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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.