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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAP 2014-03-11 Item 1 - Report - 2013 Annual Report: Parks and RecreationTO: City of Tukwila Jim Haggerton, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM Mayor Haggerton Community Affairs and Parks Committee FROM: Rick Still, Parks and Recreation Director BY: Dave Johnson, Recreation Superintendent DATE: March 5, 2014 SUBJECT Parks and Recreation Department Annual Report SSUE Staff present the Community Affairs and Parks Committee a 2013 Annual Report for the Parks and Recreation Department. BACKGROUND 2013 has been an exciting year for the Parks and Recreation Department. We've highlighted the work of the department, including a number of programs and accomplishments in the attached Annual Report. A fully bound copy will be distributed at the meeting. FINANCIAL IMPACT None RECOMMENDATION None ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: 2013 Parks and Recreation Annual Report 1 TUKWILA ('ARKS & RECREATION GOOD HEALTHY FUN AN N UAL Community Heritage and Culture Celebration A Message from the Director Tukwila's parks, trails, and recreational facilities play an important role in providing safe, inviting and healthy spaces for our residents, businesses and visitors. Participating in recreation programs, enjoying a park or using a trail positively impacts the community on a daily basis. Tukwila Parks and Recreation provides the community with positive activities for Youth and Teens, safe spaces to play in, and creates community connections. We also are an important link to restoring and revitalizing important green spaces, improving access to physical activity and contributing to your social well- being. Our planning work for the past year includes implementing the City's Strategic Plan, examining our system and working to streamline what we do in order to provide you with efficient and superior services. We've also updated the City's Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan, which supports and builds upon the Strategic Plan and provides a comprehensive guide for the future of the City's parks, recreation and open space system. This Annual Report provides several examples of how Tukwila P &R contributes to making Tukwila a better place. We are committed to positively impacting the community through experiences in programs, at events, or spending leisure time in one of Tukwila's safe and well maintained parks. I'm proud of the way staff has handled this year of change. Staff have shown tremendous commitment to the City's recreational opportunities by striving to provide the best services possible — all in an effort to make this City a better place to live, work, and play. v( Rick Still Parks & Recreation Director 2 Who We Are Tukwila Parks and Recreation is a system of public spaces, programs and events that enhance and support a wide range of recreational opportunities, including spaces for leisure, play, fitness, relaxation, community gatherings, civic engagement, and much more. The Department's structure consists of three areas of emphasis: Parks & Golf Maintenance, Recreation & Events, and Administrative Operations & Planning; and includes 35 full -time staff and as many as 200 part time seasonal employees. Department personnel come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and most of our staff have degrees in Parks and Recreation management or related fields. Safety and quality are two of the highest priorities of our department. Staff are required to hold a variety of certifications including current AED, CPR and basic first aid certifications, while many staff hold advanced certifications. We regularly attend trainings and workshops that directly impact recreation participants and park users, such as risk management, Playground Safety Inspector, pesticide application, and chainsaw safety. These trainings coupled with regular program and facility inspections assure a safe user experience with no major safety issues or accidents in 2013. Tukwila Parks and Recreation is: 16 miles of trails 10 Local Parks (48 acres) 10 Special Use Parks (196 acres) 12 Open Space (29 acres) Tukwila Community Center Foster Golf Links Tukwila Pool - Tukwila P &R staff provides the day-to-day operations of the Tukwila Pool for the Tukwila Metropolitan Park District Throughout the year, staff take notice of their peers' accomplishments, contributions, and how they conduct themselves. We annually recognize our staff with a variety of awards. 2013 Employee Award Winners (left to right): Exceptional Productivity - Curt Chandler, Golf Maintenance Supervisor Department Team Player - Stephanie Gardner, Parks and Recreation Analyst Employee of the Year - Amy Kindell, Aquatics Specialist Exceptional Customer Service - Stacey Agmata, Administrative Coordinator Distinguished Contribution - Teshome Edesa, Parks Maintenance Specialist Specific Project Accomplishment - Warren Orr, Director of Golf Instruction 0) Tukwila Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan National studies and research confirms the economic, environmental, and wellness benefits that access to parks and recreational opportunities contributes to communities. How is Tukwila Parks and Recreation doing when it comes to creating opportunities for citizens, businesses, and visitors to experience these benefits? The Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan serves as an extension of the City -wide Strategic Plan and provides a responsive, flexible guide for the continuing evolution of the department and is updated every six years. In 2013, we expanded on the traditional approach and examined all of what we do as a Department and how we provide those services. The process of updating the plan included evaluation of the department, a needs analysis, and extensive community outreach including Community Workshops, Focus Groups, Interviews, Moving Listening Sessions, and Community Questionnaire. Throughout the process the following key themes arose: • Accessible and connected parks and recreational opportunities • Walking and biking, health and wellness • Socializing, gathering and a sense of community • Opportunities for all • Affordable and convenient opportunities • Parks and Open that are safe, well maintained, and integrated into local neighborhoods Officially adopted by the Tukwila City Council on February 18, 2014, the PROS Plan addresses these key themes, identifies goals for our system, and defines the vision of parks, recreation, and open space in Tukwila: "The future parks, recreation and open space system unites the community by brining residents, employees, and visitors together around opportunities to gather, play and enjoy the people and places that make Tukwila unique." 4 Boards and Commissions The Tukwila Park Commission was involved with the development of the PROS plan with several members actively participating to ensure the future of Tukwila's Parks System. Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) was updated for the Parks Commission and the Arts Commission. Each Commission's code was over 30 years old. The updated TMC also added student representation to each commission. The Arts Commission further identified a "Municipal Arts Fund" to reflect a 1% for Public Art initiative - this means that 1% of most City capital improvement projects will be allocated towards Public Art. The Tukwila Library Advisory Board continued to support literacy programs throughout the City in 2013 by attending events, fundraising, and assisting with the capital campaign for the new Tukwila Library that will be located at Tukwila Village. Parks Commission Sean Albert Joanne McManus Alice Russell Don Scanlon Arts Commission Cynthia Chesak Brian Kennedy Steve Mullet Trisha Gilmore Tukwila Library Advisory Board Marie Parrish Linda Mcleod Sharon Kidd Steve Miller 00 Positive Activities for Youth and Teens Unsupervised out -of- school hours are when youth and teens are most likely to commit crimes. Recreation activities fill that gap and connect youth with positive friendships that encourage growth. Tukwila P &R's Youth and Teen programs are designed to meet many needs and interests. Councilor -in- Training (CIT) program is a positive and productive environment for teens that are too old for day camps, but still too young to work. This program allows them to develop work skills while engaging in learning opportunities to become a future camp counselor. When a teen commits their summer to the CIT program they are choosing to be a part of a positive program where they can mature into young adults, become positive role models, and give back to the community. The program is free for teens and their time is voluntary. In 2013, teens volunteered 2,052 hours through the CIT program. Teens for Tukwila (TfT) is a leadership development group devoted to strengthening the community and developing leadership skills. TfT provides opportunity for community service projects, involvement with government processes, and college /job preparation. In 2013, TfT tutored students at Showalter Middle School, served dinner to Tent City residents, were pen pals with homeless elementary age youth, and went hiking with senior citizens. TfT is learning what it means to be teen ambassadors of Tukwila, have demonstrated impressive commitment to Tukwila, and deeply care about the community they live in. 6 People often refer to the importance that recreation programs provide to children as a safe place to spend out -of- school time. The added benefits of active, hands -on projects that help kids learn, be healthy, and participate in positive social activities delivers many intrinsic and extrinsic rewards that last a lifetime. A single mom (we'll call her Judy) and her son have lived in Tukwila since 1996. For the past nine years they've participated in a variety of programs including our Afterschool and Summer Camp programs, family hikes, and regularly use the Tukwila Community Center. "Judy" explained to our staff that these activities have been a lifesaver and positive influence for her family. As a single mom that works full -time, the programs have provided a place for her son to grow and learn about responsibility, decision making, and the importance of fitness. Moreover, the programs have helped him create friendships and be surrounded with positive role models. Safer Parks and Open Spaces University of Illinois researchers found that people that lived near outdoor greenery were more familiar with and socialized more with neighbors, and expressed greater feelings of community and safety than residents that lacked green space.1 Our Park Maintenance staff plays an important role in deterring crime and promoting safety in the Parks. In an effort to promote and create a better community, we have taken important steps towards the safety for park users by removing underbrush and low- hanging tree limbs in various parks which increases visibility and sight lines into the park. At Cascade View Community Park we've removed underbrush, shrubs, and low tree limbs; and have replanted areas with perennial flowers and ornate plants. This has resulted in a more attractive space with fewer places for people to take cover to partake in undesirable or illegal activities. The feedback from the community has been positive from neighbors, park users and the response shown in the PROS Plan. Cascade View Community Park is one of Tukwila's most used parks and is located in the most diverse and densely populated area where many of its neighbors live in apartment complexes. It is an important greenspace that serves as a gathering place, a play space, and one of the few places that neighbors can feel connected with nature. Cascade View Community Park is the main site for the free Summer Playground Program where youth engage in positive activities, games, and craft projects during the summer. We serve free lunches here during the summer. In 2013, we distributed over 1,800 lunches. We also host the annual Tukwila Kids Festival at the Park. In 2013, over 500 kids and families attended the festival. ' https: / /www. planning. org /cityparks/ briefingpapers /saferneighborhoods.htm Tukwila Kids Festival at Cascade View Community Park Creating Community Connections The City -wide Strategic Plan recognized that Tukwila is a community comprised of many smaller communities. Tukwila's residents include families that have lived here for generations, refugees and immigrants, young families, businesses - large and small, and countless organizations and groups that represent a multitude of causes. With so many different types of residents, businesses and visitors, Tukwila P &R connects these communities by serving as the lead agency for citywide Volunteers, and plays an important role in facilitating community connections. In 2013, volunteers provided 10,065 hours of service to the community in a variety of roles. The kids in the Youth Basketball program were the beneficiary of 1,159 volunteer hours that were committed towards teaching, coaching and mentoring kids; 118 volunteer hours were dedicated to leading creative games and craft projects at the Summer Playground Program. Additionally, several hundred hours were spent on habitat restoration projects and assisting at the Neighborhood Resource Center, the Court, and the Mayor's office. 10 Intergenerational activities are another way that Tukwila P &R connects the community. The Teens for Tukwila group and the Tukwila Trailers (a 55+ women's hiking group) have joined together for a nature hike and shared meal. Through this activity, a senior and a student, both from Bosnia - Herzegovina arriving in the US at different times have connected. They converse in their native language, laugh and have formed a genuine bond that has truly transformed their lives. Providing activities that promote health and wellness is a priority for Tukwila P &R. In this diverse community, there are many that have never had that opportunity. Through a partnership with Global to Local, we are able to offer reduce barriers that may have prevented refugee and immigrant men and women from participating in fitness activities as they transition to American culture. Additionally, we led "Train the Trainer" workshops that teach participants how to lead fitness classes and take those skills back into their community groups to teach classes to those not yet comfortable or unable to access them elsewhere. Strengthening connections with community service organizations has been a focus for Tukwila Parks and Recreation for the last several years. The strengthening of those connections resulted in programs that enhanced the life of Tukwila community members in a number of ways. Partnerships with Somali Community Services Coalition have increased outdoor recreation and play opportunities for summer camp participants. The relationship pool staff has maintained with Seattle Children's Hospital resulted in a Community Transformation Grant award of $48,000 to support policy for programing that increases access to recreation and healthy living options. Relationships with conservation groups like Forterra and Earthcorps continue to provide the support needed to improve the health and wellbeing of our natural resources and trails. Recreation, Restoration and Revitalization Many Tukwila residents, businesses, and visitors assist in the enhancement and preservation of open spaces throughout the City. 2013 marked the 2nd annual Healthy Earth, Healthy You 5K Fun Run. Over 100 participants came out to run /walk the trail along the Duwamish River. This annual Fun Run ends along the Duwamish Riverbank behind Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU) where participants receive a native tree or shrub to plant after completing the run! BECU employees, the City of Tukwila, and Forterra have formed a group called Restore the Duwamish Shoreline, with the goal of restoring 1.5 miles of shoreline. This event connects the community with a unique collaboration that promotes health and wellness — for the body and for the earth! A unique partnership between the City and Starfire Sports (at Fort Dent Park) contributes greatly to the economic health of Tukwila. In 2013, over 60,000 people played soccer at Starfire with an additional 1 million visitors to the park to watch soccer, enjoy a picnic, or use the playground. Starfire estimates 1,500 hotel stays in Tukwila can be directly attributed visitors at Starfire plus the economic impact for shopping and restaurants. A park with this many visitors requires special attention from the Department who care for the parking lot, trees, playground and picnic areas. A unique feature to the park is the abundance of deciduous trees on site. DID YOU KNOW? These trees produce nearly 35 dumptruck loads of leaves each fall. Using a 3 -year composting process, we turn these leaves into compost to use throughout the City, saving a significant amount of money. For the 12th consecutive year, Tukwila was recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation as a "Tree City USA" for meeting standards for Green planting and maintenance in Tukwila. Trees are natural oxygen producers, pollution controllers, water recyclers, and soil erosion controllers, not to mention the effect of green on community wellness. 0) Improving Health, Increasing Physical Activity Parks and Recreation plays a significant role in encouraging and promoting healthy lifestyles. Tukwila P &R offers a variety of health and wellness activities, and in 2013, we took on new initiatives to increase access healthy lifestyle choices. We joined the Community Activity Nutrition Network (I -CANN) to tackle obesity in south King County by saying "I" CAN be a part of the solution. The mission of I -CANN is to engage local leaders about obesity and chronic health issues, to collaborate around activity and nutrition, and to leverage and offer resources for activities, facilities, food and nutrition assistance, and tools for tracking activity and nutrition goals. In July, we created Department policy that commits City parks to be Tobacco Free. By doing so, we are declaring that parks and trails are essential, health - promoting environments that provide affordable opportunities for play, physical activity, community connection, stress reduction, and access to improved nutrition. This policy helps protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents of Tukwila. The use of tobacco or other unapproved nicotine delivery products is discouraged in all City parks and outdoor recreational facilities. A partnership between Tukwila P &R (on behalf of the Tukwila Metropolitan Park District) and the Tukwila School District to provide swimming classes as part of the physical education curriculum has been an incredible new program for 2013. Over 40 high school students learn the lifelong skill of swimming daily at the Tukwila Pool. The students have improved their swimming skills, and agree that "Learning to swim should be required in school." Innovation and cooperation between the City and the District has resulted in a stronger bond between the two organizations, increased opportunity for students, and a reduced risk of drowning among Tukwila teens. 14 Social Wellbeing Events create a sense of social well -being by eliciting feelings of joy, goodwill, and celebration to name a few; and when shared with large groups of people feelings of camaraderie and community pride are exhibited. The Family 4th at the Fort is an event where community pride and feelings of joy are demonstrated. This event requires special attention from Tukwila P &R and significant coordination with other City services to accommodate the large crowd. Approximately 5,000 attendees fill Fort Dent Park for a celebration that includes music, games, crafts, and food vendors. Many attendees bring their own grills and picnics, which they in turn share with fellow attendees, turning the event into a unique community gathering. Senior citizens involved in programs have reduced feelings of alienation and loneliness while experiencing increased health and overall happiness. Studies confirm that recreation and physical activity help seniors lead healthier and happier lives. (Chodzko - Zajko, 1998). A popular senior program is the weekly Trips and Tours. Nearly 20 seniors venture near and far on Wednesdays. In 2013, such trips included an FBI precinct tour, Suquamish Tribal Museum, a Broadway show, a mint factory tour, and an excursion to the Museum of History and Industry. These trips provide opportunities for seniors to make new friends, venture about with long -time friends, learn, and share knowledge. oo A Place to Come With Friends Foster Golf Links (FGL) experienced another year of growth in 2013. In addition to an increase in rounds played, we introduced a new instructional program for beginner golfers called Get Golf Ready, created a program for dedicated junior golfers, and assisted local charities and schools in their fundraising efforts. Over 100 golf tournaments were hosted at FGL in 2013 resulting in over 4,000 golfers visiting our course. These tournaments helped raise thousands of dollars for local charities, youth sports teams, and area schools. League play continues to be a success for the course with such companies as Boeing, Alaska Air, and Billy Baroo's playing in weekly leagues, resulting in over 6,500 rounds. In 2013, we conducted a survey of our guests to better understand the wants and needs of our core customers. We are responding to their comments and suggestions with the addition of a topdressing program to improve the course conditions, a Rewards Card program, and a more active tournament schedule. The Clubhouse at Foster Golf Links is a social hub for the community. Billy Baroo's routinely hosts community meetings, school events, and family gatherings and won multiple awards in the Tukwila Reporter Best of 2013, including Best Breakfast, Best Lunch, Best Catering, and Best Family Restaurant At Foster Golf Links, we strongly believe that junior golf provides a tremendous opportunity for kids to better themselves. In addition to individual instruction and junior camps, we initiated a Junior Academy Program designed for the competitive and aspiring golfer. Foster Golf Links has a rich history in producing college golfers and local golf professionals. We would like to congratulate Foster High School graduate, Washington State University student - athlete, and longtime Foster Golf Links player, Mallory Kent. Mallory competed in and won the 2013 Women's Washington State Amateur. O By the Numbers Participation by Program Area 90,000 ' 80.000 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 10.000 - 10,000 02012 - 1r- i I & Athletics Seniors Rentals Aquatics Special Rounds & Special IMPD) Events of Interest 182013 Youth Teen Golf Program Area 2012 2018 Youth & Teen 78.597 30,335 Mile U f Special interest 12,742 39 095 Seniors 17,957 12,703 Rentals 63,354 85,572 Aquatics (MPD) 28,925 37,685 9,362. Special Events 8,575 Rounds of Golf 47,392 47,757 Percentage of General Fund - 2013 2013 Budgeted Expenditures by Division Park Maintenance 21% Administration for Golf links 32`. Recreation 34% 2013 Revenue by Program Slpccial Events& Volunteers Rentals 15% Oster <Off auks Recreation & Events 21 "b 18 Thank You Tukwila Parks and Recreation would like to recognize and thank the following partners for helping us make 2013 a great year in our community. 4 Culture Jamba Juice Somali Community Services Coalition Academy Schools Jazzercise Sound Orthodontics American Red Cross Johnson Braund Inc. Sound Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Aviation High School King Conservation District Southgate Garden Club Barnes & Noble King County Library System Special Olympics Washington BECU Macy's Operation and Logistics Sports Authority Billy Baroo's Member Access Pacific Strong- Bridge California Pizza Kitchen Museum of Flight Teamsters Local 117 Cascade Water Alliance National Wildlife Federation Teamsters Local 763 Cassan Enterprises Neighbor Care Tukwila Children's Foundation Community Schools Collaboration Old Spaghetti Factory Tukwila Equity & Diversity Commission Department of Fish & Wildlife Pac Med Living Alliance Tukwila Fire Department Dialysis Consulting Group Project Feast Tukwila Firefighters Local 2088 Earthcorps Recreation Without Borders Tukwila Metropolitan Parks District El Dorado Retirement Community Refugee Women's Alliance Tukwila Police Department Fatigue Technology REI Tukwila Police Guild Forterra Renton Honda Tukwila School District Friends of the Hill Riverton Park Methodist Church UK Elite Soccer Georgetown Brewing Safeguard /Advent WA State Historical Society Global 2 Local Schneider Homes Washington Chiropractic Healthy King County Coalition Seattle Children's Hospital Washington Recreation and Park Association Heritage Capital Projects Fund Seattle /King County Public Health Washington State Association of Senior Centers Highline School District Senior Services of Seattle /King County Waste Management Humane Society Sizzler Westfield Southcenter Insurance Professionals of KC SoCo Culture Zee Medical 19 N T U KW I LA PARKS & RECREATION GOOD HEALTHY FUN Tukwila Community Center 12424 - 42nd Avenue South Tukwila, WA 98168 (206) 768 -2822 ADMIN (206) 767 -2342 tukparks @tukwilawa.gov www.tukwilawa.gov /recreation /recmain.html Foster Golf Links 13500 Interurban Avenue South Tukwila, WA 98168 PRO SHOP (206) 242 -4221 RESTAURANT (206) 588 -2763 www.fostergolflinks.com Tukwila City Administration Jim Haggerton, Mayor David Cline, City Administrator Tukwila City Council Kathy Hougardy, President Joe Duffie Dennis Robertson Allan Ekberg Verna Seal De'Sean Quinn Kate Kruller