Recreation and Parks

Recreation and parks CCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FY 2008 A the citizens and the local government have Administration worked hard to preserve many of the town’s original features. After 70 years, Greenbelt ² One of the key still maintains its small town atmosphere and strategies of Recreation cooperative spirit. Participants will learn how this fiscal year was to Greenbelt has achieved this success by taking adopt an aggressive a walking tour throughout the historic section marketing approach in of town, participating in a lecture/ discussion hopes of increasing led by early residents/ academics/ town revenues. Staff has planners. The proposal was developed and diligently focused on submitted by Recreation Department and this strategy and Greenbelt Museum staff. collaboratively increased their marketing efforts; in most ² Prepared and executed contracts with the cases the increase in revenues serves as proof. Maryland National Capital Park and Planning The various ways in which staff have Commission for program leadership and expanded their marketing efforts include: facility supervision. Contract amounts totaled WebTrac/online registration which was $79,000 this fiscal year. introduced with the fall 2007 activities and over 50% of department registration is now ² Park Rangers patrolled various areas of available online; mass emails sent to specific Greenbelt throughout the year assisting target groups reminding them of upcoming various departments on issues related to events; fliers sent to the eight local schools; enforcement, safety and general oversight of fliers given to local merchants; quarterly parks, playgrounds and outdoor play areas in brochure; a new and updated camp brochure; Greenbelt. increased ads, articles and press releases; newsletters and calendars distributed to ² The Department staffed a variety of monthly potential customers; and new and updated meetings held by the Park and Recreation signage prior to each special event. Advisory Board, Arts Advisory Board, Senior Citizens Advisory Committee, Youth ² Reviewed and updated all part-time job Advisory Board and various City Council descriptions and updated pay scale in meetings and work session as well as a preparation for an increased minimum wage number of other meetings throughout the year. of $6.55 in FY 2009. The Federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 in FY 2010. ² The Braden Field Tennis Courts (1 – 4) were resurfaced with asphalt and a new top coat ² Greenbelt will host one of the National was applied this year. In addition, new energy Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) efficient lights with better spill controls were Off-Site Institutes (OSI) titled “Greenbelt, installed. Maryland: A Model of Town Planning, Community Involvement and Historic ² The window restoration project at the Preservation”, as part of the NRPA annual Community Center was completed this year. conference in Baltimore scheduled in October This project was made possible using more 2008. The focus of the OSI will be on how that $600,000 in Maryland State bond funds in FISCAL YEAR 2009 149 addition to a mini grant from the Maryland ² Professional staff attended over 85 hours of Historical Trust. continuing education seminars/workshops to maintain their professional certification. ² All advertising publications created through the department were updated including a new anniversary flier for Greenbelt Day, the Festival of Lights flier for 2007, New Year 2008 brochure and Summer Camp 2008 brochure. ² Along with their ² Received $1,500 in grant funding from regular duties as Recreation professionals, County Council member Ingrid Turner for the City of Greenbelt was represented throughout Greenbelt Get’s Active Initiative. Funding the State and even nationally. Some of the will be used to further educate the community capacities in which staff represented Greenbelt on the long lasting effects of staying active. were: serving as officers for the Maryland Municipal League; officers and various ² Developed and implemented the “Be Happy committee chairs for the Maryland Recreation Be Healthy” wellness program for all full- and Parks Association (MRPA); committee time classified employees. Development chair for the Mid-Atlantic Recreation and included surveying, gathering sponsorship, Parks Sports Alliance (MARPSA); and working with personnel, meeting with area serving on the National Recreation and Park businesses to gather their interest, Association (NRPA) Planning Committee. collaborating with colleagues, creating ongoing publications, and constant evaluation. ² Actively participated in the development, This piece also assists in the department’s revisions, implementation, and evaluation of continued effort to expand their marketing the MRPA survey on Physical Activity and with the monthly “Be Happy, Be Healthy” Nutrition programs throughout Maryland. The employee newsletter. The newsletter results of this survey were presented at a press promotes all upcoming classes, special events conference at the Maryland Association of and lunchtime seminars available. Counties Conference in Ocean City, Maryland on August 16, 2007, along with an article ² Implemented the new WebTrac/online mentioning Greenbelt in the National registration which included meeting with IT Recreation and Parks magazine. Due to the on numerous occasions, bringing together commitment of Greenbelt in this effort, staff recreation staff for training, marketing in the was selected to serve on the newly added brochure, setting up the programs correctly in committee titled Health and Recreation Team the computer and constant evaluation. Serving to continue the efforts on recreations as another instrumental piece in the departments role on the attack on obesity. department’s marketing and e-government, thanks to WebTrac, over 50% of the ² Wrote articles for MRPA E-Connect (Obesity department’s classes and activities can be Epidemic and Awards information) and registered for online. Greenbelt News Review and Kaboom/Playful City USA. 150 FISCAL YEAR 2009 ² A new version of RecTrac was installed and ² The Greenbelt Skate Park hosted one of the updated in October. The new program makes Mid-Atlantic Skateboard Series (MASS) the summer installment billing for camp much competitions this year. There were over 50 easier to implement. There were also many competitors from around the country minor additions and fixes to the older competing in a variety of categories and skill program. levels. There were over 100 spectators at this event. The department continues to be an ² Scheduled and implemented training sessions active member of the Maryland Skate Park for the Aquatic and Fitness Center full and Operators Consortium. parttime staff to get them ready for using RecTrac with the aquatics classes. Using RecTrac to register participants in aquatics classes started with the winter 2008 registration. The TR Supervisor has also spent many hours helping the Aquatic Staff fix errors and resolve problems with the database. Recreation Centers ² Approximately 800 facility rental reservations were processed this year for the Youth Center and the Springhill Lake Recreation Center. ² Provided the Greenbelt Boys and Girls Club with over 730 hours of free use of the gym ² RecTrac Pass management system was and multipurpose room at the Youth Center implemented at the Youth Center similar to and the Springhill Lake Recreation Center. the pass system used at the Aquatic and Fitness Center. ² Provided the Greenbelt Double Dutch program with over 525 hours of free use of the ² The Recreation Centers continue to be a focal gym and multipurpose room space at the point for the youth and adults of Greenbelt Youth Center and the Springhill Lake and surrounding areas for general leisure Recreation Center. programs and activities. The Springhill Lake Recreation Center has been an emergency ² Provided the CYO program with over 280 shelter for three fire emergencies at the hours of free use of the gym and multipurpose Springhill Lake Apartment complex. In each room at the Youth Center and the Springhill case, staff worked effectively with the Lake Recreation Center. Greenbelt Police Department and the American Red Cross to meet the needs of ² Held quarterly Center Leader staff meetings to those individuals affected review job responsibilities, staff schedules, upcoming events and general updates. Center Aquatic & Fitness Center Leader staff was trained in CPR, AED and standard first aid. ² Full-time staff members were recertified in American Red Cross Lifeguard Training & ² Managed operation of the Greenbelt Skate First Aide, CPR/AED for the Professional Park, the newest facility. There are currently Rescuer. 683 registered users of which 159 are residents. ² Throughout the year, a member of staff is instructing and certifying all Greenbelt Police FISCAL YEAR 2009 151 officers and support staff in C.P.R. and A.E.D. ² Provided showers for the homeless arranged (Automated External Defibrillator) use. through various Greenbelt churches in the Safe Haven Program. ² Hosted two Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ERHS) swim meets during the winter months ² Two private rehabilitation firms utilized the and five ERHS swim team captain’s practices. pool for water therapy for their patients on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons year round. ² The Center continues to receive visits and praise from government officials from around ² Teen and family swims were offered on a the country as a show case for prospective monthly basis during the summer. On new construction of swimming

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