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Parks department outlines summer camps, event calendar; pickleball stadium near completion and HQ rebuild funded
Summary
Parks staff reviewed summer camp offerings, upcoming events and facility updates, including that summer camp registration opens March 31, the pickleball stadium had a soft opening and tours, and the department headquarters rebuild was funded by a recent commission action and has entered design.
Amy Shontel, parks department deputy director, briefed the board on department programs and upcoming events. She said summer camp registration begins March 31 and that combined across all sessions the department typically enrolls about 5,000–5,200 participants. Camps include general community camps, elementary-based camps, middle- and high-school programming, counselors-in-training opportunities and specialty camps (tennis, sailing, sports and fitness, theater). Shontel said specialty camps run for shorter windows and that learn-to-swim and other aquatic offerings are integrated into general camps where schedules permit.
Shontel reviewed several spring and summer events: the Jazz Brunch series (next event April 6), Music Island free concerts at Riverland Park, Carley Park Jams (April 18), and a ticketed USA diving/swimming championship event scheduled April 30–May 3, which staff said will include visiting Olympians. She said food trucks and themed programming are typical for the concerts and that Carley Park concerts draw several hundred attendees.
Board members asked about the YMCA partnership and Shontel said YMCA programming is slated to begin in 2027 and will not replace current city camps; rather, the YMCA is expected to operate in some locations (likely Holiday Park) while the city continues its programs.
Staff provided an update on the new pickleball facility near the airport. Staff said the operator held a soft opening and has been providing tours and memberships; a staff member said the operator targeted an April–May timeframe for a full opening and that lessons learned from an initial tournament — including signage, shuttles and off-site parking arrangements — helped staff and the operator refine event logistics.
Finally, staff said the city commission approved amendments to fund rebuilding the Parks Department headquarters; design work has started on that project. Staff also noted ongoing efforts to improve signage, wayfinding and parking management for large events at new facilities.
Ending: Staff will continue to brief the board as registrations open, designs advance and event-planning details are finalized.
