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Ogdensburg recreation director outlines summer schedule; resident asks council for Seaway Festival cost review
Summary
Recreation Director Harrison presented the department's summer events and camp offerings, including dates, backup locations and fees. Resident Wendy Hamilton urged a council review of the Seaway Festival's cost and return on investment.
Harrison, Ogdensburg's recreation director, reviewed the department's summer schedule and programming during the April 14 City Council meeting, laying out dates, venues and fees and describing survey results that helped shape the lineup.
The presentation outlined events starting May 31 on the basketball courts at Morrissette Park (with Lockwood Arena as a weather backup), a family day at Somerset Park on June 14 with live music and food vendors, support for the Seaway Festival July 18'27, an all-day pickleball tournament in August, and a community celebration moved to Sept. 27 that will include a 5K run, DJ, kids' activities and two bands. Harrison said summer camps and swimming lessons will be $30 per child, the same pricing as the previous year, with pool hours Tuesday'Sunday and swim lessons planned in July, weather permitting.
The presentation included survey results: 241 responses and 78 additional written ideas, Harrison said, and that outdoor concerts, carnival-style events and tournaments drew the most interest. "Outdoor concerts provided the highest interest from the community along with carnival tournaments," Harrison said.
Why it matters: The schedule sets the city's planned in-person events and staffing needs for summer. Fees, backup locations and volunteer or paid staffing choices affect department budgets and service delivery across neighborhoods.
Details and council questions
Council members asked about staffing, pay and volunteer support for camps. Harrison said the department pays coaches and two assistants for each camp session. When a councilor asked whether the department planned family discounts like the prior $25 student/$5 sibling structure, Harrison said the staff planned to keep the flat $30 per child fee for now.
Harrison told the council the pool's regular hours remain noon to 6 p.m. (closed Mondays), while swim lessons would run roughly 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with lessons and schedule subject to weather.
Public comment on Seaway Festival
During personal appearances, Wendy Hamilton, a resident, said she supports the recreation plan but asked the council to study the Seaway Festival's costs and benefits. Hamilton noted the festival's length and the demands it places on city staff and public safety and asked whether the city has measured sales-tax or other returns on investment. "I'm not saying eliminate it totally, but could it be shortened? Have we done that deep dive? What's the ROI on this?" Hamilton said.
Harrison had said earlier that the recreation department would assist and run events for the Seaway Festival July 18'27; the resident's comment asked the council to consider a financial review of city resource commitments to the multiweek event.
What wasn't decided
The presentation and comments produced no formal council action. Councilors asked staff to continue with recruitment and program planning; no fee changes or formal directives about the Seaway Festival appeared in the meeting record.
Ending
Harrison provided a flyer for the summer camps and noted more camps (including a children's musical theater camp in August) might be added. The department said it would continue to accept applications for lifeguards and seasonal staff and to refine details based on community feedback and weather conditions.
