Memorial Field Update

Thank you all for your calls and emails of support for Memorial Field. At the direction of county officials, I am seeking to build a coalition of user groups, business organizations, individuals, service clubs and so forth. The purpose of the coalition will be to provide maintenance of Memorial Field until a permanent solution is found. My job will be to organize the coaltion and provide what support I can.

Soon I will be able to upload a report that myself and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board have been preparing over the last few months that provides detailed information about Memorial Field, and outlines how the coalition will work.

If we are able to get enough pledges of support, I am hopeful we will be able to re-open Memorial Field in time for PT Boys Soccer Season. Again thank all of you for your support as we work through this difficult time. Matt

Zen Care Mowing Starts on Monday, Jan 4th, 2010 at around 8:30am. Give this guy a pat on the back!

“Dear Supporters of Jefferson County Parks and Recreation: Robbie Durant, owner/operator of Zen Care Mowing has donated one year of mowing and edging services for the entire grounds of the Jefferson County Community Center in Up-Town Port Townsend. Zen Care Mowing is the Olympic Peninsula's first emissions-free lawn maintenance service. In an effort to reduce noise, pollution, and carbon dioxide emissions, Robbie pushes a top-of-the-line reel mower and travels from job to job by bicycle whenever possible. For more information about Robbie or his services please call him at 360-381-0345, email him at ZenCareMowing@Q.com, or see his blog at zencaremowing@blogspot.com. Thank you, Matt Tyler, Manager, Jefferson County Parks and Receation.”

Good article about the Rec Center Closure in PDN

There is a good article in the PDN about the rec-center closure. One of the groups that will be hardest hit by this closure are stay at home parents with pre-school kids. This group needs as much support as they can get.

Can you remember what it was like to have a 3 year old and a 1 year old at home on a winter's day in P.T.?

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091222/news/312229996

Rec Center Change Information

The Jefferson County Recreation Center will not be providing free drop in recreation afterschool or on the weekends effective January 1st, 2010. Do to many complicated reasons (which if you would like to learn more about please look at the Jefferson County Website for detailed budget information) the County Parks and Recreation Budget will be reduced by approximately $100,000, or 20% in 2010.

Dealing with this reduction has not been easy. We have reduced our staff by from 7.92 FTE to 5.28 and we have ceased maintenance at 11 County Parks. Rather than close these parks, we are using a new and innovative Adopt-a-Park program that relies entirely on volunteers.

The recreation program will be required to earn back 50% of what it spends through program fees. In 2009, the program earned 33%. What this requirements means is: no more 'free' recreation programs like the recreation center open in drop in hours.

Far from giving up, we are lifting ourselves up by our bootstraps and rolling out new programs like Kid Fit!, Kinder Sports, Adult Indoor Soccer, and holiday recreation camp.

Please continue to support us by joining our programs. We know we can serve you and your family very well. We know we can help make your lives a little richer, and a little better.

For more information please call me at 385-9129 from 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays. Matt Tyler

Port Townsend Seniors Association Needs Donations

The board of the Port Townsend Seniors Association has graciously agreed to adopt the grounds of the Port Townsend Community Center. The maintenance of this area is a major undertaking. Many shrubs, trees, and grass areas will need to be looked after. A lot of trash will have to be picked up and emptied.

To do this work the Seniors association is asking the general public for donations of new, high quality landscaping equipment. They need all kinds of equipment from a lawn mower to trash picking up devices. For the latest information please contact them at 385-9007.

A special thanks to the Port Townsend Seniors Association for their help and support of this very special area.

Park Adoption and Closure Update

The incredible outpouring of community support for our parks continues in the form of park adoption. At this time the following parks are adopted:

• East Beach Park
• Hicks Park in Shine park
• Indian Island park
• Courthouse park
• Irondale Beach park
• Port Townsend Community Center park
• Lower Oak Bay park
• Lake Leland day use park
• Quilcene River park
• Broad Spit park
• Gibbs Lake park
• North Beach Park

These adoptions represent a huge commitment on the part of our community volunteers as they are now responsible for all the day to day maintenance. Without this commitment, these parks could have been closed to the public.

We have a serious lead on the adoption of Memorial Field as well. More on that as the news progresses.

There are still opportunities to adopt parks. The following parks need to be adopted as soon as possible:

• Chimacum Park
• Irondale Community Park

Our professional will care for H.J. Carroll Park.

Please contact me at 360-385-9129 if you have any interest in our park adoption program. Even if you don't want the responsibility of a full adoption, we are seeking support people to assist those who have adopted our parks. My email is: mtyler@countyrec.com

Again, thank you and stay in touch. Matt

Park Closure Information

Today I made a presentation to the County Commissioners about our Parks and Recreation Service Plan for 2010. For a complete copy of the Power Point Presentation click here. The following blog entry summarizes the presentation. For a summary sheet click here.

We have worked very hard for many years to keep our service levels steady, and even make improvements despite funding challenges. At this time we are seeking to adjust our service levels due to difficult economic times. We are closing some parks and seeking adopt-a-park groups to care for others. Parks that will be closed this fall include:

• Hicks Park in Shine
• Lake Leland Campground (day use park needs a group to adopt it)
• Chimacum Campground and Day use Park
• Quilcene Campground (the area will remain open for day use)

We have already found groups to adopt the following parks! Thank You!

• East Beach Park
• Indian Island Park
• Gibbs Lake Park
• Quilcene Riverside Park

We are seeking adopt-a-park volunteers to adopt the following parks.

• Port Townsend Community Center Park
• North Beach Park
• Courthouse Park
• Oak Bay Park
• Lake Leland Day Use Park
• Irondale Community Park
• Memorial Field

For a sample Adopt-a-Park Agreement click here

Our Recreation Programs are rising to the challenge as well. There will be across the board fee increases, a new day care center at the PT Rec Center, closure of the PT Rec Center open hours (still open for events, classes, parties, and progam registration), and new recreation programs! The Recreation program will seek to earn back 50% of the expenses it incurs through fees. In 2009, the program will earn back approximately 33%

Please contact me directly if you have any questions or concerns: Matt Tyler 360-385-9129. mtyler@countyrec.com. My office is located at 623 Sheridan St. Call ahead for an appointment as I am busy throughout the day.

You can also leave a comment on this posting.

Matt

East Jefferson County Senior Softball team won their opening game of the Peninsula Senior Softball League at H.J. Carroll Park. They bested Sequim’s 7 Cedars Casino team by a score of 20 to 14. Dave Farfan and Chuck Thrasher both contributed home runs. In addition to his home run, Chuck Thrasher and Al Barkus went 4 for 4. The team is made up of players from the East Jefferson County Recreational Senior Softball Club. They practice at H.J. Carroll Park Tuesday and Thursday from 10 AM till noon

Play in the newly formed Olympic Peninsula Senior Softball League!!

Recreation Slow Pitch Softball

Teams from: Jefferson County, Sequim, and Port Angeles

Jefferson County Senior Softball League

Rec Early Release Chase Bank Tour

After a great visit to the bank the kids enjoy their goody bags and talk about everything they learned.

Rec students get a special peek at the inside of the Chase bank vault from Bank Manager Thor.

A big smile as we say thank you and goodbye to bank staff for the awesome tour.

Rec Early Release After School Program

A beautiful afternoon to be outside at the park enjoying a great, hands-on project!

Rec Staff, Cerise Allen-Williamson helping students put the finishing touches on their sock garden masterpieces!

Intently filling their socks with seeds and dirt.

Rec Staff, Matt Mahan shows his playful side. No wonder the kids like him so much!!

Rec Staff, Lisa Doray describes a seed planting project for After School participants on a beautiful, sunny day at Chetzemoka Park.

Brinnon Tumbling Camp

On floor bars, students work on upper body strength, an important component in physical fitness.

A mat “stack”, (left background), allows students to get up high while practicing vault skills.

Stations are designed to encourage students to safely perform skills by themselves, increasing self-esteem and self-confidence!

Providing various “stations” of activities allows students more time practicing skills and less “waiting in line”!

Student performing beginning bridges and back rolls, using soft, friendly landing surfaces.

Parks and Recreation SItCom at NBC

I watched both the new episodes of the Parks and Recreation Sitcom and I did not think it was that funny, even though I have a crazy sense of humor, and perfectly willing to laugh at myself, and I love The Office. I did not think there was much of a spark between the characters and I did not think the main character is as funny in this role as she is in her other SNL roles.

Some of the stuff is true, like how hard it is to get people to come to public meetings, and how badly Parks and Recreation People want to do projects to help the community, and how hard it can be to figure exactly what to do in order to get the projects going.

There are some totally hilarious scenes but they are pretty few and far between.

But overall there is a ton of misrepresentation of the importance of what Parks and Recreation does. Maybe the show will improve but if it does not I would not be surprised if it gets cancelled this season.