Connellsville Park and Rec board previews expanded summer activities, council approves summer-instructor hire

James Flynn, speaking for the city's parks effort, told the Connellsville City Council on April 15 that the spring fling fundraising and sponsorships produced roughly $17,000 for recreation programming and that the summer playground plan has been scaled to reduce costs.

Flynn said the event sold seven of nine park sponsorships at $1,500 each (about $10,500), four equipment sponsorships at $500 each ($2,000), about $3,500 in ticket sales and roughly $600 in miscellaneous donations, for a total he described as "about $17,000." He told the council the summer playground program would run five weeks instead of six, staff would be reduced from four employees to three, and several volunteers and local school teachers had committed to help on a volunteer basis.

The changes are intended to lower operating expenses; Flynn estimated total program costs, including employer taxes, at approximately $55,800 for the summer season. He said programs would operate in neighborhood parks the children can walk to, including Pinnacle, Second Ward, Mounds Creek, Southside, Austin and Twelfth Street, with a posted calendar on the city website and social media.

City Solicitor Tim Witt reminded council that any individuals working directly with children must file required criminal-clearance paperwork. "They would be working directly with children," Witt said, and later confirmed clearances and mandatory-reporting training are required before staff or volunteers begin work.

During the meeting council approved a resolution to hire Morgan Sanzemeyer as a summer playground instructor, with wages to be paid from the recreation account. The hire was recorded as conditional on required clearances and mandatory-reporting training; the clerk noted Sanzemeyer already had clearances on file.

Flynn also described several outreach ideas the recreation board is testing to increase participation, including "passport" booklets for children that encourage visits to all nine parks with a stamp-and-reward system, and plans for senior bus trips to local venues through Park and Rec. He said organizers were exploring liability and insurance requirements for any bus trips and would prepare waivers for participants.

Flynn closed with a thank-you to sponsors, volunteers and board members for enabling the return of summer activities.

The council's approval of the summer-instructor hire was recorded by roll call; the clerk confirmed the hire with a majority vote. The recreation board and city staff will return required paperwork and bring other individuals up for approval at the May meeting as needed.