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…