Stephanie Ernest W. Rawlings-Blake Burkeen, Jr. Mayor Director BCRP’s Mission

To improve the health and wellness of through quality recreational programs, preserving our parks and natural resources, and promoting fun, active lifestyles for all ages.

BCRP’s Vision

To build a stronger Baltimore one community at a time through:

Conservation—Parks are critical in the role of preserving natural resources that have real economic benefits for communities. We are the leaders, often the only voice in communities, for protecting open space, connecting children to nature, and providing education and programming that helps communities engage in conservation practices;

Health and Wellness—BCRP leads Baltimore in improving the overall health and wellness of communities. We are essential partners in combating some of the most complicated and expensive challenges our city faces–poor nutrition, hunger, obesity and physical inactivity;

Social Equity—Universal access to public parks and recreation are a right, not just a privilege. Every day we are working hard to ensure that all members of your community have access to the resources and programming we offer.

Director Ernest W. Burkeen, Jr. with Baltimore City Mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake

Need a reason to Get Out and Get Active? We have plenty!

Baltimore City Recreation and Parks is the city’s leading provider of affordable, year-round leisure and recreational activities for citizens of all ages and abilities. Beautiful parks, trails and waterways provide the perfect urban oasis. Start here to find your fun!

• 4,600+ acres of parkland • 120+ playgrounds • 101 basketball courts • 2 dog parks • 262 parks • 170 athletic fields • 18 picnic groves • 25+ miles of biking and hiking trails • 120,000 trees • 110 tennis courts • 12 pavilion groves • 32 historic structures

Our parks offer more than grass, flowers and trees. Beautiful indoor spaces like the Baltimore Rowing and Water Resource Center, Carrie Murray Nature Center, Cylburn Arboretum and the Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore offer a respite from the fast pace of life. The Mt. Pleasant Ice Arena and Dominic “Mimi” DiPietro Family Skating Center offer you a chance to take a spin on the ice. Our facilities are all located in or near a park! TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contacts...... 03

Special Thank Yous...... 04

Volunteers...... 05

CAPRA Accrediation...... 06

Fiscal Services...... 07

Capital Development...... 08

Communications & Special Events...... 09

Permits Office...... 10

Information Technology...... 11

Contract Maintenance and Repair...... 12

Recreation Centers...... 13 Oudoor Recreation...... 14 BCRP congratulates Youth & Adult Sports...... 15

Aquatics...... 17

Senior Citizens...... 18

Therapuetic Recreation...... 19

Urban Forestry...... 20 Kate Blom on winning the Horticulture...... 21 2015 Richard A. Lidinsky Sr. Award for Excellence in Public Service CONTACTS Kenn King Darryl Sutton Chief of Fiscal Services Aquatics Director Headquarters Recreation And Parks 410-396-3838 Dr. Ralph W.E. Jones Jr. 410-396-7604 Administration Building Jo Ann Cason Druid Hill Park Yvonne Carter Division Chief, Special Populations 3001 East Drive Director of Human Resources Division Baltimore, Md. 21217 410-396-6131 410-396-2920 410-396-7900 Gwendolyn Chambers Bob Signor Bureau of Parks Administration Office of Communications and Therapeutic Recreation Building Special Events 410-396-1550 2600 Madison Ave. 410-396-6694 Baltimore, Md. 21217 Special Facilities 410-396-7931 Paul Taylor Carrie Murray Nature Center Chief of Capital Development 410-396-0808 Permits Office 410-396-7948 Druid Hill Park Cylburn Arboretum 3001 East Drive Fran Spero 410-396-0180 Baltimore, Md. 21217 Office of Permits, Outdoor 410-396-7070 Recreation and Volunteers Dominic “Mimi” Dipietro Ice Rink 410-396-7012 410-396-9392 Online Information [email protected] Bureau of Parks Howard Peters Rawlings bcrp.baltimorecity.gov Thomas Jeannetta Conservatory and Botanic Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: Chief of Parks Gardens of Baltimore @Recnparks 410-396-7946 410-396-0008

Erik Dihle Mt. Pleasant Ice Rink Administration City Arborist 443-984-4075 Ernest Burkeen Jr. 410-396-6109 Director Northwest Park Golf Driving Phone: 410-396-7900 Melissa Grim Range Fax: 410-889-3856 Chief of Horticulture 410-664-2824 410-396-0180 Bill Vondrasek Upton Boxing Center Deputy Director Bureau of Recreation 443-984-2588 410-396-7946 Bob Wall Chief of Recreation William J. Myers Pavilion Valerie Scott-Oliver 410-396-7010 410-396-5782 Executive Assistant to the Director 410-396-7002 Tracey Estep Chief of Recreation Center Rebecca Ebaugh Operations Special Assistant to the Director 410-396-7005 410-396-6134 Rashaan Brave Division Chief, Youth & Adult Sports and Special Facilities 410-396-6136 A SPECIAL THANK YOU

• 26th and Calvert • Daisey Field • Joseph Lee Park • Park Friends Groups • ABC (Catherine St.) Park • DeSoto Road Park • Lafayette Square • Parks & People Foundation • Abell Community Association • DeWees Park • Latrobe Park • Patterson Park • Alhambra Playground • Druid Hill Friends of Tennis • Lehigh and Gough • Public Safety, Baltimore City • Ambrose Kennedy Park • Druid Hill Park • Leon Day Police Department • American Academy of Pediatrics, • Duburns Soccer, Coppermine • Little Lithuania Park • Remington Neighborhood MD Chapter Terrace • Locust Point Civic Association Association, Miles Avenue Park • AmeriCorps, Corporation for • Earthforce • Lowes Home Improvement • Riverside Park National and Community • Easterwood Park • Luzerne and Biddle • Robert C. Marshall Service (NCCC) • Ellwood Park • Maple Leaf Park • Roosevelt Park • Arnold Sumpter Park • Elm Street Playground • Margaret Brent • Ruppert Landscaping • Attorney General’s Office • Elmley Avenue Playground • Association for • Rutter’s Mill Park • B Scene • Eutaw Medians Environmental and Outdoor • Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity • Baltimore City Health • Evesham Park Education • Shoe City Department • Farring Baybrook Park • Maryland Department of • Skatepark of Baltimore • Baltimore City Public Schools • Federal Hill Park Natural Resources • Solo Gibbs Park • Baltimore Ecosystem Study • Franklin Square • Maryland Partnership for • St. Helena Playground • Baltimore Green Works • Goucher College, Goucher Children in Nature • St. Leo’s Bocce Court • Baltimore Heritage Connects program • Maryland Zoo in Baltimore • St. Mary’s Park/ Seton Hill • Baltimore Rowing Club • Greater Baltimore Children and • McKim Park Community Association • Barclay Park Nature Collaborative • Middle Branch Park/Reedbird • Stoney Run Park • Betty Hyatt Park • Gwynns Falls Conservation Trail Park • Thames Street/Fells Point • Blue Water Baltimore • Gwynns Falls Trail Council • Miles Avenue Park Greenspace • Bolton • Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park • Morrell Park • Towanda Park • Boy Scouts • Habitat for Humanity • Mt. Royal Terrace • Traci Atkins Park • Calvert Street Park • Hanlon Park • Mt. Vernon Children’s Park • Two Rivers Park • Canton Dog Park • Harlem Inner Block #125 • Mt. Vernon Conservancy • U.S. Fish & Wildlife • Carrie Murray Nature Center • Harlem Square • Mt. Washington Arboretum • Union Square Park • Carroll Mansion • Harris Creek Park • Mullan Park • Union Square Park Conservancy • Carroll Park • Harwood Community • National Aquarium in Baltimore • University of Maryland Interns, • Cassidy Turley Association, President • National Recreation and Parks URI and Medical students • Chesapeake Center for Youth • Henry Highland Garnett Park Association • U.S. Navy, Comrel Development • Henry Street Park • National Wildlife Federation • Violetville Park • Chinquapin Park • Herring Run Park • Natural History Society of • Volunteer Maryland • Cimaglia Park • Hooper & Rockrose Park MD-MD Community Naturalist • Volunteering Untapped • City Springs Park • Horseshoe Casino Program • Waverly Mini Park • Clifton Park • Irvin Luckman Park • Nature Art in the Park • Western Run Park • Comcast Corporation • Johns Hopkins University Center • O’Donnell Square, Canton • Willow Avenue • Constellation Energy for Social Concern Community Association • Wyman Park • Cricket Wireless • Johns Hopkins University CIIP • Olmsted Parks • Cylburn Arboretum Association Internship Program • Park Avenue Meridians Significant Achievements prescription info sessions at community • Logged 209,340 volunteer hours and 17,500 health fairs and park events. Participants total volunteers. This equals 209,340 hours x included MD AAP Chapter Pediatricians. $22.55 MD volunteer rate = $4,720,617 150+ • Served on the Cross Agency Health Task volunteer events, including events sponsored Force and participated in the Park Heights by volunteers (Friends Groups) Health Day. • Facilitated five GROW Workshops and two • Served on the MD AAP Children and Nature Open Houses that provided networking Task Force experiences for 141 adult community park • Co-presented at the MD Association for activists. Environmental and Outdoor Education • Volunteer Recognition event in Druid Hill Annual Conference Park • Coordinated “Fun Wagon” to serve Docs in the Park programs. Coordinated efforts Major Events/Projects with Recreation and the BCPD provide the • Lowes project at Vincent Street Park – Fun Wagon at events and during after- painted & mulched playground, added school hours in underserved areas. a flower bed and trees, removed trash, prepped basketball court for painting. Policy and Procedure • Ruppert Landscaping service day in Carroll Improvements Park – 500 employees Created work plan template and process, • Navy Comrel clean-up with middle school allowing Friends of groups to delineate students in Carroll Park– 290 volunteers maintenance/events for the following year. A • Project Clean Stream: over 80 park stream meeting is then arranged with the Friends of clean-up sites and 93,000 lbs of trash group, park district manager and volunteer removed by volunteers coordinator to discuss how to best work • Comcast Cares Clean-Up Day: 400 together. This procedure greatly improved volunteers in Middle Branch Park who communication between the city, community removed over 2,000 gallons of trash, members and helped foster a relationship of painted park benches, mulched trees, mutual respect and produces efficiency. and removed more than 200 cubic feet of invasive species. Major Partnerships • “Before-and-after” transformations Maryland Department of Natural Resources, completed by Friends Groups and various National Wildlife Federation, Lowes, Ruppert community volunteers at several parks, Landscaping, U.S. Navy, Parks & People, Blue such as the stripping and repainting of the Water Baltimore, Friends of Parks groups, Joseph Lee Park field house – previously Baltimore City Public Schools, Boy Scouts of heavily vandalized. Friends of Joseph Lee America, Goucher Connects, Natural History Park volunteers helped clean and repaint Society of Maryland, Attorney General’s Office, the field house. Baltimore Green Works • Held a training for recreation center staff to learn about how to lead outdoor Grants nature activities. Led by Greater Baltimroe Received funding from the National Wildlife Children and Nature volunteers. Federation to add a native plant flower bed and • Held a “hike and seek” event for recreation signage at Recreation and Parks headquarters. VOLUNTEERS center children named Grow Outside. • Held more than 20 Docs in the Park/park CAPRA Agency Accreditation The Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) recognizes park and recreation agencies for excellence in operation and service. Charged with providing high quality services and experiences, park and recreation agencies across the United States turn to CAPRA Accreditation as a credible and efficient means of achieving these goals, while providing assurance to the public that the agency meets national standards of best practice. CAPRA accredits departments and agencies that provide park and recreation programs and services.

Baltimore City Recreation and Parks began the process for CAPRA accreditation in 2014. Accreditation will provide BCRP with the following: • Assurance and validation of well-administered services in accordance with approved professional practices • Potential for external financial support and savings to the public • Improves customer and quality services • Increased efficiency and evidence of accountability • Answers the question, “How are we doing?” through extensive self evaluation • Identifies areas for improvement by comparing an agency against national standards of best practice • Enhances staff teamwork and pride by engaging all staff in the process • Creates an environment for regular review of operations, policies and procedures, and promotes continual improvement CAPRA • Forces written documentation of policies and procedures Accreditation

Accreditation Process Accreditation is based on an agency’s compliance with the 151standards for national accreditation. To achieve accreditation, an agency must comply with all 37 Fundamental Standards and at least 85% of the remaining 114 standards (97).

List of Fundamental Standards • Source of Authority • Public Information Policy and • Purchasing Procedures • Mission Procedure • Accounting System • Agency Goals and Objectives • Management Information Systems • Independent Audit • Vision • Personnel Policies and Procedures • Annual or Biennial Budget • Administrative Policies and Manual • Recreation Programming Plan Procedures • Code of Ethics • Program Objectives • Agency Relationships • Equal Opportunity Employment and • Outreach to Diverse Underserved • Involvement in Local Planning Workforce Diversity Populations • Park and Recreation System Master • Background Investigation • Maintenance and Operations Plan • Staff Qualifications Management Standards • Strategic Plan • Job Analyses for Job Descriptions • Codes, Laws, and Ordinance • Community Involvement • Chief Administrator • Authority to Enforce Laws by Law • Organizational Structure • Fiscal Policy Enforcement Officers • Internal Communication • Comprehensive Revenue Policy • Fiscal Management Procedures

CAPRA accreditation is a five-year cycle that includes three phases, development of the agency self-assessment report, the onsite visitation, and the commission’s review and decision. The onsite visitation follows the agency’s development of its self-assessment report. If accreditation is granted by the commission at its meeting following the onsite visit, the agency will develop a new self- assessment report and be revisited every five years. Within each of the four years between onsite visits, the agency will submit an annual report that addresses its continued compliance with the accreditation standards. FISCAL SERVICES

The Fiscal Services Division continues its efforts to • Community recreation centers’ individual budgets Medfield, Mora Crossman, Patapsco, Rita Church, improve the financial management and control in the are now fully integrated in to the budget process Roosevelt, Solo Gibbs, Woodhome recreation agency: and loaded into the budget system (BPFS). Each centers. recreation center will have its own budget in FY • Hampden Community Council / Clear Channel - • In November 2014, the Division presented its 2015/2016. $550 received to benefit 10 swim scholarships at corrected responses to the audit findings as • All Fiscal Service Division staff was trained on Roosevelt Pool prescribed by the Audit Department to the Board Lean Government. The purpose of the training • CDBG - $276,776 received to benefit youth of Estimates in April 2014. All the findings were was to provide staff with the knowledge and programs at C.C. Jackson, J.D. Gross, Fort addressed and/or corrected. opportunity to observe their work areas and Worthington, Greenmount, J.E. Howard, Mt. Royal • The agency’s Financial Operations Manual was recommend changes that will bring about recreation center and the citywide Pop Warner completed and presented to the BOE. efficiency, effectiveness, eliminate waste and add Football youth program. • The Division’s role in the implementation of value to their work. • Chevy / CBS Eco Media - $8,500 received to RecPro continued to increase as more centers/ provide swim suits and swim equipment for the facilities are brought into on-line operation. GRANTS RECEIVED Baltimore City Swim Team More internal controls have been put in • NRPA / Walmart - $41,689.40 received to assist with place to control revenue collection as credit/ providing nutrition literacy programs for youth at OPERATING BUDGET FY14 debit card revenues continue to increase and Cahill, Carroll Cook, Cecil Kirk, Coldstream, Curtis reconciling these items has become a challenge. Bay, Farring Baybrook, Fred Leidig, Lillian Jones, $15,345,000 CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

Capital Projects Completed • Patterson Park entrances Park Facilities Park and Playground Renovations • Druid Hill Park picnic area • Rita Church Recreation Center Gymnasium • Wyman Park Dell • Cimiglia Park/Ft. Holabird Park • Herring Run Greenway Phase I: Sinclair Lane to • Georgetown and Desoto Park • Radecke Park athletic fields, field house replacement Morgan State • Traci Atkins Park and playground • C.C. Jackson Recreation Center Expansion • Federal Hill Park • Latrobe Park Banner Field (Under Armour) • Druid Hill Park Neighborhood Access (park • Elm Avenue Park • Caroline and Hoffman basketball court entrance along Druid Lake Drive) • Mullen Park • Myers Pavilion (HVAC) • Cylburn Arboretum Park signage • B&O Museum Park • Howards Park Dog Park • Islamic Way Park Capital Projects Currently Under • Latrobe Park Playground (Under Armour) Construction CAPITAL BUDGET FY14 Playgrounds Park Facilities and Improvements • Joseph Lee Park $36,208,265 • Morrell Park Recreation Center • Radeke Park comfort station COMMUNICATIONS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Baltimore City Recreation and Parks continues to make Print: Playdate at Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park and Breakfast strides in improving its outreach to the public. As part The Baltimore Sun, City Paper, National Recreation and with Santa at Cylburn Arboretum. This year we also of that effort we have hired a digital media specialist Parks Magazine, The Baltimore Guide rebranded the annual Easter Egg Hunt to the Annual to manage the agency website, social media presence Spring Carnival. This allowed us the opportunity to and other digital mediums. As a result our website Television: expand our audience and provide new activities such is updated more consistently and our social media WBFF, WBAL, WJZ, WMAR, Comcast News, CBS/EcoMedia as carnival rides. In the upcoming fiscal year we plan engagement has improved. We have expanded our to offer at least one new event geared toward adults. social media reach and ventured into new platforms Radio: such as Periscope that allows to broadcast live from National Public Radio (NPR), WEAA, WYPR and WBAL events. We now offer two citywide weekly eblasts that Radio provide information on agency achievements and events. Our advertising methods continue to expand. Online: This year we shot our first television commercial to Capital Gazette, Baltimore Brew, Baltimore Magazine, promote our summer camp, Camp Baltimore. The City Paper, Towson Patch, NPR, Examiner, Bay Journal One of the ways we serve the community is through Throughout the year the agency has been featured in our special events. In addition to our standard various media outlets: offerings we added two new events, the Oldschool Permits Office

Effective January 1, 2015, BCRP provided one parks • Created a market application to promote use of one staff designated to fields and one office coordinator to assist the transition of all special event park spaces for farmers markets to provide local manager. applications being submitted to the special event fruits and vegetables to the community. • Update parking plans and procedures for special office at Department of General Services. • Created, coordinated and implemented a boating events at Druid Hill and Patterson parks permit to assist marine police for WTMD First • Implement new wedding guidelines and Policy and Procedures Thursday Concert Events. procedures for high visibility locations throughout Improvements Baltimore parks. • Updated the Inner Harbor Run routes to assist the FY 2015/2016 Goals flow of the Inner Harbor pedestrian traffic and • Increase our permitted activities and revenue to minimize impact on the Harbor Place businesses. recoup loss due to merger with DGS and work to • Created a programming permit to assist with increase that original number by 10%. organizations who would like to teach and • Maintain consistent staffing for the permit office provide classes and programs in the parks. year-round with one staff designated for general park use, one staff designated for special events, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

C.I.S.O (Computer Information RecPro Programs online for registration/reservations Systems Operations) • 7,421 program registrations • Sports leagues • Installed new workstations in 33 computer labs • 2,690 online course registration, 2,541 total • Summer Camps • Upgraded four sites network connections to high transactions (multiple registrations per • Aquatics Courses speed fiber optic technology transactions) • Outdoor Recreation • All Rec and Parks special facilities now accept • 204 online summer camp registrations • BCRP Special Events credit cards • 231,529 membership scans • Environmental education (Carrie Murray) • Outdoor Recreation’s boats and bikes programs • 6,495 new registered memberships (10,951 total • City Farms now accept credit cards memberships) • UTZ Field/Mimi DiPietro available • 30 BCRP facilities using Recpro on a daily basis. • 14,933 rentals/permit reservations captured • $648,740.21 in credit card revenue Service Order Request System • Installed floor air conditioning system at • Processed 1,520 orders Myers Pavilion. • Winterized pipes and converted heating Completion Of Major Projects system at Madison Square Recreation • Annual gutter cleaning and roof drain Center for efficient operation while the maintenance at 18 locations. adjacent school continues to be closed. • Preventive maintenance service to all Made numerous repairs due to vandalism. of our heating and air conditioning • Performed 34 roof repairs at various equipment for spring air conditioning locations. and fall heating change more than at 59 • Installed new rubber flooring, lobby locations. benches and completed painting at • Aquatics: repaired leaks in return and Mount Pleasant Ice Arena. supply lines at Roosevelt Pool. Repaired, • Relocated the cooling tower to a new installed water tower on the splash pad. level and structurally sound platform at Repaired leak in supply line at Cherry Mimi DiPietro Ice Rink. Hill Pool. Completed plumbing repairs • Installed energy efficient lighting to various pools in preparation for the upgrades, in cooperation with summer season. Department of General Services, at 27 • Installed new roof at Druid Hill Forestry locations including gymnasium lighting Building, Leakin Park Trail House, and at Robert Marshall Recreation Center. Liberty Pavilion. • Replaced front entrance doors for security • Performed truss repairs to Druid Hill purposes at Curtis Bay, Northwood and Mechanic shop. Cecil Kirk recreation centers. • Installed new garage doors at Druid Hill • Completed restoration work, front doors and Cylburn Greenhouse. and transom, painting to Rawlings • Removed overhead cabling, data lines in Conservatory. Druid Hill Park and ran them underground. • Renovated, constructed additional office • Performed heating upgrades to Crimea space at 3001 East Drive administration Mansion in preparation for projected building and Druid Hill Park maintenance conversion from oil to gas. Installed 33 offices. new wall units with associated piping, removed underground oil tank, installed two new above ground tanks, renovated the Mansion ballroom (plaster repair and paint). • Performed wood floor refinishing at Chick Webb, Roosevelt and Gardenville recreation centers. • Performed urethane gym floor refinishing at Greenmount and Roosevelt recreation centers. • Replaced cracked boiler at Chick Webb Recreation Center. • Performed painting projects at 15 locations. CONTRACT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR • Recreation Center Operating hours • In partnership with Baltimore City Health increased to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the Department, Family League, additional city summer and for scheduled full-day agencies and private organizations, BCRP Baltimore City Public School closings provided program space at two recreation to meet the needs of the communities, centers for post-partum, obese women to families and programs. achieve weight loss and healthy lifestyles • We implemented Healthy U, Health and through the B’More Fit for Healthy Babies Wellness, Reading by Grade 3 and individual Program. recreation center evaluations initiatives • In partnership with Share Our Strength and • Opened two Youth Connection Centers, Baltimore Family League, five recreation Lillian Jones and Collington Square and centers conducted nutrition workshops one Youth Connection Daytime Curfew and shopping challenges for parents Center at Greenmount Recreation Center to raise awareness of healthy shopping • 2014-2015 afterschool adventures enrolled choices on a budget. 2100 participants. • D.E.A.R - Drop Everything and Read, NASA • August 2014: Culminating Summer Camp Project Picnic (more than 2500 campers in Druid • Nutrition Education Hill Park for a day of fun) • Mad Science – 24 recreation centers offered • October 2014: six recreation centers a leading science enrichment program participated in a Heart Health and Wellness to provide educational and entertaining event and Ed Block Courage Awards science enrichment opportunities for Celebrity Golf Tournament (12 youth children in grades K-6 delivering unique, participated in a golf tournament for the hands-on science experiments to reinforce awareness of child abuse and neglect) learning during out of school time. • 2014 Camp Baltimore registered 2,596 • Dance Baltimore taught various dance participants enrolled in summer camp. routines and techniques at 15 recreation (1795 in 2013). centers. • Art with a Heart offered various forms of art Collaborations to participants at 5 recreation centers. • Community advocacy, networking • Always Ginga Fit Zumba offered fitness for and introducing and/or building upon health and wellness to youth and adults at relationships with stakeholders, community 10 recreation centers. leaders. (Family League, BCPS, BCPD, Johns Hopkins University, American Heart Association, West Baltimore Cares (HEZ), , Loyola University, Towson, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Share our strength, The Family Tree, BCHD.MPCJ • Eleven recreation centers participated in the B’More Healthy Communities for Kids program with Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health with parents and children documenting and critiquing their RECREATION CENTERS neighborhood’s food environment. OUTDOOR RECREATION

Significant Achievements • Rails to Trails and M&T Bank donated $9,675 to Gwynn Falls WaterShed • Expanded canoe & kayak programs to a second purchase 40 beach cruiser bikes that were stolen • Partnered with Waterfront Partnership to maintain location, Baltimore Inner Harbor through a from the Ride Around Program, May 2014. Federal Hill Park. collaboration with the Waterfront Partnership, • Conducted Saturday learn to kayak programs in • Installed 9 trash cans at Latrobe Park that Waterfront Wellness Program. Sunday Programs BCRP public pools. community purchased. were established during summer 2014. • Developed and coordinated tour of Baltimore • Partnered with community groups at St. Mary’s, • Expanded Middle Branch Canoe & Kayak Programs parks and outdoor recreation opportunities for Riverside, Leakin and ABC parks to provide tools, by adding a Friday evening Open Row program. national convention of the Society of Outdoor clean supplies and mulch for volunteer activates in • Fleet of kayaks was increased by 17 boats thanks to Recreation Professionals. Two hundred and thirteen parks. a donation from Waterfront Partnership. participated in the tour. • Repaired three baseball fields at Solo Gibbs, • Outdoor Recreation Program was highlighted Easterwood and Florence Cumming that have not in several newspaper articles; Bay Journal and been used in years. Baltimore Sun. Myers Pavilion hosted the following events Football and leagues: • Registered 16 teams. In FY 15/16 we will • Ring of Honor Wrestling drew 400+ merge with the American Youth Football spectators generating $3,000 in profit League (AYF) for a total of 88 teams this • Six boxing events year. • Hosted American Heart Association recess Baltimore culminating event Mount Pleasant Ice Arena • University of Maryland Baltimore County • Summer camp increased from four to six women’s soccer league weeks • Matthew Steeple Eagles Indoor Football • Hosted two Performance Troupe • Night Hawks (ladies football) productions • Three adult soccer leagues each season • Our three basic hockey/power skating • BCRP Therapeutic Recreation Division Series attracted more than 100 Bocce Ball tournament participants • Hosted Baltimore indoor football league • Hosted annual Skate With Santa event Coach Robert Holmes • Host site for Special Olympics for • Maryland Major Soccer League Baltimore and received plaque for continued support Mimi DiPietro • Hosted seven Learn to Skate sessions • Broomball winter and spring sessions two times per week averaging 150-200 • Floor Hockey spring and summer participants. Summer participation sessions averaged 75 skaters. • Youth instructional skating fall and • Holiday events including Martin Luther winter sessions King, Jr. Birthday, President’s Day Public • Adult softball spring, summer, and fall Sessions and Christmas Holiday Break sessions average more than 500 skaters. • Summer PlayBall program with the • Hosted Laura Stamm Hockey Clinic in Manny Machado Foundation July. • Annual Frog Hop • Turtle Derby Upton • Summer youth fishing program • Upton Boxing competed in the Junior • Skate with Santa Olympics’ Tournament • Facility Manger appointed to the • Hosted first Boxing Clinic Steering Committee for Patterson Park • Began a mural project • Facility manager received a Mayoral • Hosted Save Our Sons community event Certificate of Recognition • School of Boxing program • First complete painting of the interior of • Free drop-in training services the facility in eight years • First painting of the ice-boards in over Baseball Program ten years • Baseball RBI League fielded 45 teams: ages 13-15, 12 & under, 15-17, 16-18 and Basketball girls unlimited • BNBL – registered 90 teams. This is an • Hosted 10 little league programs increase from 30 teams in 2014. • Total baseball participants: 3,560 • B’More Night Hoops registered 16 teams • Charm City Lacrosse Program YOUTH & ADULT SPORTS • 50 and over league registered 6 teams • Registered 650 participants Soccer Program Skateboard & Bike Playground at Carroll Park Tennis • 450 kids in program • 400 kids use the skateboard park each month • Registered 110 kids for the All Star Tennis • Coed: 11 vs. 11; 102 teams summer camp. This is an increase from 60 • Mens: 36 teams Track and Field registered participants in 2014. • Womens: 8 teams • Forty youth registered for the summer clinics • Mens indoor: 36 teams • 69 Athletes sent Track and Field National Championship AQUATICS

For the third year, all pools opened to the public • Splash Expo! GOALS FOR FY 2015/2016 Memorial Day weekend. To date we have served more • Water Aerobics Establishing water safety and in-school aquatic than 350,000 swimmers. • Water Exercise programming in Baltimore City Public Schools Many cities face issues with accidental drowning ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMING CAMP W.A.T.E.R.S. (Water-Adventure-Training- involving children making water safety education • American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Enrichment-Rowing-Swimming) invaluable. BCRP Aquatics is developing a strategy to • Aqua Boot Camp Operated in partnership with Reach High Baltimore, visit schools, K5 through 8th grade, to educate children • Aqua Zumba youth build skills and confidence through swimming, on the importance of water safety rules. Through • Baltimore City Swim Club (BCSC) rowing, canoeing, kayaking, environmental projects, Q&A sessions, activities, and activity sheets, a Water • Dive-in Movies varied enrichment projects centered on the abundant Safety Guide, and Water safety tips for students will be • Early Bird Swim waters of the Middle Branch Basin and nearby Cherry developed. The materials and information we provide • Family Fun & Open Swim Hill Splash Park. will help children recognize things they should not do • Fluid Movement synchronized swim and who to call when someone is having trouble in performances and around the water. Additionally, BCRP would like to • Friends & Family Day provide various aquatics programs during the school • Holiday themed events day at the schools with swimming pools all year long. • Kayak Roll Clinic • Scuba diving class The Senior Citizens Division hosted a variety of BCRP partnered with the University of well attended special events for active seniors Maryland Medical System and the Baltimore throughout the fiscal year. The highlights of City Health Department’s CARE Services to these include the following: engage and educate Baltimore’s older adults in the importance of maintaining an active, Partnered with the University of Maryland heart healthy leisure lifestyle in their golden Medical System to conduct our annual years. Senior Splash in Patterson Park. With the youth back in school, the seniors were able More than 200 seniors from across the to enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the pool City attended the Senior Citizens Division’s under the warm sun. This health promotion health promotion event, “Walk the Zoo for a event included water aerobics, a picnic lunch, Healthier You!” Older adults from sites across games with prizes and old school music. The town were transported to the Maryland Zoo afternoon’s festivities concluded with the in Baltimore for a walking tour. Division staff ever popular water balloon toss! Winners were stationed at various exhibits throughout were awarded prizes provided by University the Zoo. Senior walkers who did the most of Maryland Medical System. walking a were awarded prizes. The day included a visit from zoo representative, 2014 ended with our very popular Pre New “Louie,” a colorful Macaw which many seniors Year’s Senior Extravaganza at Martin’s West. were photographed with. After the zoo On Dec. 30, more than 900 seniors from across walk, participants visited vendor tables and Baltimore City joined together to celebrate enjoyed a relaxing picnic lunch. the coming New Year. They danced the afternoon away and had a Soul Train line The Cherry Hill Senior Center, operated dance! by Catholic Charities, recently closed its doors and older adults residing in that In recognition of Heart Health Month, the community no longer have a meeting place senior citizens hosted an annual healthy for recreational programs and related senior heart event entitled “Shake, Rattle and Roll for services. The Health Department’s CARE Your Heart Health.” About 350 Baltimore City Services provided BCRP with Older American seniors from across the city gathered at the Act Title IIIB grant funding to offer senior Patterson Park Recreation Center for a day of recreational programs in the community. On fun, fellowship and fitness. The dance floor June 4th, the Senior Citizens Division began was full with happy line dancers all afternoon operating The Cherry Hill Senior Program at and Elvis even made an appearance! The the Rowing Center, providing transportation participants took advantage of the health and recreational programs for older adults information and blood pressure checks one day a week. The facility currently serves offered by your nursing students and as an office for the Aquatics Division, houses benefited from the presentation on how to rowing machinery in the lower level and read food labels to manage their sodium, the multi-purpose room on the main level is sugar and fat intake. rented out for meetings, special events and other programs.

SENIOR CITIZENS RecFest 2014 Increased Therapeutic Baltimore City Recreation and Parks’ Recreation Programming Therapeutic Recreation Division partnered Opportunities with the Mayor’s Office on Disabilities We significantly increased specialized and the non-profit organization Global programming opportunities. The Division Abilities Foundation in conducting our added nine new programs providing fun, first RecFest. RecFest is designed as a one- active and informative opportunities stop shop for persons with disabilities to for participants with disabilities. New expose and engage them in a multitude programs included goalball, water fitness, of different activities. Our vision was to canoeing and nature education programs. provide an inclusive community recreation The TR Division accomplished the new expo for all ages and abilities. Partnerships programming initiatives while decreasing were key to the success of the event as we part-time employee hours by almost 25%. reached out to Maryland School for the Blind, the Kennedy Kreiger Institute and Towson University Occupational Therapy Continued Partnership with Department amongst others to serve on Special Olympics Maryland our planning committee. RecFest was We continued to expand its strong held in Baltimore’s popular Patterson Park. partnership with Special Olympics Sponsorships and vendor fees enabled Maryland. This partnership has allowed the us to offer this event free of charge to all Special Olympics program to increase the participants. number of athletes participating in day care oriented programming and community The goals for the event were to: 1) based programming. The Therapeutic provide adapted and inclusive recreation Recreation Division has taken a leadership opportunities for persons of all ages and role in these programs providing staffing, abilities, 2) educate the public about the coaches, facilities, and administration of the capabilities of persons with disabilities, 3) programs. increase collaborations between separate organizations that provide disability During FY 2015, over 600 athletes resources and 4) to help organizations participated in 13 different programs reach out to potential clients, participants, in the sports of basketball, bocce ball, and volunteers with and without disabilities. kickball, soccer, and softball. The bocce ball and basketball programs included Through the tremendous efforts of BCRP teams that were administered by BCRP and its partners, more than 400 people staff, participated in two multi-county with and without disabilities participated in competitions, and in the Maryland Special this event, which is already in the planning Olympics state games. This was the first stages for later this year. year for the community based basketball program for young adults and culminated in the gold medal at the state games.

THERAPEUTIC RECREATION Significant Achievements Major Partnerships and New Projects For the care and expansion of Baltimore’s The division was able to eliminate the tree canopy, our critical partnership City’s entire backlog of service requests continues with the Departments of for tree pruning and removal – despite Planning and Public Works, Parks and limited funding and personnel. This was People Foundation, Blue Water Baltimore, accomplished through the hard work Civic Works, and the Baltimore Tree Trust. of our urban foresters and tree crews, In addition to our capital improvement and through a new, more efficient tree funds (our primary source of funding for maintenance contract. tree planting), we have also engaged the Association of Baltimore Area Grant Makers Through our TreeBaltimore program, for funding – as well as the Maryland the City’s coordinated effort for all tree Department of Natural Resources and planting within the city, over 7,500 trees Maryland’s Critical Areas Program. were planted over the past twelve months. Community engagement occurred with schools, neighborhoods and individual Goals for 2015/2016 residents to ensure trees were planted Our goals are to expand the annual where they would do the most good for number of new tree plantings – with the combating heat island effect, lowering caveat that we and our partners continue utility bills, and decreasing air and water to ensure proper follow-up care. We will pollution. also begin the first phases of our tree inventory, proactive pruning program, This spring the Mayor’s Office awarded and stepped-up recycling efforts at Camp Urban Forestry enhancement and Small. innovation funding to initiate a citywide tree inventory, begin proactive tree The forest management plan for pruning in our neighborhoods, and work Gwynns Falls Leakin Park is scheduled toward a zero-waste facility at the city’s for completion in 2016. We will continue wood dump site at Camp Small. to increase stewardship and community engagement by certifying additional As part of the department’s effort to TreeKeepers and Weed Warriors, by protect its woodlands, we also received targeting more neighborhoods as part funding to develop forest management of the Baltimore Energy Initiative, and by plans for our major parks and have revived coordinating and hosting TreeBaltimore the Weed Warriors Program to combat events throughout the year. invasive species.

Urban Forestry Rawlings Conservatory: 27,917 visitors • Hosted 35 workshops or walks by including special events, rentals and all partner organizations or staff programs. • Hosted 110 meetings, trainings, • Served 49 organizations for tours; programs by partner organizations hosted 37 permitted events including including 27 BCRP events such as 18 weddings. Tree Baltimore Gatherings, retirement • Created two seasonal flower displays: parties, Youthworks Financial Literacy, • “It’s a Wonderful Life” for the Project Clean Stream Training and more. holidays; • “A Garden Galaxy” for spring, City Farms Program including display of mosaics by • Increased garden plots at Rockrose local artist Yulia Hanansan. Also and Upton City Farms to have more partnered with MICA to produce participants in those locations. and host an artists’ exhibit: • More than 575 families are gardening in “Nature Indoors” 731 plots throughout the 12 locations. • Three hundred and seventeen (317) volunteers put in 3,683 hours of Personnel volunteer time at the Conservatory. • Support 16 part-time employees on • Held community Gardening Day, using earned revenue volunteers to successfully plant, water & • Support 3 contractual positions (36.6 mulch the 2015 Rawlings Conservatory Hr/week) on earned revenue exterior garden in 3 hours. Partners • Event/Rental Coordinator include: • Event/Rental Associate • U.S. Navy, • Conservatory Volunteer • Patterson High School Manager/Webmaster • Frederick Douglass High School • Filled vacant Park Maintenance • Edgecombe Circle Elementary Supervisor position School • Horticulture Society of Maryland • Created contract position for City Farm • Federated Garden Clubs of Coordinator Maryland • Hired seven seasonal or part-time • and additional volunteers employees from the Jobs, Housing and Recovery Program (men recovering Cylburn Arboretum: 38,704 documented from addiction). These men have been visitors for special events, meetings, rentals standout employees on their own and all programs (does not include walk in but even more so in comparison to visitors) employees hired from other sources. • This is up about 5% from FY14, due to increases in the rental program, a highly successful summer jazz series, and Tour Dem Parks. • Served 23 organizations for tours (does not include tours by partners) • Hosted 135 permitted events including HORTICULTURE 40 weddings Major Partnerships • Cylburn Arboretum Association • Continued work on HVAC at the historic Mansion • Friends of Druid Hill Park: Completed • Installed temporary sculpture by Paul (updated controls to reduce heating costs) with successful season Four Druid Hill Park Farmers Daniel at Cylburn Arboretum. Department of General Services. Market in the fall of 2014. In 2014, FoDHP • Provide educational, art, and music • Replaced exterior basement doors at Cylburn distributed about $5,000 in Market Money to programing that brought in 6,793 visitors Mansion. SNAP/WIC eligible clients to purchase fresh (up 11% from same time last year) • Upgraded lighting in Mansion and exterior of foods. Market sales and participation were up including jazz concerts, Ar-BOO-retum, buildings – replaced old fixtures with LED and across every measure. Season 5 began June 3, walks and talks, and Market Day. other energy efficient lights (with Department of 2015. • Provided about $25,000 of natural trail General Services/BGE grant). • Baltimore Conservatory Association: Co- maintenance. sponsor several friend/fund raising events with • Nature and Art Camps hosted about 120 City Farms more than 900 total participants (Cocktails in students ages 5 to 11. • Installed new fence at Rockrose City Farm, with the Conservatory, Summer Solstice Concert, • Art Camp created a Recycling and $10,000 in from a National Recreation and Parks Seersucker and Sundresses, Partners Appreciation Water Cycle Mural for the garden Association/Darden Restaurants grant. Happy Hour) • Recycling was a major component of • Completed fencing and gates at Upton City • Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland the camp curriculum. Farms. • Raised more than $16,000 to replace two • Provide website marketing • Increased garden plots at Rockrose and Upton sets of doors at the entrance of the historic • Support three part time gardeners and City Farms to have more participants in those Palm House at the Rawlings Conservatory oversight for garden intern. locations. in Druid Hill Park. • Installed a 200 foot linear dry well at Dewees • Provide 8 public gardening and nature Major Improvements/Repairs/ City Farm to manage rainwater coming off slope programs. Renovations and Capital Projects with the National Conservation Corp Volunteers. • Granted $2500 to Cylburn Association for Rawlings Conservatory Garden Intern Program. New Palm House doors, two sets, exterior and Miscellaneous • Horticultural Society of MD interior, milled from Spanish Cedar, with sandcast • Kicked off a campus wide recycling program • Installation of new and renovated gardens Victorian brass hardware and marine-grade paint. • Grant from Keep America Beautiful/Dr. in front of Vollmer Center adjacent to the • Upgraded lighting in office and support areas– Pepper provided 6 park recycling cans. doors. replaced old fixtures with LED and other energy • Cylburn Association purchased • Granted $1,200 to the Rawlings efficient lights (with Department of General educational recycling /trash cans for 2 Conservatory to provide buses and food Services/BGE grant). interior locations. for the 2015 Community Gardening Day. Cylburn Arboretum • Purchased recycling dumpster to support • Granted $2,500 to Cylburn Association for • New boiler installed at Greenhouse, replacing recycling at the Conservatory. Garden Intern Program. the 1959 model of inefficiency. • Held third annual Green Bridal and Event • Replaced garage door at Greenhouse; significant expo to encourage eco-friendly events in additional heating repairs. all venues. Baltimore City Recreation and Parks 3001 East Drive - 21217 410.396.7900 bcrp.baltimorecity.gov