2020 ANNUAL REPORT Faust Park Lone Elk Park Sylvan Springs Park Bee Tree Park Faust Park MISSION St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Department’s mission is to provide high quality parks, facilities, and recreation services that enhance residents’ lives through responsible and effective management of resources. LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR MANAGEMENT We believe that St. Louis County Parks and the amenities we Director, Tom Ott offer contribute greatly to the overall quality of life in our Deputy Director, Brian Schaffer community. This past year has brought many challenges, Operations Manager, Don Gerling but it has also shown us how much our community values parks and greenspaces. Program Services Manager, Michael Biedenstein Fiscal Services Manager, June Bernaugh At the beginning of the pandemic, for the safety of residents Park Ranger Commander, Lieutenant John Pfanstiel and staff, all parks and facilities were closed to stop the spread of COVID-19. During that time, staff continued to Design & Development Group Manager, Tobi Moriarty maintain parks, pivoted to virtual programs and prepared safety plans. ADVISORY BOARD When parks began reopening, parks staff worked tirelessly Diane Christy to maintain safety in parks and facilities. Programs and Dennis deJong services were modified to meet safety guidelines. Program Erica Hoffman staff helped train and implement Parks Ambassadors to remind park visitors to follow COVID-19 guidelines to Michael Meredith enjoy parks safety. Rangers implemented safeguards and Robert Muckler kept the parks safe. Operations staff cleaned and sanitized Gary Otten playgrounds, facilities and other high-touch areas regularly Gerard Sander and posted safety signage and guidelines. Otto Schoenberg Each park division worked together to serve residents. In 2020, the Operations Division maintained thousands of T ABLE OF CONTENTS acres of park spaces for visitors. Rangers kept our parks safe and offered interpretive programing to citizens. The Design Annual Highlights.............................................................................4 and Development Group completed projects and facility Financials.............................................................................................6 updates throughout the parks system. Program Services hosted a variety of safe events and programs for residents Staff........................................................................................................7 to enjoy. The Department’s largest and most popular event, Winter Wonderland, was modified to fit safety guidelines. Park Rangers.......................................................................................8 Even with changes, more than 170,000 people enjoyed the Park Programs..................................................................................10 department’s signature event -- an all-time record! Recreation Centers........................................................................12 Thank you to Parks Department staff for rising to the Historic & Cultural Sites..............................................................13 challenges of 2020 and delivering on our mission to provide high quality parks, facilities, and recreation services that Volunteers.........................................................................................16 enhance residents’ lives. We look forward to the year ahead. Completed Projects.......................................................................17 Park Operations.............................................................................18 Natural Resources..........................................................................20 Parks Foundation...........................................................................22 Thomas M. Ott Looking Ahead................................................................................23 Director, Saint Louis County Parks & Recreation (314) 615-7642 Icons in this report are from Pause08, Freepik, Smallikeart, Skyclick, Monkik, [email protected] Kiranshastry, Prosumbols, Eucalyp, Good Ware, Smashicons and Prettycons from www.flaticon.com. ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS 166 44 12,571 Miles of Trails Playgrounds Total Acres 1.4 Million 70+ 70,800+ Visits to our 6 Historic & Park Destinations Followers on Social Media Cultural Sites 8.8 Million Total St. Louis County Park Visitors31,208 at the Tails & Trails Dog 73 Weddings were held in Attendance Park St. Louis County Parks 49,000 51,828 Visitors enjoyed our 77 Shelters Total Volunteer Hours 4 2020 Annual Report | St. Louis County Parks Bella Fontaine Park Cliff Cave Park Creve Coeur Park Jefferson Barracks Park Al Foster Trail stlcountyparks.com 5 DEPARTMENT FINANCIALS 1.2% 3.4% 1.4% 4.1% 8.8% 44.4% 2020 Revenue Sources Property Tax..........................................44.4% Sales Tax (Prop P)................................22.3% Metro Parks Sales Tax........................14.5% Rents & Concessions............................8.8% 14.5% Other Revenue-Debt Service............4.1% Park & Rec Charges..............................3.4% Investment Earnings.............................1.4% Other Revenue........................................1.2% 22.3% 0.1% 4.5% 4.9% 7.7% 40.3% 2020 Expenditures Salaries....................................................40.3% Fringes....................................................18.3% 8.3% Purchased Services.............................15.9% Transfer Payments.................................8.3% Other Expenses.......................................7.7% Commodities..........................................4.9% Capital Allowances................................4.5% 15.9% Personal Allowances.............................0.1% 18.3% 2021 Budgeted Revenue Sources 2021 Budgeted Expenditures Sales Tax (Arch-River Tax) $6,575,400 Salaries $13,330,043 Property Tax $12,456,311 Fringes $5,263,922 Metro Parks Sales Tax $4,265,900 Purchased Services $4,298,685 Rents & Concessions $3,222,770 Commodities $2,641,821 Park & Rec Charges $1,443,150 Personal Allowances $50,478 Other Revenue $430,190 Other Expenses $2,322,026 Other Revenue-Debt Service $1,125,000 Transfer Payments $1,941,000 Investment Earnings $231,704 Capital Allowances $1,074,145 Fund Balance $1,171,695 Total $30,922,120 Total $30,922,120 6 2020 Annual Report | St. Louis County Parks PARK STAFF Through the hiring of new individuals, we were able to expand and improve upon our programs, facilities, trails, waterways and green space. We are sad to see employees go who dedicated a large part of their working years to the St. Louis County Parks Department, but we look forward to growing with our new employees. New Hires Chris Hartig Kelly Plunket Chris Hartig OC Ranger Collection Admin FT Ranger Taylor Bechtold Tilles JB History MWI Sharon Hoyt Soccer Park Catherin Kartowski Cecelia Pullen Maintenance Supervisor OC Rec Facility Coordinator OC Rec Facility Coordinator Allen Bender Soccer Park NCRC Alexander Lambright OC Rec Facility Coordinator FT Ranger Affton John Kluba Jose Ramos MWI MWI Tonya Long William Bowen Creve Coeur Laumeier MWII MWI JB Amanda Kopp Jess Rothberg Mike McGinnity OC Concession Worker OC Ranger Maintenance Lead/Site Spencer Brown Soccer Park Tilles Coordinator MWII Trades / Asphalt Jonathan Lambert David Rowan Jess Rothberg OC Ranger Maintenance Supervisor FT Ranger Arron Bryant Ranger Spanish Lake OC Ranger Tilles Mark Manning Maddy Schrader Retirements MWI OC Concession Worker Madison Canoy Queeny Soccer Park Mike Kladky OC Concession Worker Museum Exhibit Tech, 30 Soccer Park Chelsea McDaniel Eric Urban years Rec Supervisor OC Rec Facility Coordinator Justin Cummings STV Soccer Park Doug Wolter BMW Horticulture Supervisor, 40 Lemay Robin McNabb Dave Van De Wiele years Animal Careworker Animal caregiver Greg Deane Suson Suson Dan Benford BMW MWI, 15 years GRC Ray Meyer Thresa Ware MWI Secretary Terry Chamberlain Allison Ermatinger Snyder The Pavilion Lemay Maint Supervisor, 40 years Secretary Affton Kevin Miller OC Rec Facility Coordinator Promotions Chris Esteep Affton Ashley Alder MWI Rec Facility Coordinator Faust Jessica Moore Secretary Sean Carey Holle Ezell GRC FT Ranger OC Concession Worker Soccer Park Abigail Gilson Joseph Oelke FT Ranger Dan Fleming Forestry Supervisor ML / SL Forestry Wiley Harris Soccer Park Maintenance Lead/Site Thomas Pitcher Coordinator Abigal Gillsom Building Systems Mech OC Ranger Trades / Plumber Assistant Tilles stlcountyparks.com 7 Ranger and Mounted Unit horse at Farm Friday, Suson Park PARK RANGERS St. Louis County Park Rangers are responsible for safe to reopen, Park Rangers removed caution tape, public relations, protection and programming in barricades and obstacles to visitation. Park Rangers the parks. With six recreational facilities, six historic maintained order and adherence to mitigation and cultural sites and over 70 park destinations, our guidelines in place to slow the spread of the virus. Park Rangers have a big job. Along with keeping our visitors, waterways and trails safe, the Park Managed Deer Hunts Rangers also create and implement a wide variety of The St. Louis County Parks first managed deer hunt educational programs. ran from November 7 to November 30, 2020. The hunts took place in Jefferson Barracks, Greensfelder, In 2020, the Ranger Division played a significant role Queeny and Creve Coeur Parks. A Park Ranger was in two major Parks Department events: the managed assigned a twelve-hour shift in each of the managed deer hunts and Winter Wonderland. In addition,