2017 Annual Report OUR MISSION: “To offer exceptional customer service through a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and sustainability” OUR VISION: To make Augusta a nationally recognized leader in Parks and Recreation experiences OUR LEADERSHIP: The Augusta Commission Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr William Fennoy, District 1 Dennis Williams, District 2 Mary Davis, District 3 Sammy Sais, District 4 Andrew Jefferson, District 5 Ben Hasan, District 6 Sean Frantom, District 7 Wayne Guilfoyle, District 8 Marion Williams, District 9 Grady Smith, District 10 Janice Allen Jackson, Administrator H. Glenn Parker, Director Joanie Adams, Deputy Director Gary Hegner, Deputy Director Recreation & Parks Department H. Glenn Parker, Director [email protected] March 5, 2018 On behalf of the Augusta Recreation and Parks Department, I present the 2017 Annual Report. The report highlights the Department’s accomplishments and activities. This is the third Annual Report we have submitted during my tenure as your Director. We continue to strengthen the Annual Report by providing more data, and this year comparison data, while still sharing highlights from throughout the year. This year we initiated the implementation of our Masterplan. Utilizing our SPLOST funding we begin the process of change within our recreation centers, parks, and playgrounds. This year our focus begins to look at program offerings, costs, and cost recovery. We all need to remember that the Masterplan provides long term recommendations to assist the Commission and staff in providing quality parks and programs to the residents of Augusta. There are very few quick fixes in the Masterplan. The work performed by the 137 full-time, 67 part-time, and over 65 seasonal dedicated employees this year will continue to modify the park system and prepare our city for the next generation of park patrons and program participants. Belief in our Vision Statement is reaffirmed through the support received from our Mayor, Commission, City Administrator and our many supporters. Our community continued to support Recreation and Parks in 2017, with many volunteer hours and other support. We have provided a list of those at the end of this report. It is with great pride that I present our 2017 accomplishments as well as renewed excitement for where our efforts will take us in 2018 and beyond. Sincerely, H. Glenn Parker Director of Recreation and Parks Augusta, Georgia Administrative Office 2027 Lumpkin Road – PO BOX 5605 Augusta, GA 30916 (706) 796-5025 Office – (706) 796-4099 Fax www.augustaga.gov/recreation Healthy Out-Of-School time Grant In 2017, the Augusta Recreation and Parks Department was awarded a grant for Healthy Out-Of-School time programs by the NRPA (National Recreation and Park Association). Beginning with the Summer Day Camps, we took a close look at how we engage children in physical activities and help and their families develop healthy eating habits to encourage a healthy lifestyle. All Summer Day Camps and the Loud Crowd Afterschool programs now follow the “Commit to Health” and NRPA guidelines for a healthy Out-Of-School time. We provide a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activities, encourage outdoor play and activities and limit device time to homework help. All snacks include a fruit or a vegetable and participants and staff have access to free drinking water. We provide staff, children and parents with evidence-based nutrition education. We have also implemented the food of the month program, which puts emphasis on seasonal and healthy fruit and vegetables throughout the year. The grant has enabled the Department to not only provide a healthier environment for all participants in our childcare programs but also look at ways to create sustainable programs to promote healthy lifestyles to all staff and the patrons of our facilities. We are promoting the Healthy Out-Of-School time program in a series of ads, posters and fliers to spread awareness. Wildlife Adventures Grant The Augusta Recreation and Parks Department was the recipient of a grant for $2690.75 from the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) to implement the Wildlife Explorers program at the Robert Howard Community Center, Blythe Community Center and McBean Community Center during summer. The department was one of four departments from across the country chosen to receive this grant. In addition to the cash award, the department received a supply package needed to implement the program, which included a leader guide, classroom materials and printed workbooks. The grant added another quality program to these 3 sites busy summer camp program. The grant required the department to provide the program to 100 campers; however, 112 children between the ages of 5-10 completed the program at the three sites. Ms. Denise Lewis along with staff at the sites utilized the leader guide and classroom materials provided by National Recreation and Park Association to generate lots of excitement among the children. The participants learned about the importance of nature and developed a newfound passion about animals, plant, and insects. Each week the children to turn in doing the weather forecasting and led their fellow campers in an outside weather observation exercise. The highlight of the program was that each site had to construct and maintain an insect hotel. Each age group had to adopt a room in the insect hotel and to place items there that would invite insects into the hotel and observe them each week. The children had a great time exploring and discovering nature. Riverwalk Improvements As part of the Department’s overall efforts to continue making incremental improvements, the Parks Division completed numerous projects which improved overall functionality and aesthetics. Just under $20,000 was spent on adding twelve new benches near the 8th Street Plaza. Additionally, two new picnic tables/benches were added at the picnic grove near the playground. Crews planted more than 1,000 shrubs, including viburnums, day-lilies, liriope lantanas, hosta, canna and rosemary between 6th Street and 10th Street (Hero’s Overlook). Crews also cut back overgrown landscaping in various areas, as well as pressure washed the entire amphitheater and other surrounding walkways. Several way finding signs were added to help guide guests to/from key landmarks near the Riverwalk. New banners were added welcoming guests to the area at both 8th and 10th Street entrances. Unfortunately, we continue to see tree loss in this area, as Hackberries decimated from the 2014 freeze continue to decline, necessitating removal for safety purposes. Additionally, a storm during Master’s Week required the removal of several blown-over trees. In all, more than 40 trees were removed in 2017. One other large project completed in 2017 was the painting of all railings in the area. Restrooms were painted, and their hours of availability was extended to dusk or later throughout the summer. Finally, a full time vendor was contracted to run the marina store, boat docks and boat storage warehouse in 2017. $14,000,000 Department Expenditures $12,000,000 $10,000,000 $8,000,000 $6,000,000 $4,000,000 $2,000,000 $- 2017 2016 Budget $11,527,560 $9,316,930 Actual $10,186,905 $8,613,877 $3,500,000.00 2017 Budget By Catogory $3,000,000.00 $2,500,000.00 $2,000,000.00 $1,500,000.00 $1,000,000.00 $500,000.00 $- Administration Aquatics Athletics Cemetaries Parks Recreation Seniors Special Events Budget $2,149,040.00 $1,003,650.00 $1,287,010.00 $740,850.00 $3,137,260.00 $2,567,490.00 $344,860.00 $452,050.00 Actual $1,853,857.16 $866,982.80 $1,173,061.42 $630,336.65 $2,856,725.16 $2,235,605.12 $297,186.77 $368,757.30 Program Monthly Revenues $160,000 $140,000 $120,000 $100,000 $80,000 $60,000 $40,000 $20,000 $- January February March April May June July August September October November December 2017 $97,155 $96,660 $94,738 $52,434 $105,809 $149,468 $68,697 $69,596 $40,089 $69,300 $69,495 $77,288 2016 $67,459 $75,276 $80,075 $59,996 $84,963 $146,834 $111,150 $65,923 $25,306 $52,463 $85,365 $30,113 Program Monthly Attendance 180,000 160,000 140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 - January February March April May June July August September October November December 2017 67,656 83,490 21,243 27,471 32,640 156,603 18,730 9,912 5,316 9,710 10,016 24,344 2016 - - - - 12,838 42,065 42,962 15,340 16,624 16,199 18,356 42,305 $100,000.00 $120,000.00 $20,000.00 $40,000.00 $60,000.00 $80,000.00 $- Rental Facility AnnualRevenue Rental Facility Augusta Aquatics Center Augusta Common/Special Events Bernie Ward Community Center Blythe Community Center Boathouse Community Center Brigham Swim Center Brookfield Park Carrie J Mays Community Center Charles H Evans Community Center Diamond Lakes Pavillion Diamond Lakes Regional Park Dyess Park Community Center Eisenhower Park Garrett Community Center Gracewood Park Henry Brigham Community Center Jullian Smith BBQ Pit Jullian Smith Casino Jullian Smith Gazebo Lock and Dam Park May Park Community Center McBean Community Center McDuffie Woods Community Center Minnick Park Old Government House Pendleton King Park Robert Howard Community Center Sand Hills Community Center W.T. Johnson Community Center Warren Road Community Center 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 5,000 - Augusta Aquatics Center Augusta Common/Special Events AnnualEvents Rental Facility Bernie Ward Community Center Blythe Community Center Boathouse Community Center Brigham Swim Center Brookfield Park Carrie J Mays Community Center Charles H Evans Community Center Annual Events Diamond Lakes Pavillion Diamond Lakes Regional Park Dyess Park Community Center Chart Title Chart Eisenhower Park Garrett Community Center Annual Attendance Gracewood Park Henry Brigham Community Center Jullian Smith BBQ Pit Jullian Smith Casino Jullian Smith Gazebo Lock and Dam Park May Park Community Center McBean Community Center McDuffie Woods Community Center Minnick Park Old Government House Pendleton King Park Robert Howard Community Center Sand Hills Community Center W.T.