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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-01-22; Parks & Recreation Commission; ; 0118-3 DEPARTMENT REPORT Meeting Date: January 22, 2018 To: Parks & Recreation Commission From: Chris Hazeltine, Parks & Recreation Director Staff Contact: Mike Pacheco, Recreation Services Manager Kyle Lancaster, Parks Services Manager Subject: Parks & Recreation Department Report Recommended Action Receive a presentation from the Parks & Recreation staff. Executive Summary Mike Pacheco, Recreation Services Manager and Kyle Lancaster, Parks Services Manager will report on recently completed and upcoming Parks and Recreation activities, donations and grants, as well as other topics of local interest. Exhibits 1. Department Report PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT REPORT January 22, 2018 GENERAL & RECREATION Alga Norte Aquatics Center Annual Maintenance Alga Norte Aquatics Center was closed for annual maintenance from Dec. 26 – Jan. 1, while Monroe Street Pool remained open to serve Carlsbad swimmers. Staff performed required locker room, pool equipment and deck maintenance during this period. A huge thank you to Clayton Dobbs, Dan Johnson, Denis Strawhun, Dimitri Johnson, Jaime Santiago, Jose Estrada, Mario Remillard, Miguel Castillo, Shad Cotton, and Tony Pacheco for their hard work assisting Parks & Recreation Department staff during the closure period. Homebound Holiday Meal Delivery On Dec. 22, senior center staff and volunteers prepared and delivered special holiday meals for 33 homebound Carlsbad residents. These meals were accompanied by gifts donated by several different entities. Home Instead, a company that specializes in in-home senior care provided gifts, the senior center ceramics class provided custom holiday magnets, and the city’s teen Leadership in Training and Education (LITE) program provided personalized placemats, cards and candy grams. Lilac Fire Evacuation Shelter The Lilac Fire began on Dec. 7 and required massive evacuations and the need for significant mutual aid. Parks & Recreation staff quickly opened and staffed the shelter at the Stagecoach Community Center. The shelter became full the first night with over 200 evacuees. Staff worked quickly to reopen the community center two days later after the evacuation orders were lifted. Carlsbad Feeds Seniors During the Lilac Fire, which caused evacuation orders in the City of Oceanside, Carlsbad Senior Center staff reached out to Oceanside Senior Center staff and offered to feed anyone who relied upon Oceanside Senior Center for lunch. The City of Oceanside was extremely appreciative and informed their patrons. Senior Center staff then prepared an additional 88 nutritious meals to accommodate the extra patrons. Staff coordinated with the County of San Diego Department of Aging and Independent Services to ensure Oceanside diners would be accurately counted and reported. County staff greatly appreciated the offer of support. Holiday at the Rancho It was a festive night on Dec. 2 at Leo Carrillo Ranch during Holiday at the Rancho. Over 700 people attended the event that included a musical tree lighting, crafts, cookie decorating, face painting, and an outdoor movie presentation of The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. Families also got to enjoy some unique activities like the photo booth with props from the season, a holiday train ride, and a plush snowball fight. Santa even made a special appearance at the event. The cool evening and beautifully decorated property was the perfect setting to get in the holiday spirit. This event partnered with the staff from Leo Carrillo Ranch who hosted tours of the hacienda and the L.I.T.E. program who sold concessions at the event. Food Waste Pilot a Success Recycling and Trash staff in partnership with Parks and Recreation concluded the food waste diversion pilot program in November. Staff collected and recycled over 400 pounds of food waste during the pilot period. The food waste was transported off site and recycled through anaerobic digestion turning it into renewable energy. Data and information collected during this innovative pilot program will be used to help find solutions to keep food waste away from the landfill and therefore reducing the generation of greenhouse gases. Additionally, the pilot project helped promote awareness to staff, volunteers and patrons at the Senior Center about food waste reduction and diversion. Epic Tween Night On Nov. 4, as part of the Parks & Recreation Department’s initiative to engage tween audiences and get them out of the house and into the parks, the department hosted Epic Tween Night: Movie in the Park. The event included a free showing of Wonder Woman (2017) on the large outdoor movie screen at Pine Avenue Community Park. Tweens, teens, and adults set up chairs and blankets on the lawn and enjoyed a cool night under the stars, complete with snacks and a blockbuster movie. DÍa de los Muertos On Oct. 28 and Oct. 29, the Library & Cultural Arts and Parks & Recreation Departments partnered for the first annual Dia de los Muertos event at Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park. More than 600 people participated in candlelight tours, Family Open Studios art projects, and viewed specially decorated ofrendas (altars) honoring the Carrillo family. Personal Touch Dining served a delicious Mexican menu, including handmade Pan de Muerto ice cream sandwiches. DÍa de los Muertos offers individuals and families an opportunity to honor their ancestors and celebrate cherished family memories and traditions. Special Event Permitting The Parks & Recreation Department permitted the following events:  Annual Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon and the newly added Surf Sun Run 5K, on Jan. 14. The event, which attracts more than 9,000 runners, included a two-day Health & Lifestyle Expo on Jan. 13 and Jan. 14, and the Kids Marathon Mile on Jan. 14.  The Challenge Walk MS, a three-day, 50 mile walk on Nov. 3. The event raises money for Multiple Sclerosis research and attracts approximately 200 walkers.  The Carlsbad Village Street Faire on Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Approximately 70,000 people enjoyed more than 750 unique booths, family entertainment and an international food court held in the heart of the Village.  The Carlsbad High School’s 60th Lancer Day celebration on Oct. 20. and Oct. 21. The festivities started with the annual Lancer Day Parade. This year’s theme was Carlsbad High School’s Diamond Celebration-60 Years of Excellence. The fun continued as alumni, parents and friends gathered on campus to continue the celebration including a fireworks display at the end of the Homecoming football game against Torrey Pines.  The Bike MS: Bay to Bay on Oct. 21 and Oct. 22. A two-day cycling event from Irvine to San Diego to raise funds benefitting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Approximately 2,000 cyclists participated. Pumpkin Plunge Pumpkin Plunge at Alga Norte Community Park was a fun splash on Oct. 14. Over 500 people joined in celebrating the Halloween season complete with a pumpkin themed bounce house, floating pumpkin patch, Halloween themed pool games and races, floating obstacles, and an outdoor presentation of The Nightmare Before Christmas. Every child left the event with fun prizes and their very own pumpkin harvested from the Floating Pumpkin Patch. The Dive in Grill was busy serving delicious, freshly prepared burgers and pizzas to attendees. Upcoming Events  Epic Teen Night: Party at the Park: Feb. 17, 5 – 9 p.m. Calavera Hills Community Center  EGGStravaganza Spring Festival: March 31, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Poinsettia Park PARKS Pine Avenue Community Center and Gardens Project The additions to Pine Avenue Community Park include a community center on the northeast corner – with a gymnasium, an activity room, a lobby, and a teen center; and a passive area at the southwest corner - with a plaza and ornamental gardens, and a raised planter community garden. Substantial construction of the project commenced in May 2017. Significant progress has been made on both the community center site and the gardens site over the last eight months of construction. At the community center site, recent tasks include plastering/color coating of the exterior and dry- walling/painting of interior. At the gardens site, recent tasks include erection of the plaza’s picnic pads/trellis, and installation of the raised planters in the community garden. The project remains on schedule for a grand opening in the spring. Ocean Street Beach Access Improvements Project The Ocean St. Beach Access Improvements Project encompasses seven beach accesses along Ocean Street, specifically near the western terminus of each of the following streets: Oak Ave., Carlsbad Village Dr., Grand Ave., Christiansen Ave., Beech Ave., Cypress Ave. and Rue Des Chateaux. The conceptual designs incorporated elements of the downtown village streetscapes, and include enhanced street crossings, improved disabled accessibility, new stairs and paving, handrails, seating areas, trash/recycling receptacles, lighting, and landscaping. Substantial construction of the project commenced in January 2018, with Phase I - consisting of the accesses of Rue Des Chateaux and of Beech Ave. In March 2018, Phase II – consisting of the accesses of Cypress St., of Christiansen Ave., and of Carlsbad Village Dr. - is expected to commence. Finally in April 2018, Phase III – consisting of the accesses at Grand Ave. and of Oak Ave. – is expected to commence. Work on Phase III of the project is anticipated to be completed by the end of May, prior to the onset of the peak summer season. Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park Stable Restoration and Restroom Construction Project The Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park Stable Restoration and Restroom Construction Project commenced in October 2017. Steady progress has been made over the last few months on both the historical restoration/enhancement of the stables, and the erection of a new restroom facility – which includes an exterior that mimics a chicken coop that previously stood on the property. The two structures are set apart by approximately 150 linear feet of corral area. At the stables, recent tasks on the stables include engineering modifications to wall buttresses and finish grades. At the restroom, recent tasks include finishing the underground utilities and pouring the concrete foundation. Work on the stables is anticipated to require until the end of summer, with work on the restrooms likely finishing a few months prior. Each of the buildings can be approved for public occupancy on separate schedules. Trails Volunteers Honored Parks & Recreation Department staff hosted the annual Trails Volunteer Appreciation Event at the Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park on Dec. 14, to celebrate the past year’s collective successes and dedicated work in improving the City of Carlsbad’s trails network. Volunteers were recognized for their long- standing commitment to the trail program, and for their more than 1,300 hours of volunteer service in 2017 - with a comparative value of over $41,000. The Trails Volunteer Program helps to strengthen the Carlsbad community, while assisting staff with the monitoring and maintenance of the city’s trails. Volunteers are educated on the protection of open space, and the promotion of habitat conservation. Trails Volunteers Event – Jan. 20 On Jan. 20, city staff and volunteers collaborated for a Coastal Rail Trail cleanup event. Participants planted indigenous shrubs and groundcovers, cleared brush, installed trail regulation signs, and removed litter. This successful event would not have occurred without the commitment of the volunteers who came out and eagerly worked side by side in their community. The next Volunteer Trail event will be held on Feb. 10at the Batiquitos Lagoon North Bluff Trail, from 8:30am to 11:30am.