City of Lawrence

Parks & Recreation Advisory Board               

January 9th, 2007

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Sharon Spratt Tom Bracciano, Kelly Barth, and Bruce Muzzy

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Bill Penny

STAFF PRESENT:

Fred DeVictor, Mark Hecker, Ernie Shaw and Roger Steinbrock

 

GUESTS:

Dave Corliss, City Manager, Debbie Van Saun, Assistant City Manager and Kristle Dormal, Student Intern from Baker University

 

 

 

          Sharon Spratt filled in for Chair Bill Penny, who was absent.  Spratt called the meeting to order and the minutes of the December 12th meeting were approved on a motion by Bracciano, 2nd by Muzzy.

 

            Kelly Barth and Bruce Muzzy were elected to serve as Chair and Vice Chair of the advisory board for 2007.

 

            At a staff holiday luncheon in December, DeVictor announced his March 16th retirement after 37 years of service to the City.  He told the Board it was a good time to step down, even though he looked forward to working with new City Manager, Dave Corliss & Debbie Van Saun.  He commended the excellent Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department team and all the dedicated employees, who made coming to work a pleasure.  These are some exciting things on the horizon for LPRD with new park projects and the completion of the PLAY proposal this spring.

 

            Corliss commended Fred for his work and long time tenure as Director and asked the Board for their input in selecting a replacement and would keep them informed of the process.  He hoped the job could be advertised in February and selection made as soon as possible.

 

            Shaw discussed the concealed hand gun law that went into effect January 1st.  He referred to the handout and said all indoor recreation facilities were posted to not allow guns to be carried into these facilities.  Board members asked about parks and staff indicated they could not patrol all parks but will post signs with active areas such as ball diamond complexes.

 

            The Board was invited to a City-County appreciation reception to be held at the Lawrence Arts Center on January 22nd from 5-7PM.

 

            DeVictor handed out a schedule and invited the Board to participate in an important “traditional neighborhood design forum” to establish “Smart Goals”, a tool to help set goals and visions for the future in our community.

 

            Hecker reported on park projects including the greenbelt park near Langston Hughes Elementary School, Clinton Park and Sesquicentennial Plaza.

 

            Shaw reported major AFA national girls softball tournament would return to Lawrence July 16th-21st, 2007 and use most of the LPRD softball diamonds.  Two years ago 130 teams participated in the week long event.

 

 

Steinbrock invited Board members to the March 6th, 5-6:30PM reception at the Depot to recognize Friends of the Parks for 2006.  Friends of the Park Reception being held Tuesday, March 6, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Union Pacific Depot. The Friends of the Park recognizes contributors to the department’s activities, programs and initiatives. In 2006, there was over $236,000 contributed to park and recreation programs and projects. There probably should be an asterisk next to it because it includes $214,000 raised by the Sesquicentennial Commission for Sesquicentennial Point.  Since 2002, over $421,000 has been donated to the department in services and gifts.

 

Over the entire 2006 year, over 643,000 visitors and participants were involved in a recreation activity. This includes visiting a recreation center, attending a class, visiting the nature center, attending a swimming class, playing a round of golf, etc.

 

Also enrollment in programs continues to increase and currently the Winter/Spring enrollment is over 20% over what it was last year during the same period of time.  Also, more people are enrolling online (over a 58% increase of last year’s enrollment for the period) and is 47% of total enrollment, which is a 12% jump from last year for the period.

 

            Meeting adjourned at 1:00P.M.