Recreation staff reported the city received a $2,500 grant from the National Recreation and Park Association and outlined program and participation changes on April 2.

Recreation staff member Jaylen French told the commission, "We did receive a $2,500 grant. The intent of the program is to train as many coaches as possible." French said the grant would be used to offset coach registration or provide gift cards to encourage up to 100 coaches to complete a training program tied to national coach-development goals.

French and other staff also described enrollment trends that show declines among older youth. To retain older players, staff said the department is exploring partnering for the older age bracket — an option that would place an Escalon team into an outside league so older players can compete at higher levels. French emphasized any such option would be voluntary and dependent on numbers: if the city cannot form at least three teams at a given level, that division may not run.

On facilities, staff said field space is an increasing constraint and that the department is discussing potential partnerships with the Escalon Unified School District to expand practice space. French told commissioners the adult softball season added two teams this year, raising the total to about 12 adult teams and occasionally requiring doubleheaders.

Commissioners and several coaches flagged safety and training requirements. French noted that more programs now require concussion, CPR or background checks, and that some volunteers have pushed back on fingerprinting. The grant is intended to increase coach training availability and reduce these friction points.

In closing his monthly report, French told the commission the community pool partnership with the school district is no longer active: "the community pool is no longer active, and I do not think will be active into the future," he said, adding that the city and district no longer maintain the partnership and that the pool will likely not open this year.

Staff said they will continue to update the commission as the NYSA/MLS Go age questions and school-district facility talks progress.