HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-18; Parks & Recreation Commission; ; 0319-3 PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT REPORT
Meeting Date: March 18, 2019
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
March 18, 2019
GENERAL & RECREATION
March Madness
On March 7, the Parks & Recreation Department and the Carlsbad Unified School District, hosted the Mini-
March Madness event at Poinsettia Elementary School. Fifth graders competed for fun and bragging rights. The
outdoor courts were packed – family, friends, the superintendent, principals and teachers all cheered the
players on. The Jefferson Jaguars (girls) and Pacific Rim Waveriders (boys) teams took first place in their
respective divisions.
Senior Prom
On March 7, Sage Creek High School Senior, Valerie Nguyen collaborated with the City of Carlsbad Senior Center
to host the Greased Lightening-themed Senior Prom event. Valerie invited Carlsbad’s Seniors to cruise down
memory lane into the 1950’s with bebopping and sock hop dances, live music, and 50’s fun and activities. Valerie
hosted the dance as her Genius Project, fulfilling the three criteria areas for her project: passion, impact, and
challenge. The Senior Prom is designed to provide seniors a first or second chance to relive or experience their
high school Senior Prom for the first time. The event is an intergenerational experience for high school seniors
and senior citizens, and created lasting memories for all.
New Senior Center Computer/Library Room Premiers
On Feb. 26, the new Senior Center computer/library room was opened to the public. Facility improvements were
recently completed at the Senior Center and included relocating existing computers to the TV/library room to
create needed space for growing programs like tax preparation and technology classes. A big thank you to IT and
Public Works for their extensive work on this project.
Epic Tween Night
On Feb. 23, tweens took over the Pine Ave Community Center for games, activities, and pure active fun. For
three hours, kids aged 10-14, had the place to themselves with laser tag, dodgeball, a giant slide, virtual reality, a
movie room, video games, and Minute-to-Win-it competitions. The Leadership In Training and Education (LITE)
teen afterschool program served refreshments at the event. LITE participants gained experience with cash
handling, food preparation, and customer service. Sales proceeds directly support the afterschool program.
Special thanks to our 25 Marine Corps volunteers who chaperoned, and ensured a safe and fun experience for
everyone.
Love Your Heart
On Feb. 14, the Carlsbad Senior Center collaborated with the San Diego Live Well campaign to promote the Love
your Heart Valentine’s Day event by offering free blood pressure screenings at the Senior Center from 8 a.m. – 5
p.m. Knowing your numbers is key to controlling high blood pressure, preventing stroke and heart disease while
optimizing heart health. The event supports the Parks & Recreation Department Mission to promote health and
wellness.
Library Book Bike Visits the Senior Center
On Feb. 12, the Carlsbad Library book bike went to the Senior Center and delivered 50 free books to the pre-
bingo lunch crowd. Collaborating with Nutrition Coordinator Shannon Shepherd, Lead Librarian Darin Williamson
spoke to 100 seniors on the top three reasons to get eBooks and eAudiobooks from the library: 1) Five
lightweight books can easily be downloaded before traveling on a plane. 2) Keep your significant other happy
while reading in bed in the dark. 3) Choose from a selection of 10,000 books!
Tax Assistance Available at the Library Learning Center and the Senior Center
The nonprofit organization AARP, will provide tax assistance for low to moderate income taxpayers on
Wednesdays, Feb. 6 through March 6 at the Library Learning Center (3368 Eureka Place) and on Tuesdays and
Thursdays, from February 5 through April 11 at the Carlsbad Senior Center (799 Pine Ave). Participation is free
and appointments are recommended. Taxpayers can make an appointment at the Learning Center by calling
760-931-4500 or at the Senior Center by calling 760-602-4650.
Mitchell Thorp Warrior Spirit Run/Walk Family Festival
On Feb. 2, the Parks & Recreation Department permitted the Mitchell Thorp Foundation’s 10th annual 5K
Warrior Spirit Run/Walk Family Festival. Hundreds of runners and walkers participated in the fundraiser
benefitting children battling life-threatening illnesses, diseases and disorders.
Club Carlsbad
On Feb. 1, over 100 middle school students descended upon Pine Avenue Community Center from Aviara,
Calavera, and Valley Middle Schools for the inaugural Club Carlsbad dance. The Valentine’s-themed dance
featured a DJ with light show, cool contests, Snapchat photo booths, and creative crafts with computer and
digital games. Parents were thrilled to bring their teens to a safe and supervised setting, knowing they could
enjoy socializing with friends while having fun. Teens can explore, hangout, and enjoy the Pine Avenue
Community Center upstairs activity room seven days a week.
Game on at Pine Avenue Community Center!
Carlsbad teen adventurers embarked on a journey of epic proportions with the Dungeons and Dragons (D&D)
game at Pine Avenue Community Center. Through D&D, players have the opportunity to exercise their creativity
in not only creating a unique character but also with interactions in the world. Teens are building critical thinking
skills to out-maneuver great monsters and villains while learning how to work together to overcome challenges
that no single person can achieve on their own. They also develop social skills through role-playing as mighty
adventurers and are building long-lasting friendships. All three sessions sold out in January, February and March.
D&D provides teenagers an intense adventure with challenges and rewards, without a digital device in the room!
Leo Carrillo Ranch Donation Revenue
From July 1, 2018 through December 30, 2018 the Carlsbad Parks & Recreation Department received and
deposited a total of $6,782 in donation revenue to the Carrillo Ranch Trust Fund. Joan Kindle’s craft sale at the
Visitor Center continues to be very popular with park guests. Her handmade crafts and donated ranch related
merchandise alone were successful at raising $1581 to benefit the Carrillo Ranch Trust Fund.
Additional significant contributions were made by:
• Brian Pack
• Fallbrook Home School
• Good Times Travels
• Savvy Travelers
• St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School
Donations were generated by private contributions and by docent led tours of the historic park. No single
donation was more than $1,000.
Upcoming Events
• Pirate Plunge: Saturday, March 23, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Alga Norte Aquatics Center
• EGGstravangza: Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Poinsettia Community Park
• Hot Rods & Cool Treats: Saturday, May 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pine Community Park
PARKS
Aviara Community Park Ph. II & Poinsettia Community Park Ph. III Construction Projects
In September 2017, the City Council rejected all bids received for the Aviara Community Park Ph. II and
Poinsettia Community Park Ph. III Construction Projects and directed staff to revise the plans and specifications
to remove the dog park from the previously planned location and project scope at Poinsettia Community Park.
At that time, the City Council also directed staff to explore relocating the dog park to the area in Poinsettia
Community Park previously envisioned for a multigenerational community center. In November 2017, city staff
requested community input on this possible relocation of the dog park at Poinsettia Community Park. Park users
and neighbors provided input through an online survey, emails, social media and temporary on-site information
centers. City staff completed review of the community's input on this topic, and found it to be overwhelmingly
supportive of a dog park at the alternate location. In February 2018, the City Council approved staff’s
recommendation to pursue plans to place the dog park at the alternate location, as a separate project.
At that time, the City Council also approved the revised plans/specifications and authorized staff to advertise for
bids on the remaining planned improvements to both Aviara Community Park and Poinsettia Community Park.
The projects were then advertised to the public, with a bid opening in April 2018. The award of a construction
contract to the lowest responsive bid was approved by the City Council in June 2018, and construction
commenced on the projects in August 2018. Recent rains have impacted the one-year construction schedule,
but steady progress continues on the outdoor gathering space and support structures at Aviara Community Park,
as well as on the expanded playground, arena sports field, and pickleball courts at Poinsettia Community Park.
Veterans Memorial Park Master Plan Public Outreach
Over 70 individuals - represented by all age groups - participated in the first community workshop for the
Veterans Memorial Park Master Plan. The primary purpose of the workshop was to get input on the
community’s values, needs and priorities for the park. The themes that emerged leaned towards a desire for
passive uses/amenities that would take advantage of the outstanding views and natural setting of the site. In
addition, paying homage to veterans in meaningful ways and in multiple locations was frequently expressed.
Also articulated was the need for ADA accessibility to various uses and areas of the park site. Participants
generally recognized the park site isn’t suitable for athletic fields or other activities associated with mass
grading, high impact lighting and significant noise. Directly after the workshop, staff led a tour of the site that
was attended by about half of the workshop participants. Staff described the site’s current features at the
various planned stopping points, listened to comments, and answered questions along the way. Following the
workshop and tour, an online survey was launched - where community members can provide (additional) input
regarding planning this unique park site: https://publicinput.com/4084. The full master planning process for
Veterans Memorial Park is expected to require at least another year and a half to complete.
Hiring of Michael Tully to Parks Planner
The Parks & Recreation Department welcomed Michael Tully to the position of Parks Planner on Monday, March
4. After an extensive national recruitment, Michael rose to the top of the candidates to fill the recent vacancy.
Michael holds a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from North Carolina State University and Bachelor’s
Degree in Natural Recourses Management from the University of Massachusetts. In addition, he is a Certified
Playground Safety Inspector and a Licensed Arborist. Michael is also currently pursuing a Professional Landscape
Architect License. Michael has over two decades of experience in the landscape industry. Since 2008, he has
worked for the City of Springfield, Massachusetts, as a Senior Parks Project Manager. In his role with Carlsbad,
he will split time between city-owned preserves monitoring and coordination, trails volunteer program
oversight, beach preservation activities, lagoon foundation interaction, and selective park capital improvement
project management. Even with our recent rains, Michael is enjoying his move to the City of Carlsbad!
Citywide Trails
Trails Volunteers - Quarterly Meeting
On March 7, the Quarterly Trails Volunteers Meeting was well attended at the Senior Center. A new full-time
staff member, Michael Tully - Parks Planner, and a returning part-time employee, Carly Davis - Trails Volunteers
Program Coordinator, were introduced to the volunteers. The group’s discussion on the revised Trails Inspection
Form and Volunteer Handbook was followed by a brief report from Ranger Fernando Arizmendi - who stated
that dogs off leash remain the number one enforcement issue on city trails. Staff highlighted past events that
have taken place since the last Quarterly Trails Volunteer Meeting in December. Trail Captains had an
opportunity to report on the condition of their designated trails, and to coordinate with staff on any erosion
repair needs. The meeting agenda also captured upcoming events, including the Arbor Day Celebration planned
for the Coastal Rail Trail on April 27. The next Quarterly Trails Volunteers Meeting is scheduled for June 6.
Trails Volunteers – Arroyo Vista Trail Event
On March 16, Parks Division staff and trails volunteers spent the morning on the Arroyo Vista Trail, performing
erosion repairs, trimming encroaching vegetation, and picking up litter. Staff is always very appreciative of the
hours of physical labor, and display of community involvement, exhibited by the trails volunteers.
Exceptional Responses to Impacts from Winter Storm(s)
Park Division staff and contractors have performed exceptionally well in responding to impacts from storm
events over the last few months. In particular, on February 14, a potent winter storm brought heavy rain and
wind to the city throughout the day. With that storm, Parks Division staff and its contracted partners responded
to fifteen emergency calls of trees and branches down in the roads and public right of ways between 4am and
4pm. In addition to responding to downed trees, Parks Division staff deployed sand bags, drain pipes and
electric pumps to the east side of the Senior Center to prevent flooding of the building. Staff and contractors
also ensured that the storm water best management practices/devices at parks and at other city facilities’
landscapes were reinforced throughout the day to adhere to strict storm water pollution prevention standards.