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Home My WebLink About20 Forestry, Ice Arena, Parks & Recreation Annual Report201 1 DEPARTMENT STAFF: JUSTIN PAUL 43d�1J L ENQ T AMIRAV A 1AF RCpN Forestry, Ice Arena, Parks and Recreation are separate divisions of the Parks and Recreation Department. Together the mission is to create and promote policies, programs and places that enable active living to improve the health, well- being, education and vitality of our community. 201 1 PARKS, RECREATION & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION: Commissioners volunteer to aid and assist the council in formulating sound conservation and land -use management. Duties of the commission include: Reviewing preliminary plats of development for park amenities protecting environmentally significant areas. Provide feedback regarding recreational programming and park /facility needs, make recommendations regarding care, maintenance and development of city parks. 2011 accomplishments include formulation of a splash pad study, Sunnyhill park naming/ development, facility use policy amendment, multiple grant application reviews and recommendations, playground design and approval for Hemingway and North Ideal Parks, and master planning of Pine Coulee, Belden and Granada Parks. Park Improvements 3 0: N U M B E R O F P C O T T A G E G R 0 V E To the City of Cottage Grove the word "Parks" is a verb, noun, pronoun, a play it daily. The Parks Division provides routine services such as mowing maintenance, playground safety inspections, outdoor rink maintenance, tul addition, Park employees take on several unique projects each year of whic WOODRIDGE PARK Cottage Grove's premier baseball field received new dugouts, a re- graded infield, additional irrigation and multiple new trees surrounding the field. A new picnic shelter was also constructed with new picnic tables. HEMMINGWAY & NORTH IDEAL PARKS Both sites received new playground equipment, base material, border and viewing benches. These playgrounds now have unique equipment features not seen at any other Cottage Grove Park. HEARTHSIDE PARK Staff re -built the hockey rink boards and rink base. Park staff was able to keep project costs to less than $15K as compared to $30K+ had the work been contractual. The building landscaping was also improved. PINE COULEE PARK This southern park received a complete redesign with a new shelter, basketball court, redesigned playground, re- seeded baseball field, parking lot /curb, trail, additional trees, benches, and picnic tables. nd adjective. We work it, live it, and field maintenance, park building f maintenance, and trash hauling. In h some are highlighted below. PAGE 3 2011 Park Improvements G E N E R A L P A R K M A N A G E M E N T O F O V E R 1 9 3 1 A C R E S O F P A R K L A N D STATEWIDE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT GRANT This S4,000 grant from Washington County paid for seven bicycle racks at five community parks and one interpretative sign at Kingston Park. The sign explains health benefits and opportunities for biking in Cottage Grove. HIGHLANDS PARK The park building received a complete remodel and redesign in preparation for an approved Splash Pad that will be installed in 2012. The project increased building square footage and brought it into ADA compliance. KINGSTON PARK COURT FENCES The tennis and basketball courts received new black decorative fencing around the perimeter. Additional fencing was installed along the entrance to designate areas for parking and to reduce turf damage due to vehicles. PROPERTY LINE M A N A G E M E N T 2011 was phase four of five to identify public property lines. Posts were installed in the park areas south of 80th St., west of Jamaica Avenue as well as Oakwood Park. All cases of encroachment were identified and addressed. WAG FARMS DOG PARK The Dog Park includes 14 acres of rolling grass lands, a pond, walking trails, benches, picnic tables, off- street parking, and designated areas for both big and small dogs. Almost all park development work was performed by Parks /Public Works staff and Dog Park volunteers. PAGE 4 PARK FORESTRY M A N A G E M E N T • West Draw Park tree transplanting • Meadow Grass Park tree transplanting • Planting of over 100 trees into Belden, Woodridge, and Hamlet Parks • River Oaks Golf Scenic overlook clearing • Oakwood Park forest management and tree care • Recreation trail trimming • Hardwood Park clearing and forest management • Emerald Ash Borer control • Mulching of park /street trees • Assist with new trail layout and design around trees in the Pine Cliff subdivision • New trail landscaping in Pine Cliff subdivision URBAN FORESTRY M A N A G E M E N T • Boulevard tree trimming • Emerald Ash Borer Management Program • Jamaica, Avenue tree trimming • 80th Street /Highway 61 tree planting • Integrated pest management throughout the communitv J • Round -about maintenance • Provide high quality customer service to tree related resident concerns in a timelv J and professional manner • Review new landscape designs, plantings and installations at Pine Cliff, Michaels Point, and Preserve developments Forestry Mission: to care for and maintain all boulevard, parkland, and City owned trees. Provide information to residents regarding proper tree and shrub care. a ,; "We don't stop playing because we grow old; r uv ol.d because we stop playing." G E O R G E B E R N A R D S H A W RECREATION Our division develops and administers recreational policies and programs within the community. We also process program registrations, facility use permits, and provide high quality customer service for the Ice Arena, Parks and Recreation Department Offices. In addition, focusing on sportsmanship. 2)Three sessions of Tot Spot (4hr. drop -off program) in the fall, winter, and spring. 3)Eight session of Miscellaneous Mornings (program specializing in music, nature, crafts, or games). we assist the Cottage Grove Athletic Association in the areas of insurance, event planning and marketing. STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL responsibilities continue to expand each year; in addition to the 5K Race(144 racers), Kids 1 Mile Run(24 runners), Men's and Co -Ed Softball Tournament(22 teams) - we added the family event of Chalk Walk on Friday Night. Twenty -five families creatively designed and decorated the trails at Kingston Park. Our core programming in the summer is our SUPERVISED PLA YGROUNDS offered at Hearthside, Highlands and Peter Thompson Park. In 2011, there were 600 "by day" registrations and over 300 "by weep' registrations. This program continues to grow and improve each year. The key to our success is program flexibility, well - trained seasonal staff and being outdoor /park based. PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS expanded to include: 1)Two sessions of a Sports Sampler in the spring and fall � ti Processing building, court, field, pavilion, and complex RENTALS is a major function of our division. In 2011, we processed over 300 reservations which is an increase of 14.5 %. The Cottage Grove Athletic Association continues to be our main customer. 2011 marked our 18th Annual SAFETY CAMP for youth ages 8 -11. Although we moved the event to the Ice Arena because of the extreme high temperatures; it was very successful as always. Over 140 youth participated in the three day camp learning a variety of safety information while having fun in a "camp" setting. PAGE 6 Landscape Management MISSION: TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION THROUGH WELL PLANNED MAINTAINED LANDSCAPING FEATURES IN HIGHLY VISIBLE AREAS. This program is designed to provide community beautification by hiring college interns to plan, coordinate, monitor and maintain landscaping features in highly visible areas of the community. This program not only provides a great benefit to Cottage Grove but also offers great learning and work experience to the future work force of America. In 2011, our interns managed over 60 flowerbeds, designed and installed landscaping beds for Ice Arena and River Oaks signs, developed a management plan for Roundabout landscaping and managed the city's Green Garden Awards for commercial and residential categories. The City of Cottage Grove has been receiving a grant from Washington County since 1990 for the administration , promotion and enhancement of recycling. The fund providing the grant to the City comes from the County Environmental Charge which is a 37.5 surcharge on garbage hauling services. In 2011, the City promoted , ay two °ekly in random drawings of residents who placed their recycling bins at the curb for pick -up. The City promoted recycling in the elementary schools, daycares, Arbor Day, Youth Activities Expo, Spring Clean-up, Public Works Open House, Night to Unite, and Safety Camp. During Night to Unite we promoted composting by providing compostable plates, silverware, and napkins. There was also the option for neighborhood parties to use clearstream containers to recycle. The city's recycling haulers published news articles in the monthly Cottage Grove Reports, the website, and the city's Facebook. The articles and campaign were based on the Rethink Recycling marketing campaign. Arena 1 COTTAG7-r GR--lvE �c7-r A REN A IS A "STATE OF THE ART" THREE rc a N K FACILQTY 0 F F ER IN G 1�1 U L 1" J P S E PROG RAIMM�NG FEATURES Ul NOER ONE R00F,. THE �CF ARENA IS HOUVIE TOTHE CO'TTAGr-- Gp, HOC,,K,F.,Y ASSOCIAMN, PARK HO. Y, Ems - r RMGui Hoo<�v-y. COTTAGE GROVIZ SKAllr � FiCH10 AS WELL AS THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO VISU EACHq YE'AR, F1