nnual
A nationally accredited & gold medal agency
EXPLORE ENGAGE CONNECT
A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR On behalf of Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation, I am thrilled to share our 2021 Annual Report. As we
moved forward from 2020, our team continuously evaluated how best to serve the community and
adjust to our “new normal.” While this report cannot
possibly cover everything we accomplished this year,
my hope is to offer you a glimpse into the work we do to provide world-class park and recreation services here in Carmel.
From inspiring parks to dynamic programs, our
success is grounded in an engaged community.
Reimagined Carey Grove Park and Flowing Well Park
We are honored to serve a community so invested
in and involved with its park system. I would like to
thank you and our elected officials, Park Board, and every member of our CCPR team for making 2021
a successful year. Through dedication and support,
you will ensure that Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation remains a thriving park system for years to come.
reopened to a skyrocketing number of park visitors. We had a steady increase in Monon Community Center memberships and Extended School
Recreationally yours,
Enrichment and Summer Camp registrations. Our
volunteers donated record-breaking hours of service. Community members, ranging from kindergarten students to park neighbors, eagerly gave their
feedback as we embarked on the master planning
Michael W. Klitzing, CPRE Director of Parks and Recreation
process for Bear Creek Park.
2021 in 2-ish Minutes Click here for a message from Michael Klitzing, Director of Parks and Recreation, on the department’s challenges and successes in 2021.
2
| 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
ENHANCING PARK AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES Through inspiring parks and innovative services, Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation contributes to the quality of life and economic vitality of its community.
PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCES In a city renowned for its worldclass parks and facilities, Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation is dedicated to providing excellent customer service to everyone.
ENSURING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY By creating an environmentally and financially sustainable system, Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation will ensure parks are available for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.
PROGRAM TO HELP SAVE POLLINATORS RECOGNIZED In November, Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation was awarded the Clark Ketchum Conservation Award at the annual Indiana Park and Recreation Association conference. CCPR received the award for its work to preserve habitat for imperiled pollinators. “We are humbled to receive this honor on behalf of our dedicated community members and, most importantly, the monarch butterflies and rusty patched bumblebees of the Midwest,” shared Lana Ramer, CCPR’s Volunteer Coordinator. “Bringing passionate people together allows us to create a greater impact on the world around us.” With the help of 38 volunteers, CCPR collected and sorted 1.5 pounds of uncleaned seed through 14 collection events. The sorted seeds were then redistributed by Pollinator Partnership to areas in the Midwest needing habitat restoration. Read more >
CARMELCLAYPARKS.COM |
3
SAFE, FUN RECREATION AND EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS AND CAMPERS In 2021, our students, campers, and staff adjusted to the “new normal.” Mask wearing, physical distancing, and extra hand washing remained… but so did fun, friends and new experiences. Our team remained committed to providing a safe, high-quality educational and recreational experience for the children in our community.
Happy Campers
In Summer 2021, CCPR returned to regular camp offerings for campers ages 5-14 and brought back field trips and visits to The Waterpark. Our community was ready for summer fun – filling most camps within a few minutes of registration opening.
Safety remained a top priority for the summer camp team. CCPR continued to implement COVID-19 safety measures including curbside pick-up and drop-off, masks for campers and staff when social distancing was not feasible, daily symptom checks and more. Even through a pandemic, staff provided a fun, energetic, and positive camp experience for 5,205 campers in summer 2021.
CCPR offered three brand-new (and very popular!) camps: En Route (world travel theme), STEAM Team (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics), and Camp Wayback (exploration of historical time periods).
“
The staff was absolutely amazing, and
we can’t say enough kind words about how wonderful they made this summer camp experience. Counselors were as kind, helpful, full of energy and positivity as one could ever hope for as leaders. Amazing job everyone in providing such a fantastic summer! 2021 Summer Camp Series Parent
”
2021 in 2-ish Minutes 2021 in 2-ish Minutes Click here for a message from Jennifer Brown, Director of Extended School Enrichment & Summer Camp Series.
4
| 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
Rebuilding the ESE Program
In 2021, ESE focused on rebuilding its program. After all-time low enrollments in fall 2020, due to the pandemic, the 2021-2022 school year began with an uptick in student registration. The ESE team continued doing what they do best – focusing on offering a safe, engaging program for our students.
“
My kids look forward to going to ESE every day.
They adore each staff member and love all of the fun activities. As a parent I also appreciate the feedback on my children’s behavior. We have received nothing but love and support from the staff when working on lagging skills. Thank you for becoming family and making my kids feel loved and supported.
”
Smoky Row, K and 2nd Grade Parent
In the second year of the pandemic, ESE staff continued to display herculean efforts to keep participants and staff safe and healthy despite fluctuating COVID-19 infection rates; staff regularly went above and beyond established best practices to ensure the safety of participants and coworkers. The 2021 year also saw the return of some exciting ESE in-person events. The popular Parents Night Out event returned. This annual event is hosted once a semester on a Friday. While the students enjoy snacks, games, and fun, parents get a few extra hours to themselves. It’s a win-win! ESE also took time to celebrate staff for their hard work and dedication. In April, staff, students and parents enjoyed celebrating Afterschool Professionals Week with food, games and prizes, and also hosted a virtual event for Thank a Youth Worker Day in May.
Introducing Awareness Days In fall 2021, Extended School Enrichment introduced Awareness Days. On these days— hosted each semester—all 11 ESE sites participate in one project. The purpose of these projects is to focus on an overarching topic, such as gratitude or sustainability, and have every student contribute to one final project. In Sept. 2021, students collectively celebrated World Gratitude Day. They cut out handprints and wrote down/drew pictures of things they’re grateful for. Those handprints were then used to create a colorful art display at the Monon Community Center!
CARMELCLAYPARKS.COM |
5
INVESTING IN OUR PARK SYSTEM Last year was transformational for our park system. From reopening our first reimagined parks, to making plans for our newest parkland, CCPR is thrilled to continue our dedication to providing outdoor experiences for our community. The future is bright!
One review of Flowing Well Park on Google read: “An outstanding revamp of this park in the last year has made this an unbelievable experience. Owls, Cardinals, Blue Jays and others make this place home, not to mention the abundance of squirrels, and an occasional deer. This place is an oasis in Hamilton County.”
Experiencing Reimagined Parks
Thanks to the Clay Township Impact Program, over the last two years, CCPR has been hard at work transforming six of our existing parks through our Reimagining Parks initiative. The generous $30 million investment in our parks, playgrounds, greenways and facilities began in 2019. In 2021, CCPR reopened two of the parks and received rave reviews from the public.
Meadowlark Park, West Park, and Inlow Park are closed and will reopen in 2022. River Heritage Park is in the planning stages and improvements will begin in 2022.
ar kR
ibb on Cu
tting
Carey Grove Park reopened in January with a completely renovated playground, exercise equipment, year-round restroom, shelters, halfbasketball court and parking. Flowing Well Park reopened in April with restabilized banks along Cool Creek, new year-round restrooms, renovated shelter, interpretive signage, trails, and expanded parking lot. Both parks have been more popular than ever before! Cl el l ick W g her in e to w ow atch the Fl
P
JA N UARY 2 02 1
Jan. 8 Reimagined Carey Park Reopened
6
D E CEM BER 2 0 2 1
April 22 Earth Day Volunteers Planted 500+ Native Species in Central Park Woodland Gardens
| 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
April 30 Reimagined Flowing Well Park Reopened
Work Continues on Reimagined Meadowlark, West, and Inlow Parks
Sept. 1 First Public Input Meeting for Bear Creek Park Master Plan
Oct. 8 Volunteers Plant 100 Native Fruit & Nut Trees Provided by Fruit & Tree Planting Grant
Nov. 9 Donation of Thomas Marcuccilli Nature Park
Embracing The White River
Partners Helping Make It Possible
Acquiring New Parkland
In November, CCPR received a 63-acre land donation in honor of Thomas Marcuccilli. This property, located in northeast Carmel near 146th Street and River Road, was formally named Thomas Marcuccilli Nature Park (TMNP).
In partnership with Conner Prairie, CCPR began planning for a future White River Education and Ecology Center. While this project is in its infancy stages, this partnership will allow CCPR to greatly expand its environmental education and stewardship offerings to the community.
The park will enhance park and recreation opportunities by expanding trails and environmental education near the White River. TMNP is anticipated to be developed over the next two to five years. The master planning process, which will guide development, has begun. Opportunities for public input on future amenities will occur throughout the process.
Additionally, to improve connectivity and access to the White River, CCPR and Conner Prairie are working together to extend the White River Greenway north to 146th Street. Beyond extending the trail, this project will include a new trailhead with restrooms, river overlook, and parking lot. While currently in the planning and design phase CCPR hopes to break ground in 2022.
Every five years, CCPR develops an overarching master plan to guide department goals. The 20202024 comprehensive master plan includes four priorities, including embracing the White River.
CCPR is honored to work in tandem with Conner Prairie and a variety of other partners to help make the White River an accessible community resource and educational opportunity.
“
It feels like we’re getting every bit closer. Something I thought could happen in 10 to 15 years all of a sudden feels like a two- to five-year
”
possibility, which is really exciting, CCPR Director Michael Klitzing
2021 in 2-ish Minutes Click here for a message from Michael Allen, Director of Parks and Natural Resources.
CARMELCLAYPARKS.COM |
7
Planning Bear Creek Park
Throughout 2021, CCPR offered a variety of opportunities for the public to provide input on the future of Bear Creek Park. In July and November, public input meetings were hosted as well as steering committee meetings and focus groups with local organizations, volunteers, neighbors, elementary, middle and high school students, and more. In an effort to gather further input, the park was made accessible on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the community to explore. The public input gathered throughout 2021 will be used to create a Bear Creek Park master plan which will be presented to the Carmel/Clay Board of Parks and Recreation for adoption in 2022.
Engaging The Community in Park Stewardship
In 2021, CCPR volunteers were engaged like never before! Overall, our volunteers delivered nearly 3,500 hours to parks and programs. Most notably, the Citizen Science program grew by 400 percent and the Adopt-A-Park program grew by 200 percent. Throughout the year, CCPR hosted a variety of exciting volunteer opportunities. These included: • Fruit Tree Planting: CCPR was named a 2021 Fruit Tree Orchard Grant recipient by the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation and One Tree Planted. In Oct., 41 volunteers helped plant 100 native fruit and nut trees at Founders Park. • Earth Day: In April, 34 volunteers planted 900+ native species at the Central Park Woodland Gardens. • 2021 BioBlitz Events: The community participated in a general BioBlitz and a Pollinator BioBlitz at Central Park to help better understand the plants and animals who call the park home.
8
| 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
Forward Thinking for Park Funding
CCPR was founded in 1991 under an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between the City of Carmel and Clay Township. Through this agreement, Clay Township committed to provide its Local Income Tax (LIT) distributions to the Central Park Bond for park capital projects. Annually, CCPR receives ~$3 million, which has been critical in making capital repairs to existing parks and develop new park amenities. On January 1, 2025, the bond will be paid in full, and CCPR will receive dramatically less funding. CCPR is proactively working with the City of Carmel and Clay Township to identify new funding sources and is optimistic that collectively our community’s leaders will identify a viable solution. CCPR knows the community and our elected officials are dedicated to ensuring the park system continues to thrive.
PROVIDING SAFE, ACCESSIBLE SPACES: CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY As the community continued to navigate COVID-19, we remained committed to offering safe opportunities for health and recreation. While the year was not without its challenges, the Monon Community Center took every day in stride and offered top-notch customer service. To keep staff and members healthy, CCPR continued implementing health and safety measures including: • Group Fitness and KidZone reservations to ensure spaces did not exceed capacity. • CCPR staff continued to wear masks when physical distancing was not possible. Guests were encouraged to wear masks when not actively participating in physical activity. • Signage throughout the MCC outlined policies and procedures and encouraged guests to sanitize fitness equipment after use. Member Rose Popovich shared her gratitude for the MCC’s approach to the pandemic. “I appreciate the care that was taken during this Covid crisis to make the MCC safe and usable as much as possible,” said Popovich. “The challenge was well handled. Makes me proud to live in Carmel. Thanks for making it a great place to keep me healthy!”
Inclusion Efforts Go Digital
Inclusion is one of CCPR’s core values. Offering inclusive programs and facilities has always been a priority. In 2021, CCPR expanded inclusion efforts to the digital space. In November, the department launched the UserWay usability widget on carmelclayparks.com. The widget provides an inclusive web experience. Website visitors can now customize their experience with a variety of visual aids and the ability to select from over 30 languages. “Implementing UserWay on CCPR’s website provides a user-friendly experience for all,” said Kelvin Solares, CCPR Inclusion Program Supervisor. “It’s important to be mindful of how others experience and engage with the world. If there are ways we can eliminate unnecessary barriers, especially with modern advances in technology, we’re going to do that.”
2021 in 2-ish Minutes Click here for a message from Eric Mehl, Director of Recreation & Facilities
CARMELCLAYPARKS.COM |
9
BY THE NUMBERS EXTENDED SCHOOL ENRICHMENT & SUMMER CAMP SERIES
Providing before and after school care in each of the school district’s 11 elementary schools through a partnership with Carmel Clay Schools. • • • •
1,195 participants enrolled during the 2020-2021 school year 5,205 participants enrolled in the Summer Camp Series 92% of surveyed parents/guardians indicated ESE provides a safe environment 92% of surveyed parents/guardians indicated ESE provides a caring atmosphere
MONON COMMUNITY CENTER
An award-winning facility with amenities and offerings unsurpassed in the state. Offering the community a one-stop source for recreation, fitness and family fun. • • • • •
455,196 visitors to the Monon Community Center and The Waterpark 1,140 Group Fitness classes offered 73,135 Group Fitness class participants 1,556 recreation programs offered 11,105 recreation program participants
PARKS & NATURAL RESOURCES
Providing outlets to enjoy the outdoors through award-winning parks, nature preserves, greenways and park stewardship opportunities. • • • •
180 acres of invasive species management $109,100 spent on invasive species management (internal, volunteer, contractor). Top three invasive targets: Asian bush honeysuckle, Canada thistle, Callery pear 1,094.8 citizen science volunteer hours 54.10 total volunteer hours dedicated to pollinator habitat with four seed collection events at Founders Park, West Park, and Central Park (two events), and five seed sorting events
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Serving all Carmel Clay residents, scholarships and fee waivers have been awarded to individuals and families with economic challenges. • • • •
10
91 recipients received financial assistance $7,916.72 for Recreation & Facilities $61,385.75 for Extended School Enrichment $200 for Summer Camp Series
| 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR-END FINANCIALS Where it came from TOTAL REVENUE: $11,836,918
34.5% 30.9% $3,660,646 $3,564,826 30.1% 1.7% $198,080 1.6% $193,482 1.1% $132,138
GENERAL FUND
$4,087,745
MEMBERSHIP & PASS SALES PROGRAM FEES FOOD & BEVERAGE SALES RENTAL FEES OTHER
Where it went
TOTAL EXPENSES: $11,322,321
33.9% 3,668,850 32.4% $2,108,602 18.6% 5.6% $630,457 5.4% $607,500 $349,296 3.0% 1.1% $120,748
ADMIN & PARK MAINTENANCE
3,836,868
MONON COMMUNITY CENTER BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL SUMMER CAMPS PROGRAMS
MARKETING
DOG PARK, WILFONG & PERELMAN PAVILIONS
Capital Budget: $10,514,394
25.6% $2,696,100 20.9% $2,193,391 16.3% $1,715,577 12.2% $1,282,678 10.7% $1,124,908 3.4% $357,011 2.7% $287,703 WEST PARK*
CENTRAL PARK* MEADOWLARK PARK* LAWRENCE W. INLOW PARK* FLOWING WELL PARK* MONON GREENWAY RIVER HERITAGE PARK*
1.9% 1.6% 0.8% 0.8% 0.7% 0.7% 1.5%
*Denotes projects which were recipients of approximately $8,608,153 in funds made possible by the Clay Township Impact Program.
CAREY GROVE PARK*
$201,591
BEAR CREEK PARK
$169,710
HAZARD TREE REMOVAL
$86,862
WHITE RIVER CORRIDOR
$85,665
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
$78,521
THE WATERPARK
$74,744 OTHER
$159,934
CARMELCLAYPARKS.COM |
11
MISSION
The mission of Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation is to strengthen our community and serve residents through the acquisition, development and management of high quality, innovative parks and facilities for recreation, preservation and programming.
VISION
We envision an accessible system of vibrant community parks, diverse recreation facilities, sustainable park resources and engaging recreation programs that contribute to healthy individuals and families, an active and tightly-knit community, a thriving economy and a high quality of life in the city of Carmel and Clay Township.
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Michael W. Klitzing, CPRE Director of Parks and Recreation/CEO Kurtis Baumgartner, CPRE Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation/COO Michael Allen, CPRP Parks & Natural Resources Director Jonathan K. Blake, AICP, CPRP Administration & Planning Director Jennifer Brown Extended School Enrichment & Camps Director Eric Mehl, CPRP Recreation & Facilities Director Jylian Riches Marketing & Communications Director Claudine Sutton, SPHR, SHRM-SCP Human Resources Director
2021 PARK BOARD
Richard F. Taylor III, President Jenn Kristunas, Vice President Lin Zheng, Treasurer Linus Rude, Secretary Dr. Jessica Beer James D. Garretson Louise Jackson Joshua A. Kirsh Mark Westermeier
12
| 2021 ANNUAL REPORT