FY27 Proposed Budget

Recreation

The Recreation Division manages the operation of the City’s recreation facilities, programs and special events. The City offers programming that includes neighborhood events, large scale community events, sports, aquatics, social/arts/STEAM environmental educational and enrichment programs for all ages and abilities. The Division provides outreach to the community to ensure they have the ability to participate regularly in recreation pursuits.

General Fund Activities:

• Recreation Division’s budget is the sum of nine areas: Recreation Administration, Recreation Center Operations, Social/Cultural/Environmental Activities, Aquatics, Underserved Populations, Youth Sports, Adult Sports, and Communications and Special Events.

The Recreation Division provides three recreational facilities. The Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center houses a variety of activity spaces including: a gymnasium, fitness room, swimming pool, arts and crafts room, social hall, and potter’s studio. The Scanlon Gymnasium at the Mercer Park Aquatic Center provides a gymnasium, a game room, and multipurpose rooms. The Ashton House provides a hub for Adaptive Recreation Programming.

The Recreation Division also maintains three public pool facilities: City Park Pool, the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center Pool, and the Mercer Park Aquatic Center.

• The Farmers’ Market makes homegrown fruits, vegetables, homemade baked goods, foodstuffs, handcrafts, and flowers available to the public. The market season runs May through October and is held on Saturday mornings.

Recent Accomplishments:

• Aquatic programs continued without use of City Park Pool. Hydrant Parties were offered throughout the community, more than 2,000 kids participated in swimming lessons, and a water education class was offered in Spanish for the first time. • Adaptive Programming continued to grow through a partnership with “Can Play” to offer leisure sport opportunities for people with disabilities.

Upcoming Challenges:

• Implementing and tracking changes suggested by Recreation Program & Facilities Master Plan. • Transition to new City Park Pool. 139