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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-02-21; Parks & Recreation Commission; 202-1; Commissioner's ReportPARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION -AGENDA BILL AB# 202-1 TITLE : INFO ACTION MTG. DATE: 2-21-02 COMMISSIONER’S REPORT STAFF: PRICHARD RECOMMENDED ACTION : Accept and file. ITEM EXPLANATION : Attached is the Commissioner’s Report for February, 2002. EXHIBITS: 1. Commissioner’s Report - February, 2002. Recreation News Adult Sports Aquatics Calavera Hiils Daytrippers Enrichment Harding Center Parks Poinsettia Park Preschool Senior Center Stagecoach Park Stay 'n Play Youth Sports Park Development 3 3 I 4 5 2 2 J 6 4 3 5 I 6 CALAVERA Hus BY DEREK DENKERS January was another great month at Calavera Hills Community 1 Center. Although not as busy as other months, picnic reservations p. continue to come in for Calavera Park and Laguna Riviera Park. Youth basketball continues to monopolize the gymnasium and outdoor basketball courts for their practices 3 afternoons a week and every Saturday from 8 am - 6 pm. Carlsbad Youth Baseball, Cartsbad Softball Association and Badside Softball Association are starting their spring season, playing on the fields seven (7) days a week. Adult Basketball Leagues start mid-February, with 20 teams playing three nights a week. One of the rental groups that use Calavera is the Living Stream Christian Church. Open to the public, every Sunday morning you can find their worship service in the Activity Room and their Sunday school and preschool programs in Multi-Purpose Rooms 1 & 2. On Sunday February 3, the youth group cooked breakfast for the congregation in the kitchen at our community center. Many new churches find their start in our facilities until they happily outgrow the space or find a permanent home. 1 YOUTH SPORTS BY LORI SWENCK The youth basketball program is winding down with only 5 more weeks to go. All season long staff has been distributing literature to the coaches, parents, and spectators which focuses on sportsmanship in youth sports. The response has been great! Most everyone is on the same page as far team- work and fair play is concerned. For the first time in the history of the league the play-off structure will consist of a single elimination tournament which will enable all teams to participate vs. the top four teams that have always been selected in the past. The tournament play begins February 23rd with the "A" Division teams out of Stagecoach Park. All other Divisions at both Stagecoach and Calavera will begin their tournament on March 2nd. Should be exciting! Admission is free so come on by! The High School Basketball League only brought in a total of 22 registrations and 2 confirmed coaches. In order to really make the league effective we must have at least 4 teams of 8. We will attempt to form a League in the Summer months in hopes that we can get this program off the ground! Pape 2 HARDfNG CENTER BY GIAN LAURO The Harding Center has started the New Year off with a bang, hosting several parties and a theatrical play performance put on by the families of AI-Anon. The play was a memorable experience to all in attendance and the families that participated in it. The donations from this event benefited the north county family groups of AI-Anon. The Safety Center has.also- been quite a busy place for the youth groups of Carlsbad. Pop Wamer has held two banquets with attendance over 150. Also, Carlsbad Youth Baseball held a variety of meetings for their coaches and umpires. Fortunately for staff, the Safety Center received all new mighty-lite tables, which are twice as strong and half the weight of other the tables. This couldn't come at a better time for the annual Quarterly Management meeting. In other news, all Recreation staff took time out to attend Respectful Workplace training put on by the Human Resources Department. This workshop provided staff the opportunity to share their views' about respect in the work place by participating in-group discussions. The staff that attended the workshops found them to be beneficial and highly recommend them to other employees. Ballfield crews were busy making improvements to the athletic fields in anticipation of the start of Youth softball & baseball seasons. Practices start February lsf for all youth groups. The Recreation Department Adult softball season won't begin until February 26*. The Recreation Department did hold a Community Sports Workshop on January 17*. This was an informative meeting for all Carlsbad Resident Non-Profit Athletic Groups to discuss proposed changes to the Department Facility Use Regulations and Athletic Use. The preliminary report shows that this meeting was a success. Similar meetings may be planned in the future. PARKS D~VIS~ON BY ANNETTE SCHOLL The Parks Division is working with the California Department of Fish and Game in providing improvements to the Buena Vista Lagoon. We are in the process of assisting in upgrading the landscape, irrigation system, installing new trash. receptacles, and telescopes, for viewing the water foul. At the Zone 5 Ball field, new fencing and backstop have been installed, with openings for players' and equipment access. The outfield has been top dressed with a mix of. sand and organic material, to help improve the playing surface, for the March opening. The restrooms at Chase Field are in the process of being upgraded. The upgrades include, painting, plumbing improvements, air circulation improvements, and various interior improvements. Staff is also in the . process of trimming trees, weeding, and fencing repairs, in preparation for the upcoming baseball season. The Parks Division is involved in the Cross Training Program. Robert Klein, Maintenance Worker Ill, has volunteered to work at Fleet Maintenance, and Cal Shankey, Maintenance Worker II, has ' volunteered to work with Construction and Maintenance. They will be gone for the next 3 months and in the process will be learning new skills. Robert Cooper is returning from the Sanitation Division, after cross training there for 3 months. We a1s.o recently hired a part-time employee to help maintain the trees at La Costa Canvon, which includes watering, buildinn tree basins, and staking. Page 4 Recreation News SENIOR CENTER BY LAURA BALL AND SHARON JEWELL Our month started with a chance at Sycuan Casino for bingo, the slots and .of course, the buffet lunch. This was our first time at Sycuan and everyone had a good time. The Getty Museum was an awesome eiperience for all who have been here. We enjoyed a box lunch prior to wandering the vast hallways and miles of artwork. We were rauled and dazzled by the song and dance extrava- ganza at the Palm Springs Follies with Joanne Castle as the headliner for this show. We also had a marvelous luncheon at the Spa Casino prior to the show. Our Mystery Trip featured the Winchester Cheese Factory for a tour and treats. And then our next stop was at Warm Springs Ranch, the home of the Anhauser Busch Clydesdale horses. This is a magnificent ranch and the horses are really big - even the babies (there were two that had been born the night before) and even then, they are BIG. Our lunch stop was at Falconer Way for a bit of tasting, a tour and a great lunch. Birch Aquarium was our final trip of the month as we were toured through the facility as the docent pointed out the best spots for whale watching. We all scanned the Ocean for a sight of the big ones and a few were seen (by use of the binoculars). We had worked up an appetite by then and were off to University Town Center for lunch and a bit of shopping. A group of curious seniors got a “needling” as a local acupuncturist discussed the history of this ancient healing art. Dr. Valerie Goodkin also demonstrated the procedure for treating allergies and lower back pain and explained the reasoning behind the exact placement of the filament needles. Those in attendance were fascinated! Natural Health Practitioner Steve Marmor spoke about causes and natural solu- tions to ease osteoporosis, a debilitating condition that affects thousands of women each year. The owner of Hehs & Mote, he offered information on why it happens and natural solutions to ease this malady. A lot of people seemed quite satisfied by his suggestions! Organizational consultant Willeen Hasler detailed what is needed to organize personal information for friends and family.. . before it is needed. She covered 10 subjects that seniors should have in writing to make sure their needs and wishes are taken care of at unexpected times; Willeen also supplied forms to be used. With many people now reluctant to travel in airplanes during their vacations, Anny Wright with Ace of Trave/ and four guests discussed the top ten reasons why it is best to take a cruise. Anny mentioned how a few cruise lines now exit directly from San Diego.. . thereby making it unnecessary to fly. The seniors appreciated an education in alternative ways to have fun! February is slated to be both fun and fascinating: the complexities and intricacies of astrology will be introduced on February 20’h; a woman who served as a spy in Nazi-occupied France during World War II will discuss her past on February 21”; a physical thera ist from Casa Palmera will teach how to maintain a healthy back on February 27 E ; and the curator of the Museum of Making Music will talk about the “Sing” era in music, which followed the Big Band era but preceded rock & roll. 013 Recreation News Page 3 BY STEVE HERRERJ The Adult Sports Office has ended its team registration for the 2002 spring basketball, softball, and soccer leagues We have filled our leagues with 96 softball teams, 30 basketball teams and 18 soccer teams. We also have a waiting list due to the limited availability of fields and time. All teams are re- quired to attend a managers meeting to educate themselves in the City's rules and regulations, sports- manship, the officials associations expectations in team behavior, and overall responsibility for their team. For this season we required that all part-time staff attend a respectful workplace and customer service training, so that our staff is more efficient and educated to attend to the needs of our customers and co-workers. About 70% of our teams are sponsored by Carlsbad businesses, hence our league helps promote teamwork, a safe place to participate, and teambuilding fun for co-workers and their families. AQUATICS BY DAVE GORSLINE ,. The big news in Aquatics continues to be the Aquatic Trainees' success- ful progression through the Carlsbad Lifeguard Academy. The students have successfully completed certifications in Adult, Child, Infant, and Two-Rescuer CPR as well as Oxygen Administration and Automated Ex- ternal Defibrillators. The class is currently working on portions of the American' Red Cross Emergency Response curriculum, including but not limited to "Emergency Child Birth" and "Spinal Injury Management". In a few days time, the Trainees will begin applying many of the first re- sponder skills they learned on land to the aquatic environment. In addition to thanking their lucky stars that the cold snap ended before pool sessions began, the Aquat- ics Staff and students wish to extend a hearty thank you to the Cole Library staff for graciously hosting a majority of the Lifeguard Academy classroom sessions. If the library ever wishes to develop an underwa- ter reading group, we would be happy to reciprocate hospitality. Swim Complex patrons have been buzzing about the upcoming pool maintenance closure. A major step toward answering this question was taken on February 4* when the project bids were opened. The Pur- chasing Department did receive a bid within the project budget and efforts are now underway to create a City Council agenda bill aimed at awarding the contract. STAGECOACH PARK BY DAVE MILLIKAN Recreation staff at Stagecoach has recently been attending Respectful Workplace training. They were given an opportunity to talk with fellow employees regarding how workplace behaviors fit into the City's mission, vision, values and expectations. Dave Millikan, Recreation Supervisor 11, has announced that he will be leaving the City this summer for the peaceful and green pastures of retirement. Kevin Granse, Recreation Specialist at Stagecoach, has been selected to serve on the City's Strategic Change Team. Congratulations Kevin! The women's volleyball class at Stagecoach Community Center was featured in the 1/26/02 edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper. The participants in the Wednesday morning program had a lot of nice comments about how they enjoy the class. Recreation News Page 5 BY MAKC BEASELY The Stay n Play Program kicked off its second session of the year on January 8, 2002. It took only a matter of days for the program’s attendance to rise to an incredible 315 participants. The Stay n Play Program has reserved its participants from the year‘s first session, and has even brought on 33 new faces. The Stay n Play Program is developing a prestigious reputation from the school’s administrations and teacher. The Stay n Play Program has also been frequently recommended to parents by the teach- ers who have seen the positive impact that the program’s ”Homew’rk Point System’’ has had in the classrooms. On January 24, the Stay n Play Program had a visit from “Amazing Dana” the magician. The magic show took place at Holiday Park, where 280 Stay n Play students gathered to enjoy this magical experi- ence. For many of the Stay n Play children this was the first magic show they had ever seen. The audi- ence’s surprising attention and silence truly expressed the excitement and intrigue this experience held for them. Each year Stay n Play Program takes part in the City of Carlsbad’s Youth Sports Basketball League. This year the Stay n Play Program entered two teams, one 3 - 4 grade and one 5 - 6 grade. The two teams did very well this year, and many of the players experienced the feeling of being part of a team for the first time. The season will be ending February 23d and although neither team will be in the hunt for first place, every child learned something new this season. An important goal for the Stay n Play Program is to expose its participants to new and diverse experiences. Stay n Play’s involvement in the Youth Sports Department has created another avenue to make this possible. All the partici- pants on the basketball teams gained knowl- edge in the true fundamentals of the game, and had a fun and exciting experience in the process. ENRICHMENT CLASSES BY BETSY KENNEDY One of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard from a child came from a blind girl in our Singing for Youth class. We are very fortunate to have singing instructor, Kathleen Esqueda, be part of our enrich- ment class program. Due to the classes’ specialized nature, Kathleen’s classes are not big in numbers , as some of our other classes. However, they meet a very special need for those who attend. Parents are encouraged to attend with their children. The instructor believes that it is important to make sure that your time with your child isn’t just about rules and discipline: hang out with your child doing fun and sim- ple things. The highlight of each session is a recital for parents and friends the last day of class. The children work on individual songs as well as group singing. Not every child who participates will be the next Barbara Streisand, but they all leave with a sense of confidence, well-being and accomplishment. Because camps are so popular, we are busily preparing our programs for the summer. Last year we I offered 34 camps in our area alone and this year we plan to offer even more, provided we can find space at our facilities. We try to meet all interests from golf, tennis, sailing and volleyball for the sports enthusi- asts to Mad Science and arts for those with a more creative nature. There are fun and busy times ahead! 014 Page 6 Recreation News PARKS DEVELOPMENT BY THE PARK DEVELOPMENT TEAM The Park Development Division of the Recreation Department is currently in an unprecedented period of activity. There are currently seven park projects or parkland acquisition efforts underway in various stages. Highlighted below is a brief update on two of our current projects. Carrillo Ranch- Phase II The City Council recently awarded the contract for construction of Phase Il'of the Camllo Ranch, a 27 acre future park located at the site of the former "rancho" once owned by the late actor Leo.Carrillo. The ranch is located in the Southeast Quadrant of the City, near the intersection of Melrose and Camllo Way. Leo Camllo built the ranch in the late 30's as a retreat and working ranch get-away from his busy Hollywood career. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a State Historic Landmark and has been dosed to the public awaiting needed improvements. This phase of the park (Phase II) will in- clude the infrastructure, roads, parking, walkways, building renovation, landscaping, signage and all im- provements to accommodate public use. The park will be unique from other City parks, as it will focus on historic interpretation of the early Spanish rancho period and will provide educational, cultural and passive recreation opportunities. Construction is scheduled to start in March of this year with anticipated completion in Spring of 2003. The budget for construction is $4,400,000. Larwin Park The development of Larwin Park is currently needed to keep pace with park requirements of the Growth Management Plan as well as the recreational needs of the community. The site is located in the North- east Quadrant of the City, off of Carlsbad Village Dr., % mile east of El Camino Real. The total project area is 22 acres, however, the majority of the land is severely constrained by topography, habitat, and power line easements. On the positive side, the site has dramatic views to the north and does contain approximately 5 acres of un-encumbered flat area for a passive park. Already on a portion of the site is the newly opened "Dog Park", the first of its kind in Cailsbad and a re- sounding success with both canines and the community alike. The most current plan for the remainder of Larwin Park calls for a passive park with a tot-lot, restroom, picnic areas, walkways, and connections to trail systems. Staff recently conducted a workshop on Jan. 30* where the preliminary plan was presented to the public. Staff collected a variety of comments on the plan and will include these comments at the February 21" Parks and Recreation Commission meeting where the plan will be considered for approval. The plan will also need approval of the Planning Commission and City Council before it is implemented. Anticipated com- pletion of the park is in 2003. PRESCHOOL BY BRENDA ELC This month our Preschool Adventure takes us to Kruger House Preschool at Holiday Park. This September we had a new student enroll in our Pre-kindergarten program who had just arrived from Japan. He spoke no English, and his mother spoke very little broken English. You can imagine the frustration for this little 5-year old boy at not being able to communicate even his most basic needs and wants to anyone in our school. Fortunately for all of us, we had a returning parent in this same class that spoke fluent Japanese. She helped Shatam express his needs to us, and helped him understand what we were trying to expre? to him. She also has become a good friend to Shataro's mother, and often they help each other t- babysitting each other's younger children. Just another example of how our Parent-participation Preschool provides support groups that help create strong families and builds a strong community.