Annapolis Recreation and Parks details Stanton Center overhaul, new programs and accessibility steps in budget briefing

Director Rosalind Johnson, director of Recreation and Parks, told the Finance Standing Committee on April 23 that the department is pursuing a multi‑phase renovation of Stanton Community Center, new inclusive programs and operational changes intended to lower access barriers for residents.

Johnson opened the presentation by describing recent programs and staff changes and said, “I have the best job ever.” She walked committee members through recent events — an Easter egg hunt that department materials said used 12,000 eggs — and new pilot programs such as a greeting/“superheroes” program that pairs people with developmental differences with front‑desk duties.

Why it matters: the department asked for a mix of capital and operating funding to support renovations and expanded programming at multiple facilities, including Stanton and Pitt Moyer; it flagged continuing needs for seasonal and part‑time lifeguards, additional full‑time staffing to extend hours at some centers and a plan to pursue federal and state earmarks to cover major capital costs.

Most important details

- Stanton Community Center: Johnson described a three‑phase plan. Phase 1 will include an interactive esports‑capable gym floor and a teaching kitchen; later phases include additional building work and a rooftop community garden and playground. Johnson said the department is still in the design phase and that installation of the new floor is subject to fabrication lead times; staff described a very aggressive target of late 2025/early 2026 but said a precise schedule is not yet final. The department also said it is coordinating community review as designs are finalized.

- Accessibility and inclusion: Johnson said the department converted some pool restrooms to gender‑neutral facilities and that Waterworks Park no longer requires a permit for general public use: “You don't need a permit to go to Waterworks Park. The park belongs to everyone,” she said. The department described pilot programs to accommodate people with disabilities and to add sensory and therapeutic elements to programming.

- Programs and events: Johnson highlighted Greenscape (33 years of operation and a statewide award), a large Juneteenth event that the department said ran without incident and a newly completed skate park at Truxton Park with a grand opening planned for June 7.

- Facilities and equipment: Johnson said the department repurposed a transportation bus to provide ADA‑capable transport for summer camp at essentially no cost to the city, replacing vehicles lost to theft and aging fleet issues. The department requested capital funds for renovations including Pitt Moyer Center indoor play equipment (identified in the capital book as a $315,000 capital outlay item for “Velocity” indoor playground) and gender‑neutral restroom upgrades at certain facilities; staff described the restroom estimate as a ballpark figure tied largely to plumbing and fixture work.

Budget, staffing and operations

- Lifeguards and seasonal staff: Johnson acknowledged lifeguard recruitment challenges and said that though headcounts in the budget appear lower, total lifeguard hours are not expected to fall because many lifeguards work as many hours as they are scheduled. She said pools were not closed during peak summer months in recent seasons except for weather or health‑code incidents. The department said PIP (the pay‑for‑play center) has added seasonal staff to match increased programming and front‑desk greeters; staff described an increase in PIP staffing in the proposed budget to handle higher attendance and more special events.

- Grants and earmarks: Johnson said the department has submitted federal earmark requests and reported three proposed $3 million earmarks for Stanton and one $3 million earmark for Carr's Beach (department materials and presentation). Staff also said they are exploring grants from the Resilience Authority and other state and federal sources.

Public and council questions

- Alderman Roman O'Neil flagged an organizational issue: the Harbour Master is listed under Recreation and Parks in the budget book but O'Neil said that state or city code requires that the Harbour Master be under the city manager unless an ordinance changes that arrangement. O'Neil asked that the budget book reflect the code position and that any reorganization be handled by ordinance.

- Committee members pressed on Stanton timelines and the budget implications of extending Stanton hours and opening centers on holidays. Johnson said increasing Stanton hours would require additional permanent staff or more part‑time permanent staff and that union rules affect holiday scheduling and overtime.

Quotes and attributions

- Director Rosalind Johnson: “I have the best job ever.” - Director Rosalind Johnson on Waterworks Park: “You don't need a permit to go to Waterworks Park. The park belongs to everyone.”

Clarifying details reported by staff

- HACA/Hackapool: the department described a $45,000 operating allocation for operations at the Hackapool (HACA pool) to keep admission free for residents; HACA will retain ownership and the city will assist with operations. - Pitt Moyer Center: capital outlay for the indoor play area (“Velocity”) appeared in the capital book; staff described the $315,000 figure as a capital request to replace equipment beyond useful life. - Stanton earmarks: staff said they are pursuing three $3 million earmarks for Stanton and one $3 million earmark for Carr's Beach (submitted to federal appropriations process and resubmitted after a prior continuing resolution removed earmarks nationally, per the presentation).

Community relevance and next steps

The department framed many requests and projects as investments in youth programming, accessibility for people with disabilities and neighborhood amenities. Staff said they will finalize Stanton design work, coordinate community review and seek construction manager options to accelerate delivery. The skate park grand opening is scheduled for June 7; other timelines (e.g., Stanton floor installation) are conditional on fabrication lead times and final contractor selection.

Ending

Committee members praised the presentation and asked for follow‑up details on staffing totals and timelines. Johnson and staff said they would provide additional scheduling and budget detail as the Stanton design and procurement work progresses.