Port Washington staff report steady program enrollment, pool winterization and staffing shifts

John, parks and recreation staff, gave committee members an overview of recent recreation activity and staffing changes at the Port Washington Park and Recreation Committee meeting on Nov. 12.

John said the department recently concluded its flag football program with about 90 participants and is beginning a winter session of gymnastics and an upcoming basketball program. He noted a popular annual special event, the Halloween pumpkin hunt at Area 6 at Upper Lake Park, and described an annual Touch-a-Truck outreach event that brings multiple departments and emergency services equipment to the Pirates Hollow parking lot.

On theatre and pool operations, John said auditions are under way for a February 2026 production of The Addams Family — produced in cooperation with the school district — and described winterization work completed at the municipal pool after it closed in August. He said the city performed enzyme treatments and backwashing on six large sand filters to address bacterial build-up, and staff gained maintenance experience after earlier years of leaks, heater failures and pipe cracking.

John described a departmental staffing shift that placed Beth, parks and recreation programming staff, into a broader administrative role to support programming, special events and to assist the senior center with a transition from paper-based tracking to the department’s registration software. John said Beth will return to pool operations during the next swim season.

The department also reported ongoing cooperation with other city divisions — including street, police, fire and marina staff — and encouraged residents to notify staff if they observe damaged or worn flags or other park concerns so maintenance can be scheduled.

The committee heard these items as part of its regular updates; no formal action was taken on program schedules or staffing at the meeting.