FOCUS Spring 2019
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FOCUSThe Official Publication of the North Dakota Recreation and Park Association Spring 2019 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE As I begin to write this article, six months ago we started our fall season with a blizzard and we begin spring season with another blizzard. I hope all districts stay safe as water levels rise. Our association had a great meeting in Bismarck followed by Parks Day at the Capitol Feb. 6-7. I want to thank everyone who attended and participated, as well as Dana and Shannon for getting everything scheduled and planned. Valley City’s City Park A few upcoming dates to keep in mind are Aug. 13-14 for the ND Trails takes to prepare for everything from training staff to Conference in Minot and our annual conference for scheduling and field preparation, but it’s all worth the NDRPA in Valley City Sept. 10-12. Please be thinking excitement it brings to our communities. I encourage all about potential candidates to nominate for our NDRPA of you to take time for yourself and your families to also awards. You can see the various awards and criteria on enjoy the spring and summer activities and parks in our the website www.ndrpa.com. great state. Many of you are gearing up for a busy spring and I would like to thank each of you for what you do in summer. We all know how much time and effort it your community and for our state association. Hopefully the weather turns around for us, and we have a great summer in parks and recreation. Amy Pederson NDRPA President Mission Advancing parks, recreation and conservation for an enhanced quality of life in North Dakota. Strategic Goals 1. Member Services: Provide training, July 15 FOCUS Deadline information and networking for parks and recreation stakeholders. July 16 Hall of Fame and Awards 2. Policy Advocacy: Represent parks and Nomination Deadline recreation interests on public policy issues. Aug. 13-14 ND Trails Conference, Minot 3. Public Outreach: Promote the benefits of parks and recreation and the importance Sept. 10-12 NDRPA State Conference, of conservation, health and wellness, and Valley City access. Sept. 24-26 NRPA Annual Conference, Baltimore 3 ONTENTS C BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Amy Pederson President’s Message 3 Valley City Parks and Recreation Mark Your Calendar 3 PO Box 422 NDRPA News 5 Valley, City ND 58072 701-845-3294 Commissioner’s Corner 6 [email protected] NDRPA Legislative Report 2019 7 Past President George Hellyer Increase in Senior Programming at West Fargo Grand Forks Park District PO Box 12429 Park District 8 Grand Forks, ND 58208 The ADA Applies to You, Do Not Ignore It 10 701-746-2750 NDRPA Awards Highlight 12 [email protected] Bismarck Ballpark Renovation Creates Opportunities 14 President Elect Ashley Krasicki Williston Parks and Recreation District People on the Move 16 PO Box 1153 Park District News 18 Williston, ND 58802 701-774-9773 [email protected] Secretary/Treasurer Kevin Klipfel ADVERTISERS Bismarck Parks and Recreation District 400 E Front Ave B6C Builders 2 Bismarck, ND 58504 701-222-6455 The Tessman Company 5 [email protected] Herfort Norby Golf Course Architects 6 Public Policy Chair Cole Higlin Cunningham Recreation/GameTime 8 Mandan Park District ND State Procurement Office 9 2600 4th Ave SE Mandan, ND 58554 Dakota Playground 10 701-751-6161 Boom Concrete 11 [email protected] ND Insurance Reserve Fund 11 External Affairs Chair Katie Ettish Acme Tools Insert West Fargo Park District 601 26th Ave E USTA Northern 13 West Fargo, ND 58078 Musco Sports Lighting 15 701-433-5360 [email protected] My Turn Playsystems 15 Internal Affairs Chair Sam Larson-Frobig Associated Supply Company Inc. 16 Fargo Park District Rivard’s Turf & Forage 17 701 Main Ave Fargo, ND 58201 Grondahl Recreation Inc. 17 701-499-7781 My Turn Playsystems 18 [email protected] Bobcat 19 R.J. Thomas Manufacturing/Pilot Rock 21 STAFF Recreation Supply Company 22 Executive Director Dana Schaar Jahner MTI Distributing 23 PO Box 1091 Bismarck, ND 58502 KLJ 24 701-355-4458 [email protected] Thank You to our FOCUS advertisers. We appreciate your business! FOCUS DESIGN & EDITING FOCUS is the official newsletter of the North Dakota Recreation & Park Association (NDRPA). It is distributed quarterly via mail to almost 900 parks and recreation professionals Julee Farnsworth-Ritz and Shannon Schutt and posted on the NDRPA website. Submission of articles and photographs are encouraged Clearwater Communications in digital format to [email protected]. Photographs should be high- resolution (300 dpi or greater). Advertising information is available online at www.ndrpa.com. Next FOCUS deadline: July 15, 2019 WEBSITE www.ndrpa.com Cover photo: Kite Day in Lindenwood Park, Fargo Park District 4 NDRPA NEWS HRC Offering June Training The HR Collaborative for Local Government, of which NDRPA is a member, is offering “Hot Topics in HR” workshops, with a discount for first-time attendees sponsored by the ND Insurance Reserve Fund, June 17 in Dickinson, June 18 in Bismarck and June 20 in Fargo. Tour Trails in the Magic City Visit www.hrndgov.org to register. The eighth annual ND Trails Conference will be held Aug. 13-14 in Minot. This conference is a joint effort of the ND Parks and Recreation Department and NDRPA. NDRPA Seeks Nominees for Hall of Fame This year’s conference will kick off with Tuesday field NDRPA will honor individuals who have made sessions exploring trails throughout the Minot area, outstanding contributions to the parks and recreation including Woodland Trail and the Bison Plant Trail. Enjoy field in North Dakota, based on a reputable performance Wednesday classroom sessions on topics such as attested to a personal record of accomplishment. The partnerships, Recreation Trails Program (RTP) grants Hall of Fame Council, under the jurisdiction of NDRPA, and interpretation. Registration will open in June at has a voting procedure to select worthy individuals. www.ndrpa.com. Candidates are eligible if they satisfy at least two of the following three criteria: 1. Fifty years old. 2. Twenty years of parks and recreation service in North Dakota. 3. Retirement. The candidate’s nomination shall be judged on the following criteria: • A successful record of accomplishment in the parks and recreation field in North Dakota. • Active participation in the NDRPA shall be a high consideration. Hall of Fame recipients will be recognized at the NDRPA Annual Awards Banquet Sept. 11 in Valley City. Inductees receive a plaque, and another plaque will be displayed at the ND Sports Hall of Fame in Jamestown. Nomination forms are available at www.ndrpa.com. The deadline is July 16. Nominations Needed for 2019 NDRPA Awards Recognizing the people and organizations that make great things happen in our communities is very important. If you have an organization or an individual who has made a difference in parks, recreation and conservation, nominate them for an NDRPA award. The deadline to submit nominations for awards is July 16. The following awards are available to nominate individuals or organizations in your communities: Distinguished Professional Award, Outstanding Young Professional, Citizen Advocacy Award, Partnership Award, Golden Egg Award, and Innovative Programming Award. Visit www.ndrpa.com to download the nomination form. 5 COMMISSIONER’S CORNER Hailey Moore was elected park board commissioner Moore. “The FOCUS for the Walhalla Park Board in June 2018 and became magazine always has park board president in October 2018. great information and Moore decided to become involved with the park ideas for us to use.” board because she felt that was the best way she could Moore’s favorite make a difference in her community. “Being a part of a activities are the small community, I realize how much support it takes summer programs: from individuals working together to keep all the summer t-ball, baseball and rec programs going and our parks and fields looking softball. She said, “My beautiful,” Moore explained. “I was on the city council kids love being a part and didn’t feel like I could make enough of a difference of the teams, and it in our community in the way that I wanted, so when my keeps kids active and term was up, I opted to run for the park board.” involved.” Moore’s first goal as a park board member was to Walhalla Park Board have their campground run more efficiently. Moore’s offers t-ball, 10U and other goals are improving their baseball and softball 12U baseball, and fields, remove and replanting many of the unhealthy 14U modified fastpitch trees in their parks, and creating more recreational softball. They also events for the community. are looking to host Some of the challenges the park board faces are some sand volleyball Jed Sullivan, Walhalla Park Board getting enough youth to sign up for summer recreation tournaments this secretary and Little League coach, programs in each age division, resulting in participants summer. and Hailey Moore, Walhalla Park competing at a higher age level than they should be. One of the major Board president, accept a donation from a local business for their summer The park board is also aware of challenges arising as projects the park board recreation programs. Emerald Ash Borer makes its way into their region. The has completed involved community has many ash trees that will have to come the campground reservations. They have a new website for down, and the park board sees the need to allocate the campground that includes online booking and allows funds for the tree removal. credit card payment. They also plan to replace their ball “NDRPA is a great resource for our park board,” said diamond fences soon and update the concessions area.