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Parks staff preview summer events, VakaTry return and CreekWalk price change
Summary
Recreation staff outlined cultural arts contract classes and a busy special‑events calendar — Bunnies & Bonnets, VakaTry youth triathlon (May 17), CreekWalk concert series starting June 19 and an entry fee change to $5 for ages 13+. Staff flagged facility space and contractor recruitment as operational challenges.
At the May 6 meeting, Recreation Coordinator Kristen Milikin reviewed cultural arts contract classes and summer event programming, emphasizing growth in music and visual arts classes, longtime contractors offering virtual lessons, and a push to recruit instructors (ceramics was flagged as a high‑interest gap). Milikin said contractors set their own class pricing and that typical arrangements are a 60/40 split (contractor 60% / city 40% to cover marketing, facilities and staff).
Milikin also summarized the department’s special events slate. Recent successful offerings included Bunnies & Bonnets (with a sensory‑friendly egg hunt) and a returning CreekWalk concert series that begins Friday, June 19, running through Aug. 7 (6:30–9:30 p.m.). Staff noted that the city council approved a price change in February raising admission for ages 13 and up from $3 to $5; ages 12 and under remain free. The youth triathlon (VakaTry) returns May 17 for kids ages 7–14; course adjustments for younger and older age groups were described.
Volunteer and facility constraints: Commissioners repeatedly asked about facility space and instructor availability. Milikin said facility scheduling is a recurring challenge when multiple program areas share rooms and some community centers have dividing walls that limit simultaneous uses. She asked commissioners for referrals to potential instructors and sponsors; the department said it relies on internal marketing and social media plus community partners to recruit contractors and volunteers.
Partnerships and accessibility: Staff highlighted collaborations with local organizations and sponsors (museum, Visit Vacaville, swim clubs and local businesses) that support event production and adaptive offerings such as sensory‑friendly components. Milikin described the department’s summer internship program as a recruitment pipeline for seasonal staff.
What’s next: Staff will continue outreach for instructors, return with additional details as recruitment or sponsorship opportunities arise, and implement the CreekWalk season with the new fee structure.
