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Recreation Services reports trail expansions, AmeriCorps support and director's upcoming retirement
Summary
Recreation Services staff updated the Civic Enhancement Committee on recent trail work, special events, an AmeriCorps NCCC crew assisting the city and the upcoming retirement of Recreation Director Joe Baines; the department is recruiting for the director position.
Michelle, speaking on behalf of Recreation Services, told the Civic Enhancement Committee the department has recently completed trail work and is preparing for a busy special-events season while the department prepares for a leadership change.
The update is relevant because Recreation Services manages trails, parks and special events that affect recreation users and event logistics across Prescott. The department reported completed trail miles, ongoing partnerships and the imminent retirement of the director, which will affect staffing and oversight.
Michelle said phase 2 of the Bean Peaks trails has finished, bringing the Bean Peaks total to about six miles, and that crews and a volunteer group called the Over the Hill Gang have built roughly three miles of new trails in the Granite Dells Gateway Park area. The department has just finished winter basketball, is preparing for spring volleyball and is taking registrations for summer kickball and softball.
Michelle described a partnership with an AmeriCorps NCCC crew of eight members housed at the Activity Center who have assisted with erosion control, trail accessibility improvements, watershed and environmental education projects and refurbishment of park amenities. She said the crew will begin refurbishing steps inside the Activity Center. The city houses the crew at the Activity Center with separate male and female sleeping areas and a common room.
On special events, Michelle said Recreation Services averages about 75 special events annually on city property, with at least six new events added for the spring season. She identified Whiskey Off Road as the largest downtown, three-day event in April. She also said the city controls the Veterans Day Parade and that Recreation Services manages that event.
Michelle announced that Recreation Services Director Joe Baines will retire on April 25 and that the job posting closed the previous Wednesday. She said a new director will be in place eventually and the department will transition duties to bring the new director up to speed.
Committee members asked about involvement in large events such as the rodeo parade and the department’s special-events permitting and coordination processes; Michelle explained that event promoters apply through the special-events process and a multi-department committee vets public-safety, health and permitting requirements.
No formal committee action was taken on the update. The committee thanked Michelle for the presentation and noted that a different staff member may present at the next meeting while recruitment for the director position continues.
