program areas will now be using. These were developed by the City’s legal staff. Community Center Volunteers continue to make cloth masks No programs, events, or rentals due to COVID 19 17 different PODS (Positive Outdoor Days of Summer) themes were put together to offer in a nine week period. These are 3.5 hrs. Each (8:30-12 and 1-4:30) If they register for both morning and afternoon sessions, they can bring lunch and stay for the hour in between (with staff supervision). We have 150 spots filled for the summer thus far and will hopefully increase when people get their Summer Fun Times Postcard, or social media notice. In addition, Patti Davis, Community Center Manger, promoted the program on a variety of television interviews. Working on the plans for opening the Community Center that include marking rooms for social distancing, signage, procedures, etc. Travel Service No bus trips were taken during the month of May due to State of Indiana and Allen County Board of Health restrictions requiring social distancing. Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department Staff Reports May 13, 2020 to June 10, 2020 Riverfront No attendance for events, programs, or rentals in May due to COVID 19 We continued to work through changes to rental scheduling and policies, including cleaning, attendance counts, social distancing, etc. Staff prepared to implement the daily “Chalk It Up” program starting June 15th, from 1-8 pm. Athletics and Aquatics Continue to take park drone pictures and videos for the department website as well as pictures of projects, playgrounds and roofs for the Projects Division. Met with the 3RVS Mountain Bike group at the Derby Hill to discuss extensive trail work that they started without prior approval. I think that we all have a better understanding of the agreement and after review they will be allowed to continue work. Worked with the various golf courses to go over details for the start of the Parkview Sports Medicine Junior and Pee Wee Golf Tour. These events will require minimal changes to be in compliance with social distancing. Conducted GST/SCAN training for Riverfront and Hurshtown staff. Golf Our city golf courses re-opened on Monday, May 4th with walking only (for one week). Golf carts and league play commenced the week of May 11th. All May golf outings and tournaments were postponed or cancelled. Vinyl dividers were installed in 2/3 of our golf carts to ensure patron safety and to help meet or exceed guidelines set forth during the virus outbreak. The dividers allowed us to manage league play and regular play so that there was no shortage of golf carts during the outbreak. Plexiglas barriers were installed at the check-in areas at all three clubhouses for patron and employee safety. On course maintenance practices have resumed to almost “normal” levels and will continue to become less restrictive. Just in the past few days we have received several of our new pieces of mowing equipment. These machines will allow the crew to better maintain the course conditions and provide a more desirable playing experience for the golfer. We are excited to put them into regular use. Outdoor Recreation No events held at Salomon Farm Park, Lindenwood Nature Preserve or Hurshtown Reservoir Salomon Fiber Arts Celebration was cancelled due to COVID-19 Hurshtown Reservoir opened May 22nd Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department Staff Reports May 13, 2020 to June 10, 2020 The Hurshtown Annual Fishing Derby will be held June 6th from 8:00 am-Noon. In order to prevent the introduction of invasive aquatic life such as blue green algae, all boats must be rinsed prior to being put in the water. The Salomon Farm Farmers’ Market resumed on June 3rd. There were about 200 attendees and COVID 19 safety procedures were implemented with input from the Allen County Board of Health as well as other farmers markets. Johnny Appleseed Campground opened on May 24th, but there are no shower facilities per the governor’s executive orders. In addition, there will not be any tent camping allowed until further notice. Mitch Sheppard ~Deputy Director, Foellinger Theatre, Community Outreach Botanical Conservatory: Funding 2020-2021 Showcase funding projects: due to COVID-19 pandemic shut downs, the Conservatory could not install the spring 2020 butterfly exhibit but plans to open the summer-fall exhibit three weeks early. o Transfers: Franklin Charitable and Educational Fund agreed to transfer their $2,000 sponsorship of 2020’s Miracle of Flight exhibit to our 2021 Color Fest butterfly display. o Submitted: $10,000 grant request to the Auer Foundation for the 2020, for the “Oh? Christmas Tree!” exhibit. $5,000 for this same exhibit to: Old National Bank Trust-Private Foundations, Ash Brokerage, and both the Smyser and Kuhne Foundations. o In Process: $7,500 grant request to Rolland Foundation for 2021 “Color Fest” butterfly exhibit. 2021 Botanical Roots funding projects: The Conservatory has cancelled this year’s Botanical Roots concert series and is seeking to transfer both artist performance dates and grant funding to next year’s summer season. o Transfers: ProFed, a new sponsor has agreed to let us use this year’s gift for next year’s series. We have requested the same consideration from long-time sponsor Fort Wayne Metals; their decision is pending. o Submitted: $4,400 corporate sponsorship requests to IU Health and to Ash Brokerage for the 2021 Botanical Roots concerts. Donations to Conservatory Trust: the Conservatory received unsought donations in May: o $985 memorial from Glen A. Stevens & family in memory of Conservatory volunteer Mark Critchfield. Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department Staff Reports May 13, 2020 to June 10, 2020 o $100 memorial from Pat Harrold in memory of Mark Critchfield.