14 minute read
Golf Services
Switchyard Park
Switchyard Park, a 65-acre former railroad switchyard on the city’s south side, was imagined over decades and developed over years as a destination park. Officially opened in 2019, the park includes amenities that appeal to a variety of active and passive park users, and features landscaping and facilities that focus on green initiatives.
COVID-19 impacts on Switchyard Park were felt primarily through restrictions on crowd sizes that forced the cancellation of weddings, trade shows, musical performances and corporate events scheduled in Switchyard Park and its 11,000 ft2 Pavilion.
• The final pieces of play equipment and poured-in-place safety surfacing were installed at the Switchyard Park playground in
February. The playground was closed during the installation, and remained closed through June 12 as a safety precaution to limit the spread of COVID-19. • The Switchyard Park Pavilion boasts a ‘green roof’ (a portion of the roof is covered with vegetation) consisting of non-native, low-growing sedums planted in a special soil blend approximately four inches deep. The green roof is dependent on rainwater.
Green roofs help cool buildings, and absorb rainwater. • All 39 raised garden beds at the Switchyard Park Community Gardens were rented for the 2020 growing season. • The spray pad at the Community Foundation Switchyard Plaza opened June 30. The spray pad is a system of nearly 90 nozzles and misters that spray water into the air. The spray pad is an accessible facility that gives visitors of all abilities an opportunity to interact with the water, which is treated in a closed, chlorinated system. • The Switchyard Park dog park opened August 28, with two fenced areas separated for large and small dogs. The large dog area is approximately 3.5 acres; the small dog area is about 2.5 acres. • The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra presented the very first concert to be held on the main performance stage in the heart of the park with a concert on August 23.
Bond Projects
The Bloomington City Council and the Board of Park Commissioners authorized the issuance of five Park District Bonds in 2016, and three Park District Bonds (“Bicentennial Bonds”) in 2018, intended to improve City Parks by upgrading infrastructure, developing multi-use trails, and planting trees.
2016 Park District Bonds 2020 Projects
Cascades Golf Course
• $243,314 • Install Zoysia turf on Pine Course, completed in 2020
Crestmont Park
• $303,056 • Construct new playground, completed in 2020
Twin Lakes Sports Park
• $77,900 • Resurface parking lot
Griffy Lake Nature Preserve
• $294,000 • Design and develop accessible fishing pier
Bryan Park
• $25,895 • Resurface tennis courts, completed in 2020.
Bryan Park Pool
• $18,681.25 • Install fiberglass liner, completed in 2020
2018 Bicentennial “Trees & Trails” Bonds
Griffy Lake Nature Preserve
• $107,810 • Design three-mile Griffy Loop Hiking Trail
Cascades Park Trail
• $2,100,000 • Pilot project converting .6 mile of Old State Road 37 North through Lower
Cascades Park into a bicycle/pedestrian only trail began March 2020.
Duke Energy Trail
• $1,400,000 • 1.35 miles • Paved, accessible trail from west side of Rogers
Street to east side of
Weimer Road using Duke power line easement.
Street Tree Planting
• $800,000 • Tree planting locations to be determined by tree canopy analysis data.
Concept drawing of the accessible fishing pier across Headley Road from the Griffy Lake boathouse. The Duke Energy Trail will connect trails at Switchyard Park and RCA Community Park
Administration
The Administration Division implements policy as set forth by the Board of Park Commissioners.
• Contracted with Troyer Group, Inc. from South
Bend, Ind. for $72,500 to develop the 2021-25
Parks and Recreation Department Master Plan.
Administration organized 17 different online stakeholder meetings to help gather public input for the plan. • Four staff members were provided monthly on-line training through Vermont System’s RecChat. • Fifteen Park Board Packets were distributed to the Board of Park Commissioners, containing 147 contracts and partnerships for review and approval. • Additional online program registration opportunities were added to protect the health and safety of customer service staff and customers. • Office staffing was reduced to one staff member per day to provide in-person customer service while maintaining safety protocols. Remaining staff was available to provide remote support. • Processed 889 COVID-19 related program refunds totaling $77,506.83.
Administration 2020 Program Activity
There was a 56% decrease in Administration Division revenue ($37,890 to $16,437) from 2019 to 2020.
Program Revenue
General Fund
$22 Non-Reverting $16,415
Total 2020 Revenue $16,437
Program Expenses
General Fund
$754,942 Non-Reverting $13,276
Total 2020 Expenses $768,218
The Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department lost a dear friend and community treasure in 2020. Joan Olcott 1929-2020
Community Relations
Community Relations coordinates graphic design, promotions, marketing, sponsors, and volunteers.
• Designed and completed 370 print and digital marketing pieces, of a total 531 design projects scheduled; 160 projects were cancelled due to COVID-19-related program cancellations. • Increased Facebook followers by 9% (9,004 to 9,829 followers) in 2020. • Organized a Virtual Programming Team in response to demand for online programming. The team created more than 400 YouTube videos for social media. • Obtained $37,730 in monetary sponsorships and facility advertising sales from 48 different businesses and individuals for Parks and Recreation programs and events, a 42% decrease in sponsorship revenue from 2019. • Managed 1,369 volunteers who contributed a total of 7,103 hours of service to the Department.
Park Partner Award for outstanding partnerships
IU School of Optometry, for support of the annual Children’s Expo Dick’s Sporting Goods, for support of Bloomington Youth Basketball and tee ball leagues IU Credit Union, for long-term support of various programs Cub Scouts volunteer to mulch garden plots for the winter at Willie Streeter Community Gardens.
Bravo Award-presented to outstanding volunteers
Eunice Pak & Seojin Kwon, ongoing assistance with Community Events Cathy Meyer, Monroe County Parks and Recreation, for assistance with natural resources programming
Partnerships Grants and Awards
The Parks and Recreation Department entered into 23 partnership and cooperative service agreements to maximize available resources and avoid duplication of services. The Department is proud to partner and collaborate with these organizations in 2020:
• Area 10 Agency on Aging • BCT Management, Inc. • Bloomington Blades High School Hockey • Bloomington Blades Youth Hockey • Bloomington Community Orchard • Bloomington Figure Skating Club • Bloomington Football Club • Boys and Girls Club • Buskirk-Chumley Theater Management Co. • Centerstone • David Prall/Bloomington Soccer LLC • Hilltop Gardens at Indiana University • IU Health Bloomington • Monroe County Health Department • Monroe County History Center • Monroe County-Identify and Reduce Invasive Species (MC-IRIS) • Monroe County Public Library • MC Tennis • Middle Way House • Ryder Magazine & Film Series • Sassafras Audubon Soceity • Summer Star Foundation for Nature Art and Humanity Inc. • The Code and Key Escape Rooms The Department actively pursues grant opportunities to supplement funding received through other sources.
Regional Opportunity Initiatives $243,600
Banneker Community Center
National Recreation and Park Association Parks as Community Nutrition Hubs: Expanding Access to Healthy Foods Grant $80,000
Banneker Community Center
Bloomington Health Foundation $79,976
Grant to triple Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program benefits for Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) participants at the Bloomington Farmers’ Market
Monroe County Community School Corporation 21st Century Community Learning Center (2020-21 school year) $43,000
Banneker Community Center
Anonymous Donation for 14-passenger Minibus $39,995
Banneker Community Center
U S Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program $33,345
Banneker Community Center
Indiana Department of Natural Resources Community Hunting Access Program (CHAP) $25,000
Natural Resources
Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) Grant $11,600
Griffy Lake Aquatic Vegetation Management Plan
Summer Star Foundation for Nature Art and Humanity Inc $4,239
Griffy Lake Nature Days
Summer Star Foundation for Nature Art and Humanity Inc $3,659
Banneker Summer Nature Days
Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) Grant $3,583
Invasive Aquatic Vegetation Management
IAA Gold Leaf Award—Indiana Arborist Association in partnership with the Indiana Society of Arboriculture
National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA Designation—
36th consecutive year
Staff
Parks and Recreation Department Staff photo taken February 2020
The Department has a professional and connected staff of long-standing members of our community dedicated to providing quality parks, recreation and sports services.
AdministrAtion Paula McDevitt .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . Administrator Ellen Campbell ...................................Graphic Designer Kim Clapp .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Office Manager Missy Grabowski .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Customer Service Representative Tiffany Hall .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Customer Service Representative Brenda McGlothlin.. .. .. .. .. .. Customer Service Representative Sarah Owen .................. Community Relations Coordinator Ethan Philbeck ................ Customer Service Representative Julie Ramey ...................... Community Relations Manager
operAtions & nAturAl resources Dave Williams . .. .. .. .. .. Operations and Development Director John Barnes ............................................ Master MEO Marie Becker. .. .. .. .. .. Urban Greenspace Working Foreperson Jon Behrman . .. .. .. .. .. Natural Resources Working Foreperson Steve Cotter .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Natural Resources Manager Barb Dunbar . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .Operations Division Coordinator Don Foddrill . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . Facilities Working Foreperson Dave Fox . .. .. .. ..Sanitation and Grounds Working Foreperson Curtis Gilstrap..Cemeteries/Landscaping Working Foreperson Erin Hatch.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Urban Forester Mike Hollingsworth ...........Facilities Maintenance Mechanic Mark Marotz .......................... Operations Superintendent Kevin Prince . .. .. .. .. .. .. . Urban Forestry Working Foreperson Phil Paris . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Laborer II Anthony Robertson . .. .. .. .. Equipment Maintenance Mechanic Dennis Robertson . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Master MEO Jim Salisbury. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Laborer II Haskell Smith .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Urban Forestry Laborer II Joanna Sparks .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. City Landscaper Rebecca Swift .....................Natural Resources Coordinator Rob Turpin ...............................Operations Crew Leader
recreAtion Becky Higgins . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Recreation Services Director Leslie Brinson.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . Community Events Manager Cory Hawkins.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Program Specialist Jess Klein . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Health & Wellness Coordinator Sarah Mullin . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Program Specialist Erik Pearson . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Program Specialist Bill Ream . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Program/Facility Coordinator Crystal Ritter ....................Community Events Coordinator Amy Shrake .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Inclusive Recreation Coordinator Ashley Spurgeon ........Community Events Program Specialist Marcia Veldman . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Program/Facility Coordinator
sports John Turnbull.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Sports Division Director Aaron Craig .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Golf Facilities Manager Daren Eads ........................Program/Facility Coordinator James Kelb.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Golf Course Superintendent Dan Kluesner ........................................ Sports Laborer Chris Lamb ................ Athletic Fields Working Foreperson Hsiung Marler . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. General Manager Switchyard Park Scott Pedersen . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .Youth Sports Coordinator James Richardson.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..MEO Jason Sims .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .Golf Programs Coordinator Megan Stark . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Membership Coordinator Mark Sterner ................................ Sports Area Manager Maggie Tull.. .. .. .. .. .. .. Switchyard Park Working Foreperson Dee Tuttle.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Sports Facility/Programs Manager
Long-time Parks & Recreation employees Marcia Veldman (L) and Dave Williams retired from public service in 2020.
Message from the Board of Park Commissioners
Board of Park Commissioners President Kathleen Mills (center) helps cut the ribbon to open the new playground at Crestmont Park on Nov. 9, 2020. It was late winter, almost spring when COVID-19 came to Bloomington. All of us were suddenly thrown into a world we had never known before. Most of the activities we regularly engaged in were closed. But there was a bright spot. As the weeks wore on, and the weather improved, people throughout Bloomington began to flock to the city’s parks in greater numbers than ever. Whether it was bicycling on the B-Line trail, hiking around Griffy Lake, playing Frisbee at Bryan Park, or getting in a few sets of tennis at RCA Community Park, outdoor spaces became a vital respite from the restrictions of pandemic life.
This past year also meant that the Parks and Recreation Department had to cancel or modify many of the more than 300 programs it presents in a year. The department worked quickly to offer as many recreation opportunities as safely as possible. The pandemic made it more clear than ever that it’s in our green and growing parks, and along our tree-lined streets and trails, that our community comes together.
We continue to be grateful to our friends at the Bloomington Parks Foundation who distribute tens of thousands of dollars each year to ensure children in Bloomington have the opportunity to learn to swim, take part in ice skating lessons, or have an activity-filled week at Kid City Summer Camp. Youth that experience city parks and trails from a young age are the adults of tomorrow who will continue to advocate for Parks and Recreation properties and programs. In 2021, we renew our commitment to affordable parks opportunities for all local residents.
The Board of Park Commissioners is grateful, too, to long-time Board member Les Coyne. Coyne stepped down from his seat on the Board of Park Commissioners after four decades. During his years of service, Coyne made significant positive impacts to the Parks and Recreation Department and in so many areas of the community.
We hope that Bloomington’s parks and recreation opportunities have helped you through this troubling past year. As the pandemic starts to recede, we look forward to once again offering you a full slate of lessons, camps, outdoor films, and fun activities for all ages and lifestyles. Please enjoy all that Bloomington’s 2,342 acres of parks land has to offer.
Mission
Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department will provide essential services, facilities and programs necessary for the positive development and well-being of the community through the provision of parks, greenways, trails and recreational facilities while working in cooperation with other service providers in the community in order to maximize all available resources.
Vision
We strive to provide the highest quality parks, recreation services and greenspace to enhance the quality of life for our community.
diversity l service l respect l stewardship l quality l accountability l progressive l responsive
Values
John Hamilton
Administrator
Paula McDevitt
Board of Park Commissioners
Les Coyne Israel Herrera Kathleen Mills Ellen Rodkey Lisa Thatcher
Bloomington Parks Foundation 2020 Board of Directors
Jim Murphy, President Doug Bruce Sally Baird John Carter Les Coyne Ted Ferguson Chris Hawk John Hurlow Debbie Lemon Erin Martoglio Aaron Mobley Tony Mobley Ben Niehoff Valerie Pena Chris Quackenbush Tony Rastall Ellen Rodkey Gary Scott David Skirvin Karin St. John Jon Tichenor Travis Vencel
