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Parks staff report 142 kids registered for Kids Rock; department rolls out new registration system and new toddler program
Summary
Recreation coordinator Chelsea Swenhagen reported program enrollments, a new registration system, a new toddler movement program, Food Fest dates and an intern hire at the June 11 meeting.
Recreation coordinator Chelsea Swenhagen told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission on June 11 that summer programs began with steady participation and new tools to manage registrations and staff scheduling.
SwEnhagen said Kids Rock, the city's summer day program, has 142 total registrations this year, with daily attendance running about 90 to 100 children Monday through Thursday. "We have 142 kids total registered for Kids Rock this year," she said. Staff reported that daily, drop-in registrations have increased even as total registrations are slightly lower than in prior years.
The department deployed a new registration platform called Playground in March, Swenhagen said, and staff have used it for registrations, staff scheduling and billing. She said the system has improved communication between staff and families and streamlined billing.
A new program called KidTristing (movement-based parent-child classes for toddlers) launches in late June; organizers expanded planned age tiers from the initial 12–24 months to include 1–2, 2–3 and 3–4 year classes through the fall. Swenhagen said the program was developed by two local instructors and that early registration numbers are promising.
Staff previewed two Food Fest events set for July 17 and a second date in August at Rich Valley Park, running 4–8 p.m. Each event will include roughly 10–12 food trucks, family-friendly music and adult beverages. The inaugural lighting celebration for the Swing Bridge is scheduled for June 17 from 7–8:30 p.m.
Swenhagen also introduced an intern from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse assigned to Parks and Recreation for the summer and encouraged commissioners to meet him at Food Fest.
Commissioners asked about access for single participants to adult recreational leagues; Swenhagen described the department’s free-agent list for softball, volleyball and pickleball that organizers use to form teams.
Chelsea Swenhagen closed by noting the community garden has 30 plots and an 11-person waiting list.
