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Parks director outlines pool opening, staffing, theater transfer and major tree work
Summary
Director John told the Park and Recreation Board the pool will open June 12, registration generated about $7,500 on day one, theater operations will move to the school after summer, hiring for a community activity supervisor is narrowed to two finalists, and forestry crews pruned over 1,000 trees with DNR grant support.
At the Port Washington Park and Recreation Board meeting, John, the department director, gave a broad operational update covering aquatics, programming, staffing and forestry work.
John said the pool’s opening day is set for June 12 and that staff will begin filling the pool in May; he noted annual basin restoration and tuckpointing are budgeted because freeze-thaw cycles often create cracks. "Opening day will be June 12th," he said. John added pool passes are open and that staff will hold an all-staff pool cleaning and setup day in mid-May to inspect and replace damaged chairs and equipment.
John reported strong early program registrations—T-ball and youth programs—saying roughly $7,500 in registration revenue came in on the first day the system opened. Board members raised navigation problems with the RecDesk registration platform for some users; John said two new-user support calls had been handled and that staff would continue to monitor complaints.
On personnel, John said the recreation/program-manager role has been retitled community activity supervisor; the posting and interviews are complete and the department has narrowed candidates to two finalists with a decision expected by week’s end. He also described an aquatics coordinator/head-guard position and said he expects about 40 seasonal staff for the pool this summer.
In park and forestry work, John said crews pruned over 1,000 trees this season, completed removals and stump grinding and will plant roughly 100 street trees in spring. He said the city secured a Department of Natural Resources urban forestry grant to help cover operating costs and that structural pruning (about 250 trees early in the season) reduced damage during a recent windstorm with nearly 70 mph winds.
John and board members also discussed playground equipment at Veterans Park—more than 20 years old—and concluded much of it is nearing the end of its serviceable life because replacement parts are no longer available; relocation or replacement will require new, modern equipment with a smaller footprint.
The meeting closed with thanks to departing board member Pat, and the board adjourned after a motion and second.
