Parks and Recreation Board approves agenda; hears staffing, summer programs and safety updates

The Parks and Recreation Board approved its meeting agenda and then heard a series of staff updates on seasonal hiring, youth sports schedules, facility preparations and safety equipment, board members said during their regular meeting.

K. Christie, parks staff, told the board the department has hired three recreation assistants who will support summer rec programs, concessions and a new point-of-sale inventory system. Christie said staff plan additional cross-training of lifeguards to support concessions and pool scheduling and that umpire applications and training sessions are being scheduled.

Christie reported spring soccer is underway and that baseball rosters are complete and nearly all background checks are finished. On tournaments, staff said evaluators recommended adding two 10U tournament teams and that coaches will consult parents before entering teams. Softball registration and rostering has been more complex this season because of USA Softball age-division rules; staff said coaches will handle tournament registration if parents approve and that the city may reimburse coaches when needed.

On pickleball and community leagues, Christie said spring pickleball started March 23 and summer registration will open soon. Staff discussed whether incoming high-school students should be allowed to join adult leagues and noted past practice allowed students entering ninth grade and above if parental waivers were signed.

Summer recreation programming outlined by staff includes tennis (with volunteer Kevin Plank helping scheduling), two-day canvas and water painting sessions with high‑school art teachers, archery, survival and food-chain events in May–July, baton-twirling classes, and traditional camps. Christie said the city has been building registrations on the website and will publish game schedules next week.

Staffing and facilities items: a volunteer campground host will begin May 1; concessions stands now have Wi‑Fi to support the point-of-sale system; the department received two automated external defibrillators after winning a matching grant from Sioux Empire United Way and must meet the grant’s checklist, including AED/CPR training. Christie said dates are being arranged so recreation assistants and groundskeepers will receive first-aid and CPR training.

Pool and playground updates: staff reported pool surface preparation and blasting are underway with painting scheduled next week; lifeguard orientation is set for May 22 and the pool opening date was given as May 23. New playground equipment is in use and staff said the site is busy.

Facilities and maintenance: staff said three seasonal groundskeepers were hired (one as a backup) and that work is proceeding on the new double batting-cage concrete installation; Taylor, another staff member, said the project schedule may slip by a week because of other site work. Staff also noted minor sidewalk work and follow-up connections at one park.

Community engagement: volunteers and community members were named as helping with programs (Robert Behringer, Melissa Doherty, Jacob Henker for pickleball; Amy Fisher and Jen Abel on other summer activities). A Girl Scout troop contacted staff offering to build birdhouses and other small projects for parks.

Votes at a glance: the board took a voice vote to approve the meeting agenda after a motion and second; those present responded "Aye." The meeting then recessed to a scheduled site walkthrough at Sailor Park. No other formal votes or expenditures were adopted at the meeting.

Why it matters: The updates set staffing and scheduling expectations for the summer season, confirmed safety training and equipment acquisition timelines, and signaled the board’s near-term priorities for programming and facility readiness.