Port Washington parks director details 2024 work plan, tree-planting and pool operations at Feb. 26 board meeting

The Parks and Recreation Board of the City of Port Washington heard a summary of 2024 activity and 2025 priorities on Feb. 26, including staffing and certifications, major tree-planting and invasive-species work, planned playground and trail projects, and pool operations.

John, director of parks, recreation and forestry, told the board the department sold 721 tickets for a recent youth theater production, is recruiting close to 100 seasonal employees for 2025 and added two certified arborists to staff. “I can attest it was a really nice program,” John said of the Mean Girls Junior production. He also said the department expects a certified pool operator to be on staff and explained the certification plan: “You have to have 1 on staff,” he said.

The report matters because the department manages most of the city’s public recreation assets, shapes summer programming and directs maintenance and tree-planting that affect neighborhood streets and parks. John described a mix of in-house work and grant-funded projects that officials said will expand access and reduce long-term maintenance costs.

Key program and staffing details John said the recreation program lineup includes Tiny Twirlers gymnastics, fitness classes (yoga and cycling), a hiking challenge, and multiple levels of youth baseball run in partnership with neighboring communities. The department sold 721 tickets for a February youth theater production and is planning Alice in Wonderland Junior for April. The department is preparing a summer program guide for release around April 1 and expects season passes and other pool offerings to open in April.

On staffing, John said the city is hiring “close to a hundred” seasonal workers for maintenance, pool operations, gymnastics and lifeguarding. He named Beth McDonald as program manager and Xi King as recreation administrative assistant. Rob Lunzer remains the principal park maintenance supervisor; Colin Taylor and Patrick Muir transferred from streets into parks and forestry. John said two staff members are certified arborists and several more are pursuing certifications, including certified pool operator training.

Tree work, forestry grants and invasives removal The department reported extensive tree work: it planted just over 100 street trees in winter and reported 185 planted in spring; staff said they typically plant 300–400 trees per year and are replacing declining Norway maples. The board was told the city will remove roughly 200 dead or declining trees across the system and burn prairies to maintain habitat; staff said they successfully burned about five acres of prairie in the past year.

John said the city won an urban-forestry grant that will fund an intern to update the tree inventory and support planting and pruning. He also described a separate grant that will provide roughly 400 trees for planting in Birchwood Hills; those plantings will be handled by grant contractors at no cost to the city.

Park projects and capital items Planned and continuing projects include a natural-materials playground at Upper Lake Park built from timber salvaged from city trees, a new playground at Whitefish Park, trail and restoration work at Birchwood Hills Nature Preserve, invasive-species removal and replanting at Bly Park, a new grinder and bathroom renovations at the South Wisconsin fish-cleaning station, a basketball court at Windrush Park, regrading of municipal ball fields after the high school softball season, and resurfacing the Hill School Park basketball court with a potential pickleball layout.

John said some work will be done in house with the street department and some will require contractors; he noted one grant-funded tree-planting project with Stantec and another partnership with the high school for Saw Creek Park features built by students. He said Kolbach Park has seen a notable increase in rentals and use following recent improvements.

Pool operations and programming changes John described changes to pool programming: the department will not continue a small number of private one-on-one lessons that had low participation and raised supervisory concerns; group lessons and the Port Piranha swim team will continue. John said Beth McDonald will take on more pool responsibility and that certified pool-operator coverage will be maintained on staff when the pool is open.

Volunteers, partnerships and community events Volunteer groups such as Kiwanis, the Rotary and other community sponsors support events and projects. The department runs a community garden with about 70 plots and is planning a community cleanup and kids tree-climbing event around the first weekend in May (the director said he would double-check the date). John said the department will also revisit promotion for a community campout in August.

Board process and next steps Board members asked about the board’s membership size; a board member noted the charter lists nine slots and two are currently vacant. John said he would check the charter and report back at the next meeting.

Votes at a glance • Approval of minutes (Aug. 14, 2024): motion by Alderman Tierney; second by Committee member Ross; voice vote in favor; motion carries (all present voted yes). • Approval of minutes (Oct. 9, 2024): motion by Alderman Tierney; second by Committee member Ross; voice vote in favor; motion carries (all present voted yes).

The board set its next meeting for Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 6 p.m.