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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPEC PRES ParksCity of Bozeman Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department 2014 Annual Report Creating Community Through People, Parks and Programs 138 Dear Bozeman Residents: On the whole, 2014 was a year of transition for your Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department. It was a year of planning and working to meet the needs of our growing, healthy, active and engaged community. Our hope is that the en- closed document helps our citizens to further discern the role of this Department within the community while providing a record for the year. This past year we purchased 134 acres of community parkland from our voter approved Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOP) Bond Funds. Fifty-four acres were for the acquisition of the Story Mill Community Park land in the northeast quadrant of town while 80 acres were purchased for the future Bozeman Sports Park in the northwest part of town. While work continues on the two above pro- jects, we continue to push forward on three previously approved TOP projects: the Bozeman Creek Enhancement Project at Bogert Park, the Trail to the “M” and Drinking Horse Mountain and the Bozeman Pond Park Expansion Project. With support and encouragement from the Mayor and City Commission, our Forestry Division increased the number of community cost share tree installa- tions by 40% in 2014 from 125 to 175. This past year also saw the beginnings of our City of Bozeman Urban Forest and Emerald Ash Borer Management Plans. Our Parks Division completed three Park Improvement Grant (PIG) projects. PIGs are a 50/50 matching grant with community members or groups for park improvements. In general, the Parks, Recreation, and Aquatics Divisions each dealt with typical community growth issues such as increased impact on all public spaces, facilities and programs. The Cemetery Division opened a new Memorial Garden. The garden is situated on the eastern side of the Sunset Hills Cemetery within a beautiful grove of ma- ture trees. It offers a quiet area for reflection and features a granite wall to me- morialize loved ones as an alternative or additional option to traditional burial. Finally, I would like to take a moment to thank our community volunteers, part- ners and volunteer advisory board members. Hundreds of community members volunteer their time each year to help make Bozeman The Most Livable Place. Let’s make 2015 even better! Mitchell J. Overton, MS, CPRP Letter from the Director Page 2 City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department 139 The Bozeman Parks and Recreation Department offers a wide variety of facilities and services for both residents and visitors. From pre-school programs to active aging classes, our Recreation Division continues to expand its offerings as the city experiences significant growth with a population increase of 15% in the past ten years. The Aquatics Division is keeping pace by expanding pool hours at the Swim Center’s indoor 50-meter pool and at Bogert outdoor pool. Our Park Operations crews maintain over 450 acres of public park land and open space and conduct regular playground inspections in 36 city and developer-built parks. The Forestry Division provides cost- shared street tree plantings for new homeowners and maintains over 20,000 boulevard trees. Sunset Hills Cemetery, with its majestic spruce and maple trees will soon provide a special area for veterans. In response to the need for additional park and open space facilities, the $15 million Trails, Open Space and Parks bond initiative approved by the voters in 2012 provided a funding mechanism that has leveraged over $8 million in partner contributions for the acquisition and development of over 145 acres of new parkland. Proposed residential developments are slated to add roughly another 100 acres of new parkland over the next two years. Serving a Growing Community City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department Page 3 140 The Parks Division is responsible for the development and maintenance of all public parks, trails, open space and sports fields within the City limits. With the additions of Lerner and Ainsworth Parks into the division’s responsibilities, the parks division is responsible for over 450 acres of parkland, 15 acres of linear park and trail corridors, 41 actual parks and 60+ miles of trails. In addition there are over 30 HOA maintained city parks encompassing over 200 acres and includ- ing 16 playgrounds. Key accomplishments in 2014 were:  Design and installation of new park facility signs  East Gallatin Recreation Area beach improvements  Installation of a bronze frog and mosaic tile water fountain sculp- ture in in Beall Park  Addition of over 3 miles of new trails in Valley Unit Park and Snowfill Recreation Area dog park  Installation of a barrier-free rest- room facility in Lindley Park  Increased tournaments through- out the spring and summer, in- cluding the inaugural Yellowstone Invitational Lacrosse tournament Parks Division Page 4 East Gallatin Recreation Area New Park Facility Sign Snowfill Recreation Area Trails City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department 141 We work in partnership with several community organizations and service clubs, and non-profits to develop and maintain the parks, including: the fol- lowing groups among many others:  Optimist Club  Sunrise Rotary Club  Gallatin Valley Land Trust  Run Dog Run  Bozeman Sports Park Foundation  Trust for Public Land  Gallatin Watershed Council  Bridger Ski Foundation These partners have assisted with facil- ity renovations, trail construction, park land acquisition and park improve- ments, and promoting stewardship of the City of Bozeman’s parks. The Park Improvement Grant program was initiated in 1999. These grants are used as matching funds for community proposed park improvements with a minimum 1:1 dollar match. Cash, labor- in-lieu, discounted or donated material, and specialized services are accepted as grant match. Projects in 2014 included: infield renovations at Christie Fields, expansion of the trail system at the Snowfill Recreation Area dog off-leash park and the frog water fountain sculp- ture at Beall Park. Parks Division Page 5 Lindley Park restroom building Christie Fields By the Numbers Total number of parks…..…….41 Parkland maintained….465 acres Trails maintained…….…45+miles Trails added (2014)……..2.3 miles Sidewalk maintained…..16+miles Playgrounds maintained….......36 Dog waste stations…..……...…41 Picnic tables……..…………….117 Park picnic shelters…………....10 Ice rink area (4)…………2.7 acres Parks Division FY 2014-15 operating budget………..$571,918 City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department 142 The $15 million Trails, Open Space, and Parks bond initiative was passed with 73.4% approval in 2012. To date, three major acquisitions of new park land have been completed, including:  54 acres for Story Mill Community Park  80 acres for the Bozeman Sports Park  9 acres for Bozeman Pond Park expansion The five approved projects funded under the TOP bond made significant progress in 2014:  Public input workshops for master planning of Story Mill Community Park, Bozeman Pond Park, and Bozeman Sports Park and initial scoping meetings for the Trail to the M and Drinking Horse Mountain were held  A conceptual master plan for the Bozeman Sports Park was prepared and fundraising was initiated by the newly-formed Bozeman Sports Park Foundation  Public-private partnership agreements were executed with Trust for Public Land and the Bozeman Sports Park Foundation outlaying project objectives and responsibilities  Wetland and floodplain enhancements val- ued at over $500,000 aimed at improving stormwater quality for the Gallatin River watershed were completed by TPL on the Story Mill Community Park site  Design and engineering proceeded for the Bozeman Creek Enhancement project at Bogert Park Community funding totaling nearly $8.5 million was leveraged with $14.085 million allocated from the Trails, Open Space and Parks bond fund, for a total value of $22,585,000 added to the system. Trails, Open Space, and Parks Page 6 Wetland and floodplain enhancements in Story Mill Community Park Nine–acre land acquisition for expansion of Bozeman Pond Park Bozeman Sports Park Conceptual Plan City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department 143 The 73-acre Sunset Hills Cemetery is a virtual arboretum of stately pine, fir, spruce, ash, maple, cedar and various ornamental trees. The site currently contains nearly 16,000 burial sites with nine dedicated affiliation areas and room for expansion. A new memorial garden has recently been added and plans are underway to include a section to be eligible for Veterans Administration funded burials. Cemetery Division Page 7 Mapping of the current irrigation system, which runs on city water, is being completed to develop a sustainable water use strategy. In 2014, a total of 145 burials were conducted and 17 grave settlement repairs were completed. City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department 144 The City of Bozeman Forestry Division is committed to providing a healthy, safe, and aesthetically pleasing urban forest for its residents and visitors. By maintain- ing, managing, and preserving its trees, the city raises our collective standard of living and maximizes the benefits that are realized by its residents. The Forestry Division is responsible for the maintenance of roughly 20,000 trees on city property, including those on street boulevards, in parks and cemetery, along trails, and in landscapes surrounding city buildings. The division also offers many community services, such as sidewalk snow removal, Christmas tree recycling, Christmas decorations, hanging the ice rink curtain, alley clearance, and public education. The past year brought changes to the Forestry Division. The existing office at the Shop Complex was moved to a new location at the Vehicle Maintenance build- ing. Senior employee Vincent Galli was promoted to the City Forester position and Wynn Krauss was brought on as an additional arborist. Our community’s urban forest is an essen- tial component of municipal infrastruc- ture, one that creates efficiencies and long term solutions for achieving a sustainable environment. Bozeman’s urban forest is cared for by the city and its people, creat- ing a higher quality of life, a healthier citizenry, and making it a leader among towns in the mountain west. Forestry Division Page 8 Cost-share trees await planting Forestry staff: City Forester Vince Galli with Amy Hansen, Jennifer Jolilff, and Wynn Krauss. All are ISA certified arborists. City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department Bozeman High School students and learn about the benefits of street trees 145  Planted a total of 175 new boule- vard trees through the Cost-share Tree Program  Issued 103 Tree Replacement Vouchers at $100 each to Bozeman homeowners  Celebrated Arbor Day by planting 4 new trees at Bozeman High School  Transplanted 4 new trees on Holly Drive and 2 for HRDC in celebra- tion of Arbor Day  Trimmed elm trees and treated for elm scale in Cooper Park  Trimmed small trees in new subdi- visions for structure and to elimi- nate encroachments  Continued to provide prompt ser- vice for tree trimming, site inspec- tions and public information  Worked with Sanitation Division and Allied Waste to clear alleys for garbage trucks  Provided clearance for Street Improvement projects  Began sampling for Emerald Ash Borer  Added 596 trees to tree inventory  Hired a consultant to begin the development of an Urban Forest Management Plan  Recycled 35 tons of Christmas trees to be utilized as ground cover Forestry Division Page 9 Structural pruning and sidewalk clearance By the Numbers Small trees trimmed………………..763 Aerial lift trimming…...……………..155 Removals…………………….………..94 Tree replacement vouchers.….…..103 Cost-share trees planted……..……175 Arbor Day trees planted…………….10 Cemetery trees planted……………..10 Stumps ground………..……………...82 Christmas trees recycled (tons)…..35 City tree inventory City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department 146 The Recreation Division is responsible for identifying the recreation needs of our growing community and offering high-quality programs in diverse inter- est areas that satisfy those needs. The division has a committed staff focused on program and customer satisfaction while offering all-inclusive opportunities in outdoor recreation, sports, fitness, and cultural arts. The division expands its reach in the community by offering programs in spe- cial interest areas such as archery, stand up paddle boarding, yoga, senior fitness, and music through contracted instructors who are professionals in their respective areas. Community part- ners also help to enrich existing pro- grams by applying their knowledge, skills, and resources whenever possible. The Parks and Recreation Department is host to a variety of special events throughout the year. Examples include:  The Sweet Pea Children’s Run  Children’s Triathlon  Easter Egg Hunt in Lindley Park  Father Daughter Valentine Dance  Breakfast with Santa  Halloween Preschool Party  Senior Health and Fitness Day  Active Aging Week Celebration Recreation Division Page 10 Bicycling outing at Burke Park Curling league at Southside Park Easter Egg hunt at Lindley Park City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department 147 that all necessary requirements for use are met, including insurance and permits. The Parks Division determines use fees by as- sessing the additional maintenance costs from group use. In 2014, the Recreation Division developed a use agreement tem- plate in the fitness and camp category to help address increases in private entities conducting business on city property. Eight new agreements were added in 2014. Volunteers Volunteers play an integral role in commu- nity recreation program implementation and the Recreation Division is grateful for the time that our devoted volunteers pro- vided in 2014. Opportunities included tee- ball coaches, ice skating instructors, skate camp instructors, Sweet Pea Children’s Run and Youth Triathlon course supervi- sors, Little Explorer Tour hosts, pickleball, badminton, and curling instructors, and more! Community members, local busi- ness owners, parents, and even former Parks and Recreation Department employ- ees volunteered 2,395 hours to recreation programs in 2014. 2014 Recreation Division Highlights  Curling league doubled in size  Drop-in pickleball program increased and extended through the winter  Increased adult program offerings  Enhanced existing youth programs  Increased partnerships  Department-wide user group schedul- ing handled by Recreation Division Recreation Division Page 11 By the Numbers 162 Unique program offerings 16 Special Events 6,940 Participants in Recreation programs and events $136,017 Program revenues $4,786 Donated to programs Special events the Recreation Division participates in include:  Summer Activity Round Up  Lunch on the Lawn  Arbor Day Celebration  Bogert Farmer’s Market  Trick-or-Treating at the Story Mansion  Victorian Tea at the Story Man- sion  Kid-A-Palooza  Senior Fitness Fair User Group Agreements Community organizations and ath- letic clubs offer recreation opportu- nities to thousands of people in city parks each year through use agree- ments. The Recreation Division manages the agreements ensuring City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department 148 Facility Rentals The Recreation Division manages three popular community buildings that are home to many of our recreation programs and events. The Lindley Center, Beall Park Recreation Center, and Story Man- sion are also available to the public to rent for weddings, reunions, meetings, and other events. Pavilions Seven City Parks are home to pavilions of varying sizes that are available to the public to rent for their private events. Pavilions include picnic tables and in some cases, power outlets. The Recrea- tion Division works with community members on their reservation require- ments which often include special per- mits. The Parks Division maintains the pavilions. Community Gardens The Parks and Recreation Department manages 60 garden plots that are avail- able to community members for a fee, 20 in Westlake Park and 40 in Langhor Park and 100% of them are reserved. Accord- ing to the American Community Garden- ing Association (ACGA), the benefits of community gardening are not just limited to growing and eating your own produce, they can also enhance social interaction, improve quality of life, increase neighbor- hood beautification, lower family food budgets, help with conservation, improve Recreation Division Page 12 By the Numbers 356 Beall Rec Center rentals 218 Lindley Center rentals 187 Story Mansion rentals 386 Park pavilion rentals 60 Garden plots reserved 30 User group agreements $63,047 Facility rental revenue $18,475 Park pavilion revenue $2,916 Garden plot revenue $11,083 User group revenue 2014 Recreation Facility Highlights  New office space added in the Beall Park Recreation Center  New furnace and interior paint up- grades completed in the Beall Park Recreation Center  Lindley Center basement upgraded and now available for storage City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department 149 Bogert Pool The replacement of the heaters at Bogert Pool was a huge success! The 1949 steam boiler was replaced by three new, smaller and more efficient heaters. Swim lesson participants and patrons enjoyed the consistent water temperature. Public comment on water temperature went from several complaints daily to a few scattered comments all season. This was a giant step in improving customer satisfaction. The main drains at Bogert were also replaced, bringing them into compliance with federal regulations. The slides that had not been in operation since 2011 were taken down after the end of the 2014 swimming season. A large area of deck space has been opened up for public use. Following the 2014 swimming season, Bogert pool also received a new coat of paint. Lifeguards power washed, acid washed, scrubbed, and applied two coats of paint to the pool. The project took one month to complete. Aquatics City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department Page 13 New boilers at Bogert Pool City of Bozeman—Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department Bogert pool Additional deck space 150 Page 14 Aquatics Aquatics programs include: Water Fitness, Lap Swim, Recreation Swim, Open Exercise Area, Inflatable Float Toy, Swim Lessons, Lifeguard Classes, Water Safety Instructor Classes, Hosting Recreation Programs, Open Boating, Youth Triathlon, Snorkeling, and Family Swim. The Swim Center staff recognizes and values the important role that they play in the community. Safety is our number one priority. Staff members attend bi-weekly trainings to keep their skills sharp for when they need to respond in emergencies. With a staff of seventeen guards, we were able to guard a total of 62,997 patrons in 2014. City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department Swim Center 50-meter pool Aqua-fit classes are very popular New pool floor decal for Bogert pool 151 The Cemetery Advisory Board makes recommendations to the City Commission and the Department Director regarding operation of the Sunset Hills Cemetery. The Board consists of seven members appointed by the City Commission to staggered three-year terms with a majority being residents of the City. Whenever practicable, one of the members of the Board is a representative of an active, recognized veteran’s organization. The Tree Advisory Board provides guidance to the City Commission regarding the City's urban tree program and develops and updates the City Tree Master Plan. This board is comprised of five members appointed by the Commission to staggered two-year terms. Members are residents of the City and either own property or are employed at an establishment within the City limits. Whenever possible, at least two members are from the following disciplines: real estate, commercial lending, civil or environmental engineering, landscape architecture, or landscape construction. The Trails, Open Space, and Parks Committee was created to review applications and make recommendations to Commission for funding projects from the voter-approved Trails, Open Space, and Parks bond via Resolution 4386, utilizing the Application Procedure and Evaluation Criteria approved by Commission. In 2014, the TOP Committee recommended funding $4,500,000 for the 54-acre land purchase and development of Story Mill Community Park and $7,500,000 for the 80-acre land purchase and development of the Bozeman Sports Park. Advisory Boards and Committees City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department Page 15 The Recreation and Park Advisory Board makes recommendations to the City Commission on policy and procedural matters in the field of recrea- tion and parks as well as parkland dedications and cash-in-lieu proposals forwarded during the subdivision re- view process. The Board consists of up to fourteen members, including one city Commission liaison, who serve three-year staggered terms, except for the two student members, who serve one-year terms. Members represent as many facets of recrea- tional programs as possible. RPAB meeting at the Lindley Center 152 Parks Division  Integrate the CityWorks software program into the Parks Division  Begin construction for the Bozeman Pond Park Expansion, Bozeman Creek Enhancement at Bogert Park, and Bozeman Sports Park projects  Complete turf and irrigation improvements at Oak Springs Park  Augment maintenance responsibilities for Meadowcreek and Oak Springs subdivision parks and new TOP parks (Bozeman Pond Park expansion and Story Mill Community Park and Bozeman Sports Park sites) Cemetery Division  Plan for adding a Veterans Administration benefits-eligible area within Sunset Hills Cemetery Recreation and Aquatics Divisions  Continue to expand partnerships and contracted instructors allowing for more specialized program offerings  Hold a Youth Triathlon for 13-15 year olds  Expand program opportunities with the purchase of a 12 passenger van  Complete energy efficiency upgrades and facility improvements at Beall and Lindley Recreation Centers  Assume management of City Hall community garden site  Expand hours of operation at the Swim Center and Bogert Pool Forestry Division  Continue Bozeman’s 21-year run being named a Tree City USA  Implement the Urban Forest and Emerald Ash Borer Management Plans  Continue updating and expanding the City’s extensive tree inventory On the Horizon — 2015 Page 16 City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department 153