1 WATERTOWN RECREATION DEPARTMENT BUDGET HEARING PRESENTATION MAY

1 WATERTOWN RECREATION DEPARTMENT BUDGET HEARING PRESENTATION MAY 19, 2014

2 Thank you for the opportunity to present and formally discuss the FY 15 Department of Recreation Budget Recommendations. I am grateful for the support which the Department of Recreation has received from the Town Manager, members of the Honorable Town Council and my fellow Department Heads and members of their staff. I would also like to thank the residents of Watertown for presenting their ideas, asking questions and supporting and challenging the department so it can be the best it can be.

3 I would also like to thank my full time staff, Ernie Thebado, Assistant Director and Maureen Foley, Head Clerk. Ernie is instrumental in the success of our program and Maureen does a great job keeping the office efficient, functional and welcoming. We have approximately 100 seasonal staff comprised of professionals, college and high school students who provide the Town with outstanding service by supporting our active and passive recreational opportunities.

4 MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Watertown Recreation Department is to provide the citizens of the Town of Watertown with varied and comprehensive passive and active recreational, leisure and seasonal opportunities for a wide range of age groups and abilities.

5 ACCOMPLISHMENTS PROGRAMING Our established programs such as the Pequossette Summer Program, Summer Parks Program, Youth and Adult Tennis, All Sports, Junior All Sports, Creative Crafts, Junior Creative Crafts, Mini Creative Crafts, Little Shooters, Floor Hockey, Pre-K Sports, Middle School Open Gym, Community Sports and Games, The Show Must Go On, Super Saturday, Wachusett Ski, Adult and Youth Basketball, Flag Tag Football, Blue Belles Baton, Vacation Camps, Trips to Harlem Globe Trotters, Big Apple Circus, Disney on Ice, Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, Red Sox Tickets were all very successful over the past year and are consistently reviewed and evaluated. With the addition of our new programs, the Recreation Department serviced approximately 10% more participants in the Fiscal Year 2014.

6 ACCOMPLISHMENTS PROGRAMING • Continued to offer new active and passive programs, while improving and expanding those programs already established. • Collaborated with the Friends of Music to offer musical instrument lessons to the children of Watertown after school in the Watertown Middle School.

7 ACCOMPLISHMENTS PROGRAMING • Coordinated the staffing of the Linear Park Mural Project which beautified the area and created a memorable experience for 12 high school students. • This project received many accolades including a Proclamation from the Town Council on September 22, 2013 as well as an Official Citation from the State Senate in recognition of receiving the 2014 Massachusetts Cultural Council Gold Award.

8 ACCOMPLISHMENTS PROGRAMING • Created a Wrestling Program for children in kindergarten though fourth grade. • Offered new opportunities for active play for Middle School age students by instituting an after school indoor field hockey, floor hockey and flag tag program.

9 ACCOMPLISHMENTS COMMUNICATION • Monthly “Open Forum” meetings and open door policy for constituents. • Increased “Notify Me” recipients to approximately 3054 users. • PEAK, our activity and facility software program, has 3203 members, 2208 ages 1 -18. • Facebook has 782 likes and has a tremendous amount of visitors. Growing list of Twitter followers.

10 ACCOMPLISHMENTS COMMUNICATION • Website updated on a regular basis with event calendar. • “Document Center”: program, facility and employment information online. • Notices sent to schools, newspapers, and cable.

11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS ORGANIZATIONAL - STAFFING • Employment applications became available in December 2013. Interviews began in February, 2014, and conditional letters of appointment were mailed in early May. • 101 staff will be employed during the summer. Breakdown includes 30 high school, 28 college and 31 adults. • 87% of Full, Part Time and Seasonal Staff are First Aid, CPR and AED Certified. • Formal staff orientation slated for June 21, 2014.

12 ACCOMPLISHMENTS ORGANIZATIONAL - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT • Member of State, Regional and National Park Recreation Associations. • Director attended Massachusetts Parks and Recreational Association Conference. • Assistant Director attended monthly Metro West meetings, Microsoft Power Point Workshop, New England Youth Sports Concussion Forum. • Clerk attended Power. Point and Excel training. • Six staff attended the Spark training with the Pep Grant and 15 staff attended the Positive Coaching Workshop. • Quarterly meetings with part-time staff.

13 ACCOMPLISHMENTS RECREATIONAL FACILITIESCOMMUNICATION • Consistent communication and cooperation with the Park’s Department has led to well maintained, functional , safe, beautiful recreational facilities and open space areas for our residents. • Maintain an email address: parksrec@watertown-ma. gov which allows residents to email concerns directly to Recreation Department and the Department of Public Works.

14 ACCOMPLISHMENTS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES - CASEY PARK • The renovations at Casey Park which include two tennis courts, a multi-purpose rink that can be frozen, lighting, flag pole, accessibility improvements, benches and complimentary amenities will be opened by the end of May 2014. The adjacent basketball court was also resurfaced in conjunction with the project. • The recreational facility improvements will make Casey Park a more multi-functional, safer and ascetically pleasing park for our residents.

15 CASEY PARK IMPROVEMENTS

16 ACCOMPLISHMENTS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES - 552 MAIN STREET • The 552 Main Street Renovation Project, which is located behind the Police Station, has been designed, funded by the Town Council and will begin construction the week of May 19, 2014. • The plan includes a tot lot, multi-court surface, gazebo, picnic benches, improved accessibility, quiet contemplative area, rain gardens and an increased tree inventory.

17 ACCOMPLISHMENTS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES - 552 MAIN STREET • The department applied for the Our Common Back Yard Grant offered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the beginning of the year on behalf of the 552 Main Street Project. • In a recent formal notification, the Department of Recreation was notified of a grant award for the amount of $200, 000.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES - DOG PARK • The first formal dog park in the Town of Watertown will open by the end of May using a portion of the space (200 x 100) at How Park. • The Town has also identified a private dog park area provided by the Alta Estates and is exploring a potential third dog park in the east end of town at a site to be determined. 18

19 ACCOMPLISHMENTS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES - MOXLEY • The tot lot resurfacing project at Moxley Field will replace the rubberized surface in the playground. • The Town has approved the project, contract has been finalized and the project will be completed in June 2014. • Similar replacements of this surface will need to be completed at Victory Field and Filippello Park

20 ACCOMPLISHMENTS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES • The artificial surface at Victory Field has serviced the multi-faceted needs of the school department’s physical education classes, athletic programs, youth organizations, adult groups and offering recreation open field time. • The Victory Field Complex, complimentary recreational facilities and open space areas in the Town are servicing many of the needs of the community, especially promoting healthy active and passive behaviors.

21 ACCOMPLISHMENTS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES • Victory Field is one of the finest recreational facilities in the region and has produced revenue for the Town by way of rental income when the facility is not being used by groups from Watertown. • In addition to our many groups in Watertown, the Victory Field Complex is rented to the following major groups to name a few: Boston Rugby, Boston Ski and Sports Club, Boston University, Newbury College, Emerson College.

22 ACCOMPLISHMENTS FINANCIAL • Provided quality recreational programs at affordable cost to our residents. • Analyzed each program for financial viability on a consistent basis. • Revenue received from field and picnic reservations help financially support the very successful Park Ranger program at the Victory Complex, Filippello Park and Arsenal Park as well as other programs and facility related enhancements.

23 ACCOMPLISHMENTS FINANCIAL • Most programs are self sustaining. • The online registration option is a convenient opportunity to register for our programs and continues to be utilized by approximately 35 % of our customers. • The revolving fund continues to be utilized for revenue and expenses relative to our recreational program and facility use.

OBJECTIVES • In general, continue to evaluate items listed in our accomplishments, identify strengths, opportunities, challenges and then develop action plans to improve and enhance those items. • Collaborate and cooperate with the Town Manager, Town Council and other departments to maximize productivity in a timely and effective manner. • Develop relationships with other recreation departments in neighboring towns and beyond for new ideas and potential collaboration. 24

OBJECTIVES • Collaborate with other agencies that support healthy behaviors and wellness. Examples of such groups include Wayside Family Network, Watertown Boys and Girls Club, and Watertown School Department (Wellness Committee) • Research and add new active and passive recreational programs for all ages that fit the needs and wants of our constituents. • The Recreation Department will continue to be proactive in the renovation and development of our recreational facilities. 25

26 OBJECTIVES PROGRAMMING • Identify new program opportunities, focusing on adult, high school and middle school age groups. • Utilize the Casey Park facility to develop open and league play from children and adults. • Expand relationships with local groups such as Skyhawks to offer additional opportunities for programing offered in the Town to our residents.

27 OBJECTIVES PROGRAMMING • Schedule activities and events for the summer parks program offered at the Victory Field Complex, O’Connell Playground, Casey Park and Bemis Playground. • Develop creative and dynamic special events such as movie night, dancing under the stars, and family oriented activities. • Expand fine arts programming including but not limited to music, dance, drama and artistic opportunities.

28 OBJECTIVES ORGANIZATIONAL • Recreation Staff Handbook • Recreation Employee Identification Cards – (Alpha Card) • Survey Monkey – Evaluation Software - Available June, 2013 • Expand Internship Opportunities with local Universities and Colleges

29 OBJECTIVES RECREATIONAL FACILITIES • The Recreation Department plans to be an active and productive participant in the development of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. • The Plan will involve a number of Recreation Department programs, including the update of the “Open Space Plan”, incorporation of the Health and Wellness Initiatives, and the ongoing implementation of our Bike Path network including the Charles River area.

30 OBJECTIVES RECREATIONAL FACILITIES • Collaborate with the Parks Department of the Department of Public Works on a regular basis to monitor all recreational facilities to make sure they are functional, safe, aesthetically pleasing and meet the needs of passive and active recreation for our residents. • Identify areas of concerns for maintenance and amenity improvements on a proactive and continuous basis

31 OBJECTIVES RECREATIONAL FACILITIES – ELECTRICAL BOX • Electrical box reconstruction: This project entails reconstructing the electrical boxes at Casey Park (Baseball), Filippello Park and Saltonstall Park. This project implementation is critical for cost and electrical efficiency, practicality of use and safety and liability. • A completion date of August 15, 2014 is recommended.

32 OBJECTIVES RECREATIONAL FACILITIES • The Recreational Facility Enhancements are collaborative efforts with the Department of Public Works, Department of Planning and Development and other departments of the Town that assist in these endeavors. • Continued improvements in infrastructure of our recreational facility resources is critical and will continue to be a high priority of this department.

33 OBJECTIVES RECREATIONAL FACILITIES – FILIPPELLO • Filippello Park (Grove Street): Develop comprehensive design plan for the Grove Street entrance of Filippello Park with collaboration of the Conservation Commission and other interested parties. • Since the recycle center has been moved to the west side of Watertown, a preliminary design plan has been created and recently a task order has been created for a finalized design plan of Filippello Park, Grove Street entrance. • A completion date of August 15, 2015 is recommended.

34 OBJECTIVES RECREATIONAL FACILITIES - VICTORY • Victory Track, Field and Court Renovation (Phase II): Develop a comprehensive design plan for the track, field and court renovation. • An initial draft tentative design plan has been developed. Key amenities could include 28 additional parking spots, including 4 accessible parking spots, reconstructed track with rubberized “D” zones to support track and field events, multi-purpose court/rink, 5 tennis courts, tot lot resurfacing, enhanced storm water infiltration, additional landscaping, including planting of new trees, artificial surface, lighting, contemplative seating and central patio area. • A completion date of August 15, 2015 is recommended.

35 OBJECTIVES RECREATIONAL FACILITIES • Research, prepare recommendations and discuss with the Town Manager and Town Council the potential policy decisions regarding the Recreational Facilities Fee and the Recreational Signage Policy. • Discuss ways with leadership create a template for Capital Projects.

36 OBJECTIVES FINANCIAL • Adhere to all rules and regulations as outlined by our Town’s Auditors office in regarding to the processing and storage all financial. • Analyze financial reports and information on a regular basis to make sure the department remains in great financial condition in regards to the balances of the budget and revolving fund. • Increase participation and permit levels by 8% to help attain those objectives.

BUDGET COMPARISON REPORT 37

38 BUDGET ADJUSTMENT RATIONALE • The Recreation Department is requesting $260, 523 for FY 15. • The budget for FY 15 requests a total increase of $2, 208. 00. • All additional funds are requested from recreation personnel section of the budget.

39 CONCLUSION • On behalf of the Watertown Recreation Department family and my supportive Centola family, I would like to thank you for your assistance and cooperation during this past year. • Thank you for the opportunity to present at today’s meeting and I will be happy to entertain any questions or comments at this time.