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Parks Comm PKT 11-12-1998 • CITY OF FEDERAL WAY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Thursday, November 12, 1998 Steel Lake Fire Station 6:00 p.m. Conference Room WORK PLAN 1. Celebration Park 2. Skate Park 3. Wedgewood Park 4. Comprehensive Plan AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. PUBLIC FORUM A. Police Report on Park Activity Officer Myron Kline 15 Minutes 3. APPROVAL OF OCTOBER MINUTES 4. REPORTS - CELEBRATION PARK A. Fundraising Report Duclos 5 Minutes B. Construction Report Wilbrecht 10 Minutes C. Work Parties Ed Swan 10 Minutes D. Facilities Report McColgan/Hutton 10 Minutes E. Nov. 21 Holiday Celebration Reid/Coates 15 Minutes 5. COMMISSION BUSINESS A. French Lake /Lakehaven Agreement Wilbrecht 5 Minutes B. Skate Park Report Wilbrecht 5 Minutes C. Wedgewood Park Kellogg/Ed Swan 10 Minutes D. Comprehensive Plan Bollen 10 Minutes E. Steel Lake Trees Wilbrecht 5 Minutes 6. COMMISSION COMMENTS 7. ADJOURNMENT REMINDER: NEXT MEETING WILL BE DECEMBER 3,1998 CITY OF FEDERAL WAY • PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Thursday, October 1, 1998 City Hall 6:00 p.m. Administrative Conference Room WORK PLAN 1. Celebration Park 2. Skate Park 3. Wedgewood Park 4. Comprehensive Plan MINUTES Present: Jim Baker, Marion Bartholomew, Laird Chambers, Karl Grosch, Bob Kellogg, Dean McColgan, Barbara Reid, Chair and Bob Roach. Excused Absence: Jerry Bollen, Dini Duclos and Dave Kaplan. Staff: Dave Wilbrecht, Deputy Director, John Hutton, Recreation Coordinator and Peg Buck, Administrative Assistant. Chair Reid called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. * PUBLIC FORUM John Hutton, Recreation Coordinator for the City of Federal Way, gave a report on the scheduling of Celebration Park sports fields for 1999. He has two adult state batting tournaments guaranteed as well as a Regional Womens Fast Pitch tournament. He is also negotiating two more tournaments - a National Invitational and a Firefighters. Coke and Pepsi have shown an interest in supplying the scoreboards and Hutton is working with them on this issue. • He also reported that scheduling is right on track. Reid asked if a press conference would be profitable at this time to promote and advertise Celebration Park. Discussion was that the Chamber of Commerce needs to be contacted to promote the Park also. Grosch asked if there was a regional or state -wide sports newsletter or publication that could have an advertisement on the Park facilities to promote scheduling. Hutton and Roach said there were publications available. Bartholomew asked if a calendar of scheduled tournaments could be distributed to Commissioners and Hutton said he would do that once the dates had been firmed up. MINUTES Grosch moved and Baker seconded a motion to approve the corrected minutes. Motion passed. * REPORTS - CELEBRATION PARK A. FUNDRAISING Reid reported that $58,812 is left to raise for Celebration Park. Reid is sending out more grant requests. She also stressed there are only three months left in the year to raise the funds. Boeing took a tour of the Park and had favorable comments. Duclos completed a grant request to Horizon Group. Wilbrecht said $7,500.00 was received from King County/Peter VonReichbauer's office. B. CONSTRUCTION Wilbrecht gave a digital photo report with questions from Commissioners. The Arts Commission will do a walk through Celebration Park with Wilbrecht on Thursday, October 8th at 9:30 a.m. C. FLAG POLE $9,920.00 has been collected for the flagpole according to Kellogg. Just prior to the meeting, Tacoma News Tribune made a donation making the total surpass the $10,000.00 goal. Reid congratulated Kellogg for a job well done and achieving the goal. D. WORK PARTIES Wilbrecht said that Ed Swan was contacting groups and advertising for volunteers needed for the work parties. Steve Ikerd and David Leider are working on scheduling also. E. FACILITIES McColgan said there was no problem in scheduling the Celebration Park facilities per John Hutton's report. Parks and Recreation Commission Page 2 October 1, 1998 • * COMMISSION BUSINESS A. COMMUNICATIONS Kellogg didn't have anything to report. Reid would like a news release done concerning the Celebration Park pavers. There are only approximately eighty left to purchase. B. SKATE PARK Wilbrecht presented preliminary drawings from the architect. There was a question and answer period with time lines discussed. There will be a meeting scheduled within the next few weeks with interested parties to review plans and get feedback. The meeting will be advertised in the newspapers, flyers at the junior /senior high school level and letters to persons attending prior meetings. C. WEDGEWOOD PARK Kellogg said there is work being done at the park. The path around the pond is being cleared as well as the area designated as a play area. AmeriCorp is coming in to work. Kellogg suggested having the City Council tour the park after more of the work is completed. Reid suggested a press release be done through the City Manager's office to give recognition to the work parties. D. PANTHER LAKE CLEAN -UP Bartholomew gave a report on the clean -up party by the Parks and Recreation Commissioners. Baker was unable to attend the Saturday work party so he picked up tires and trash throughout the week prior. Bartholomew said a one ton truck was filled with debris from the area. The work party consisted of Commissioners Baker, Bartholomew, Duclos, Kaplan and Kellogg. He praised the two parks maintenance staff persons (Bob Hayes and Jamal Mohammed) who assisted the Commissioners in the clean -up. Bartholomew would like to see the east and north ends of the area cleaned with the Parks and Recreation Commissioners doing the work again. There was a good response from all to schedule another work day - possibly in the Spring. E. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Reid pointed out the minutes from the last Comprehensive Plan Subcommittee meeting were in the Commission packets. Baker thanked Reid for a good job recording. Grosch said he could be of further assistance by providing the demographics for the City of Federal Way. * COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS Grosch said he would make copies of the demographic information he has compiled upon request. Response prompted Grosch to make copies for all Commissioners, Schroder, Wilbrecht and Jainga. Chambers reported that the King County Aquatic Center reopens Monday, October 5, 1998. He handed out the "Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Resolution Concerning Budget Reduction and Potential Park Closures" document he accessed off the Internet. Baker requested a change in his e-mail address on the Parks and Recreation Commission roster. He also inquired as to the status of police in the parks. He voiced his concern over problems in Adelaide Park. Chambers recommended police be invited to a Commission meeting to hear the concerns. Grosch said there are three commissioned officers that are assigned to these issues. Wilbrecht said he would contact police about attending the next commission meeting. Roach reported his 65 year old softball team won the World Championship with a record of 87 wins /18 losses. Also, the Prayer Rally in early September was well attended by approximately 1500 persons. The last Prayer Breakfast will be held November 6th at the Aquatic Center. Reid reported that the Chamber of Commerce and City of Federal Way are working on a November 21st holiday kick -off to include a torchlight parade. There will be VIP Tours of Celebration Park from 12 noon - 2:00 p.m. with McColgan and Chambers serving as Masters of Ceremonies. Public tours will be held from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.. * ADJOURNMENT • Motion to adjourn was made by Chambers with a second by Baker. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. CITY OF =„, _• • (253) 661 -4000 �y 33530 1ST WAY SOUTH FEDERAL WAY, WA 98003 -6210 October 15, 1998 Ms. Barbara Reid, Chair City of Federal Way Park and Recreation. Commission 1828 S. 330th Suite B Federal Way, WA 98003 RE: Recognition Plagues and Brick Pavers Celebration Park Dear Barbara: Celebration Park is moving toward completion soon and I know you and others are getting excited about finalizing the plans and designs for recognition of contributors and volunteers. As you know this is an important part of the project that needs careful consideration and thought. We expect to be able to focus on this part of the park after the first of the year along with other areas such as placement of picnic tables, benches and other finishing touches. It is my expectation • that any necessary drawings, designs and schematics will be presented to the Commission for review and approval to be forwarded to the City Council for final approval. We have been planning for a May dedication of the finished park and will need to complete these items well in advanced of that date. I am looking forward to working closely with you and the Commission to make sure the final product meets your expectations and goals . We appreciate your concern and hope this answers any questions you may have. ' rely, 1 � i1ht,Durector Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services cc: Jennifer Schroder, Director Parks and Recreation Commission III Untitled 10/19/98 6:32 PM Celebration Park • A Hometown Park for Hometown Fun The Vision for Celebration Park .^ O RCf 16 The Start of the ,414CSS Making Celebration Park a Reality , � t, Economic Benefits of Celebration Park _ -�'-�� / ` '4 — Time line for Park Progress � / C (" t - w �. Opportunities for You 1 v I Yes, I want to make a contribution to Celebration Park. h A41/ Celebration Park Gift Order From 1/[4,;0 , kf-r The Vision for Celebration Park • • Celebration Park will significantly provide for the Federal Way community's recreational needs, whether it is soccer, softball or a nature walk. The 83.5 -acre park will provide four lighted soccer fields and four lighted ball fields, giving athletes both young and old a needed place to play in their own hometown. In addition, the park will provide a system of nature trails for walkers adjacent to the city's BPA Trail pedestrian corridor. Celebration Park will help fulfill our community's recreational needs. It will keep thousands of children home, children who must now leave town to find lighted fields on which to practice and play. It will provide a central athletic and recreational opportunity to our entire community. The Start of the Vision: The celebration started in 1991 when the Federal Way City Council purchased the 83.5 acre parcel located at South 324th Street and 11th Place South, naming it "Celebration Park." Residents and planners envisioned a first -class public facility that would include well -lit fields for youth and adult soccer and softball. Beyond sports activities, the park would be available for festivals, fairs, open -air concerts and normal park and leisure activities with picnic tables and benches. The park would preserve significant wetlands and provide walking trails for people of all ages and physical endurance. Forty-eight acres of the park will be preserved in a natural state and will include wetlands, walking trails and extensive second - growth forest. Making Celebration Park a Reality: Full development of Celebration Park's active and passive recreational features, as approved by the Federal Way City Council, will cost $8,662,000. Funds available for the project are $8,312,000 from bonds purchased with city utility tax revenue. To complete the vision, an additional $350,000 in donations will be needed. With the leadership of a private, blue -ribbon fundraising committee, individuals and businesses will provide the finishing touches that will help make this park a reality. Donations will fund the lighting of the sports fields, nature trails and forest preservation, an entrance plaza, signage, benches, picnic tables and other features. In addition, an individual can name one of the park's eight sports fields for a 515,000 donation. http: / /www.ci. federal - way. wa .us /Promo /CeIPark /celbroch.htm Page 1 of 3 Untitled 10/19/98 6:32 PM Celebration Park will give residents more opportunities to become involved in organized sports. Celebration Park will provide recreational opportunities for residents of all ages. • Celebration Park is being built in response to the need for additional recreational fields and park space for a growing population. Celebration Park will provide real benefits to the environment, conserving natural forest and wetland areas, and providing for the recharge of the area's aquifer. Celebration Park will have a positive economic, environmental and recreational impact to the Federal Way area and surrounding communities. Economic Benefits of Celebration Park: Celebration Park will provide the city's downtown revitalization and economic development efforts a new infrastructure boost. Other reinvestment in our city's downtown core will follow the success of the park. It is estimated that the annual economic benefit to the Federal Way business community could be as much as $8,000,000 from tournaments alone -- add additional revenues enjoyed by local businesses gaining additional individuals shopping and dining in area shops and restaurants. Timeline for Park Progress: A groundbreaking for the park was held Dec. 19, 1997. In late 1997, volunteer efforts were focused on removing nonnative brush from the park, replacing the vegetation with native plants taken from the proposed ballfield sites of the park. Construction of the park started April 1, 1998 with a park opening planned for the Fall of 1998. Use of the soccer and softball fields will start in the Fall of 1999 after the turf has had an additional year to mature. Opportunities for You: How can you help? You have many choices. You can contribute your time and labor. You can contribute construction materials or supplies. You can organize a fund- raising project or work party from your school, business, homeowners group, service club, religious organization, sports team, scout troop, social club or professional organization. Mark the appropriate line in the coupon below to receive more information. You can contribute cash for individual items. Available items fit nearly every budget. Donors of $1,000 or more will be recognized on a plaque mounted at the Park's Central Plaza. Donors contributing up to $999 will be recognized in a commemorative publication issued when the park opens. A gift catalog detailing the needed landscaping, woodlands, central plaza and public amenity features is now available. To receive a copy of the Gift Catalog, please mark the appropriate line in the coupon below. Yes, I want to make a contribution to Celebration Park! Please print this page and fill in the blanks & mail or fax to the address information below. 1 would like to make a tax- deductible contribution: $10 $25 $50 $100 $500 $1,000 Other . Please send me the Gift Catalog. http: / /www.ci.federal- way.wa.us /Promo /CelPark /celbroch.htm Page 2 of 3 Untitled 10/19/98 6:32 PM _ Please call me about donating materials or about organizing a work party or fund - raising project. Name: Telephone: • Address: City: State: Zip Code: Please make checks payable to the City of Federal Way /Celebration Park and mail them to: City of Federal Way Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department 33530 First Way South Federal Way, WA 98003 Telephone: 253 -661 -4190 Fax: 253- 661 -4024 Please charge my gift on MasterCard Visa. Card Number: Expiration Date: Signature: • _ My employer has a matching gift program: Company Name: Person and Telephone to Contact: Address: • http: / /www.ci. federal - way. wa .us /Promo /CelPark /celbroch.htm Page 3 of 3 II Bob Kellogg 33419 33rd P1 S.W. Federal Way Wa. 98023 Federal Way Arts Commission City Hall, 33530 1st Way S Federal Way, WA 98003 Attention: Joann Piquette Dear Joann, I am sorry that I will be unable to attend your October 21st meeting on the "Two Percent for Arts" program as it relates to Celebration Park. My interest in having art as part of our new park is that I want every one of our citizens to have an opportunity to take pride in some aspect of this facility whether they are sports fans or not. just bod • personal feeling that Celebration Park is very much like a new house that a family has beautiful in its own way, but lacking in the amenities and furnishings that uniquely identifies it as their home. use Celebration Park has gone through a number of changes since �� architecture y ° wheever there was a we wanted the best possible competitive playing fields, decision related to cost cutting. A good example being our concession buildings where we chose to duplicate what we did at Saghalie Park rather than accept the more costly design of the Celebration Park architect. You might also remember the architect's design for fencing, which was supposed to reflect the concept of "Celebration." It too was rejected because of its cost and also its appearance. Although we should be very proud of what has been accomplished, I believe Celebration Park suffers the same problems which many of the buildings had that I saw built in downtown Seattle in the decade and the emphasis of the 60's. They were built quickly to meet the immediate demand for office acked th ascetics f good was on their function, and not on their appearance. Many of architecture, landscaping, and art. As a result the atmosphere of downtown Seattle became extremely bland which is precisely why concepts as Two Percent for Arts" were created. I have read the City ordinance stating there is to be art as part of any public project, and clearly its 110 original intent is for the actual project to receive all the funding. The ordinance does, however, give the City Council considerable latitude and they can place the art elsewhere. In making its recommendations to the City Council, It is my hope that the Arts Commission will recognize that there is a need to return Art to the Celebration Park design, and that as the project itself did generate the Arts funding, it deserves to receive all of it, or at least a significant portion of it. Celebration Park will reflect the values of our community. It can be just another sports park, or it can truly provide both an image of what we are and what we aspire to become. Sincerely yours, Bob Kellogg ID 1110 v • Section X.10.004 Uses of Art in Public Places Funds. The appropriations from qualifying capital improvement projects shall fund the Art in Public Places Fund. All Arts in Public Places funds shall be expended upon the project in which the funds were appropriated. Any diversion of funds from the projects in which they were appropriated shall be conditioned upon prior approval of the City Council. These funds may be combined with any gifts, donations, or grants so designated, and shall be used for: A. Selection, acquisition, and installation or display of original works of visual art which may be incorporated in the project, on or about the project, or, upon approval of City Council, in another public facility within the City; and B. Repairs and maintenance of public art acquired with 2 %- For - The -Arts Funds; and C. Other project specific expenses of selection and acquisition; provided that, no part of the funds shall be used to pay administrative staffing expenses of the program. Section X.10.005 Carryover of Fund. Any unexpended 2 %- For - The -Arts funds which remain in the Art in Public Places fund at the end of any budget year shall not be transferred to the general fund or otherwise lapse, but said unexpended funds shall be carried forward from year to year until expended for the purposes set forth in Section X.10.005 above, unless otherwise directed by City Council. Section X.10.006 Responsibilities of Arts Commission Regarding Art in Public Places Funds. Annually, the Arts Commission shall make recommendations - to the City Council that will reflect short and long range planning for the incorporation of art and sites regarding the appropriation of 2 %- For - The -Arts funds. The recommendations will relate to but will not be limited by the following: A. The incorporation of art projects will be responsive to the developing public art needs of the community; B. The incorporation of art projects will reflect the scope, scale and character of the site; and C. The incorporation of art projects will be part of parks and construction and building developments. The Arts Commission shall carry out all necessary tasks and procedures consistent with established arts policies for the selection, placement and conservation of art works. ORD . # 94 -217 , Page 3 41 • Section 2. Sever ability. The provisions of this ordinance III are declared separate and severable. The invalidity of any y c a sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section, or portion ordinance or the invalidity of the application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the ordinance, or the validity of its application to other persons or circumstances. Section 3. Ratification. Any act consistent with the authority and prior to the effective date of this ordinance is hereby ratified and affirmed. Section 4. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be effective thirty (30) days after passage and publication of an approved summary consisting of the title hereto as provided by law. PASSED by the City. Council of the City of Federal Way this /q/P' day of , J v CITY OF FEDERAL WAY - 4,& ) MAYO , MA Y E. GATES III ATTEST: c --..... m r ge (4 17, 464.7 .v C ITY CLERK, MAUREEN M. SWANEY, CMC APPROVED AS TO FORM: C r . •• • . 4, Y, CAROLYN A. LAKE FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: June 28, 1994 PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: July 19, 1994 PUBLISHED: July 23, 1994 EFFECTIVE DATE: August 18, 1994 ORDINANCE NO. 94 -217 K: \ORDIN \ARTS.CNC • ORD . # 94 -217 , Page 4 October 19, 1998 For Additional Information: M FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dave Wilbrecht: 661 -4042 Dave Kaplan: 941 -3819 CITY SEEKS INPUT ON SKATE PARK DESIGN After more than two and a half years of planning, Federal Way's first skate park is on the drawing boards. The city is holding a public meeting October 29 before the design is finalized. The meeting will start at 6 P.M. in the former fire station at S. 312 Street and 28th Avenue South. The project was initiated in the summer of 1996, as a joint effort of the city's Youth Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission. Since then, a series of public gatherings resulted in a scale model built by local skaters and presented to the City Council. Their concept included all the best elements observed after a tour of six regional skate parks by Parks Department staff and members of the two commissions. That model was the basis of the preliminary design created by consultants Purkiss - Rose -RSI. Members of the consulting design team and city parks staff will be on hand at the October 29 meeting to answer questions and record comments. Final design will be . completed so that construction drawings can be ready by the end of the year. • To date, the city has allotted $15,000 for the project, Those monies will carry the project through creation of constrction drawings. Additional money for construction will be discussed during the current City Council budget deliberations. "We have to remind the City Council that there is widespread support for this project," said Parks Commissioner Dave Kaplan. "Skaters and parents, plus the general public, have shown their interest in a variety of ways. Some 92 teenagers brought a petition to city hall asking for the skate facility. The Federal Way Elks held a fund - raising dance last year and contributed $635 towards construction. And individuals have made further cash contributions," he explained. A tentative site has been selected in Steel Lake Park, at the corner of S. 312 Street and 28th Avenue South, in the open area north of the soccer field. As to the estimated cost to build the skate venue, that won't be known until construction drawings are completed. "Similar parks in the region have cost between $115,000 and $200,000," says Dave Wilbrecht, Deputy Director of the Parks Department. "The City Council first has to decide to put construction funding in the budget," Wilbrecht said. "Then Council has to approve the final design and instruct staff to go out to bid. There's always some fine tuning during the bid process, but we get a definite cost and time line at that point," he noted. For further information, call Wilbrecht at 661 -4042 or Kaplan at 941 -3819. • Comprehensive Plan Subcommittee • October 13,1998 Minutes 5 ehrod e✓ 1 can9 a Present: Chair Jerry Bollen, Jenny Shroder, Jon H tango, Karl Grosch, Dini Duclos, Jim Baker, Laird Chambers, Barbara Reid. 1. Correction to Item #3 in the minutes of the September 8 meeting. It should read "Obtain Parks & Recreation Staff consultation ". 2. Timetable for Comp Plan Revision: Jon Hainga talked to Margaret Clark of City staff who is also updating the Comp Plan; . Goal is to update and revise annually . #10 is checked on spread sheet - wants everything in city wide plan by May/ June/ July of 1999. Park plan is an addendum to the City Plan. • . Council Committee is where we can have input . Land use Committee of Plan Commission needs to be consulted . Planning Commission holds public meetings for input. 3. Time Line Chart: Will be ready by staff in time for the November subcommittee meeting. • . Consultant will be selected in January, 1999 . Consultant will join team in February. . Public meetings will occur starting in September, 1999. 4. Statement of Philosophy: . It was determined that each member should draft a Vision statement before the next meeting and give to staff for consolidation into one, consensus statement. . The matrix beyond a Vision statement should be; . Vision > Mission > Goals > Actions • . A future brainstorming session is scheduled for the November meeting. Staff will have flip charts available for notes. 5. Subcommittee Comments: . Laird likes Kent's economic section . Barbara Likes Kirkland's simplified approach and the use of neighborhood designations for park area maps. . Jon Hainga suggested we start with Dini's draft staement and use it as a guide in writing our own. . Karl Grosch' demographics will be very helpful. He was asked to provide copies to Jenny and Jon. 6. Parks & Recreation Survey: Should we continue to pursue this avenue for input? Would a telephone survey be the least expensive method? • Next Meeting Steel Lake Fire Station Conference Room at 6:00 PM, Monday, November 16. • OCTOBER 23, 1998 FEDERAL WAY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REVISIONS It is the objective of the Federal Way Parks and Recreation Commission to have the revised Comprehensive Plan for Parks, Recretation and Open Space completed and approved by the City Council by • The revision process will include the following elements: 1. Obtain public input on needs and interest for Parks and Recreation programs and facilities. 2. Obtain City Council input and direction on the role of parks and Recreation in the provision of City services to citizens. 3. Obtain Parks and Recreation staff input and Council on revisions to the Comprehensive Plan. Presentation to the Federal Way City Council • in Support of Funding for the Federal Way Boys & Girls Club First, I want to applaud the hard work and dedication of the Human Services Commission in allocating the Community Block Grant Funds to worthy agencies and services serving the Federal Way community. My remarks should not serve in any way to undermine the commission's efforts on our behalf. Instead, I am here to speak for the contribution the Boys & Girl's Club makes to this city's children; With 600 volunteers - many mom and dad coaches - the club augments our own Parks and Recreation programs so the opportunities for after school sports are available to every child in Federal Way. That contribution is significant. 2,700 children are served at the Boys & Girls Club each year. That compares to roughly 5,600 youngsters in the city programs according to this Comprehensive Plan that members of the Parks & Recreation Commission are starting to work on for the year 2000. It is important that you remember that the Boys & Girls Club is included in the comp plan as one of the city's recreational assets. Equally important, it has an • indoor gym for winter basketball and volleyball outside of school hours. The city has a partnership program with our school district, developing softball and soccer fields on school owned property. It seems reasonable that the city create a partnership with the Boys & Girls Club at a cost of $. Q, ercD Surely there are discretionary funds in the budget that would permit this small level of support. We have been asking foundations and corporations for funding of Celebration Park The Weyerhaeuser Foundation grant of $50,000 has leveraged other grants. The city's endorsement and support with $6;1380, would help leverage grants to the Boys & Girl's Club. Please take this request under consideration for a long standing non -profit program for our young people. Thank you, Bar ara R Reid 1828 S. 330th Street - #B Federal Way, WA 98003 • • . YU U R .. .. IOW N4 „,, ... .: • Auburn • Enumclaw • Federal Way - • Vashon Island • South King County The News Tribune • www.tribnet.com Wednesday, October 21, 1998 FIN-1 s potlight on ... Barbara Reid, chairwoman, Federal Way Parks Commission Barbara Reid has worked on the federal Way Parks Commission for !, three years and is one , : of the chief supporters of 83 sae Celebration Park, a $9 million .,., project. ic R? The City Council , w .< . passed a controversial utility tax to help pay for the park and other Reid downtown projects. - ilew idyou end up worldrrg on the Parks Commission? s "I fast saw an advertisement in the Piper for volunteers for theArts L Commission. Since I have a fine arts ;h major, and that's my background, I decided to apply. But then the city clerk asked me if .CEderal r Pd consider - '°y applying for dents wdh'gaes the Parks about c'+ Commission Paden.* con:" instead.... I '- - cerns really didn't a ?: 'Ind .. j _ have any € !Reid-lei r: "'y experience °`"'"` ° parks. But raising my children in Spokane, I was . a serious park user. "I didn't know what to expect." Did you realize that proposing and supporting Celebration Park would be so controversial? "No. I was pretty oblivious to all the brouhaha around it. I voted for it. I ii was committed to it. I saw the value of 83 acres in the middle of the city .. that able 8,r our use. ct aa) -" avail . able'for our use. So feW cities'` have that.... About 58 percent of the park is in second- growth forest and wetlands." Why id you support the park? "Coming from Spokane, I saw what happened when that city hosted Expo . '84. The city took Skid Row near the river and all the hotels and porno shops and warehouses disappeared. For the first time in 100 years, residents could actually see the river. Riverfront Park appeared, but it cost Mega-millions. Celebration Park is Federal Way's opportunity to do this at a much lower cost." What's Warded in the park design now? "Aside from the forest, there will be four ballfields, four soccer fields, a volleyball court, a tot lot and parking for 450 cars. I also see jazz festivals and maybe Family Fest coming to the park someday and using the fields? Does Federal Way have enough parks • now? -"It depends on what type of park you're talking about. We need a park With a rose garden in the city and an ornamental garden. The city has many mini - or pocket parks that • nothing is being done with. I think we need to put in a beautiful garden ▪ restful places that give people joy." — Now is the fund-raising going for Celebration Park? ' 'We've raised $302,000. Our goal is $350,000. So we have $48,000 to raise before the end of the year. Gift catalogs for the park are still available, although the last date you ran order tiles for the park is Oct. 8 - BARBARA CLEMENTS, THE NEWS TRIBUNE ng up: New Federal Way modeling agency teaches what it takes to be a cover girl. " Y / JIM ' 1 0 1 i Mirror • To contact the Mirror, call (253) 925.5565 Pa A �� �1.[.Tj} ��, ` ; t ' e rg r ty, c �+ i l it l iw. .� - 4. ig.,�ftC ]!" ''�` tEr n' 4 ' ' , / ' * jj W y ', Al R �t <,` li ^-',A. ..+*t rc ! a ' ' 7. . } a r J'a F ,t' s f f 4.14:4; 4*. -: *1 'P.- fit;, p ; `" ' ` ; ` • f :,-_,....,.,...7? . t *-.4-:-:-.f iysjE `' i as <. _ '. � r u r 1 1 r ' . ' } '' t i` r � '. i _ t , *° a 2 � } `� � �,. . Dan Sch6ner /suit photo ' y • J / Don Parker, th neigh' . borand volunteer, �� �' , helps dears trail ""�rc "; udthAmenCorps • � � F i t sa at the a �? t t / new Wedgewood a e r '' Path. The park, f � , , r p� t , ..e" bdt' w.. locate , a being r r a ra ��`"' " °a $ ` ; , r d°. a z 4 to y School, is being .. \''..2; E r ' r , . ° -""t . - ,, t y .. .. d through " r _ f. , ,,, d ,- l • . .. �� r y Y ,. .'' the ci ty ojFedera! ., ' r ,; a r f s s a ��$ r Way Neighborhood s ,�"' f 1 "' w ;r l Match i ng Fundpro- ` � � Wiz... �_ � � •, h..,�•r;o.,t : � � . x .. g"-. d Cleaning u the nei h borhood up g The city partners w i th to make it more accessible to area suburbanites. "Instead of people demanding i go vernment thin to do," Lenhart said AmeriCorps mem bers, provided through the to do something for them, it s more we cart work O n the other end of town, Wedgewood Park nezg�iborhoods through city, planted grass seed, extended the park's trail together on a project," he said. In of j ust neighbors say they look forward to the day the �. an cove it with a m ix of sawdust and bark • being a give away protect they have to match it park is a gathering spot for famt7tes and an t�cer ./, "The neighborho s latest W _ sise spot - walkers C f' through the dty+s Neighborhood Matdtrttg F y This ears to "" ' 5 11e � n for the neighbor's effo tg th ci Y P )C .' use ae othee j k program' $2 T h i a i the budget. Upc pro - a has purchased two t Y tables, hauled away By TAMMY BATEY Competition for the grant mo is likely to include a new roof for the home of the Historical rakedout undergr owth and pro vided !Tiring $tafl repoRn get stiffer next Year The city budgete $25,000 Society of Federal Way and new trees along the Neighbors hope the dry will ultimately brin in Don Parker calls Wedgewood Park "a little bit for it this year. The proposed 1999- 2000 budget streets in the Westbury neighborhood. what neighbors call "the big toys for the kids. of wild-- erness in suburbia." decreases the funding per year to 515,000. The Westway Homeowners Associati an d It's a neighborhood with many daycare The park az 39th Avenue Southwest and Through the program which began late last the Marine ILlls Architectural Co mmittee are Providers and families. Nei bor a member Southwest 337th Street. consists of several acres year, neighborhood, business and community among th e most recent reapients of the mini to the Wedgewood Park Neighborhood Commit of woods bordered by houses Atone end is a groups can apply to the city for money [o fund grants M arine Hills asked for help cleaning a tee, said pla y gr ound equipment is needed. grassy stormwater basin to catch ram runoff At improvement projects, such as a new park or a stretch of Dash Point Road near Sacajawea For me, it's'unportant bemuse we ha i d swin the other is a stand of thick trees. new street light. Junior High. Neighbors filled s x dump trucks tu°g pools and pbty 6eli for the older kids " sh "It's beautiful,' Parker said. "I think a lot of with branches and old tire and lanteet about 4 sand. v l o( the things (for younger w e r o wen The p i s a partnership between the sty P mov whc the toys got rotten for and were people don't even know it's back here." and the group requesting the improvement, said bushes, said committee mem Cra g Lenhar t re never re laced. There's no Last Fr day and Saturday, Parker and fellow Ed Swan. t city ,s neighborhood development Just having this program available table is a real P t8 preschoF ne ghbors cleared brush at the p in an effort age kids" specialist. incentive for neighbors [o put it on the list of f -Ci�wr i P a � ;.s, 11;6. 4 4 - . 15°''.°1--- he ci ty Federal Y1F+Y prov up to 525 t t, 4ec$!64f bu and communrty groups tor tmpt av the qual ' < the , r>efghborhood or for the comrtw as a'wfiole ' u mutt r their request in v olunteee b ot trrkind gifts otra POsp usesof the.mi include tnuals bus `s pr+sr ,P� pe' W ent and sprang deanpp t` 0, w teel ,. r -. 'must provid a publld benefit occur on a pu blic ro ,,C47,.. nghtof.way, h area" bors be abte W be c • li r a yea r cud e m p hasi ze nei orh } Projects $ an gxfstyhg or are for t(e�maintenance of (iro tis1(fiind by the'progtam are not el'tgtblt , '..**-19- t made to i viduals,,sing n sse's,`institu ' , 1 o u s %ugin iunons, g ove rnme nt age o r political ' .° Y „ Egrtr re information, canne spedal- Ed Sven at 661-401J" GREAT PARKS /GREAT CITIES FORUM October 26, 1998 Urban Parks Institute (Forum Sponsor) 1. Its objective is to create parks through its Project for Public Spaces program and to educate community leaders about the role of parks in civic life. 2. Its activities include regional workshops (Seattle's is the largest to date with 23 regional cities represented), hold an annual conference, promote success stories, work with communities to create success stories with parks, develop research and publications, and operate an up -to -date Web site called Urban Parks Online. 3. A guideline is WHERE THERE IS NO VISION THE PEOPLE PERISH ". To that end, parks are to be promoted as Community places with four distinct characteristics: SOCIABILITY: Cooperative, Neighborly, Friendly, Diverse. USES AND ACTIVITIES: Vital, Fun, Challenging, Celebratory, Variety. ACCESS AND LINKAGE; Welcoming, Legible, Connected. COMFORT AND IMAGE; Character, Safe, Clean, Historic, Sun and Shade, Usable, Multi- dimensional, Attractive Three - Person Panel: New Directions for Urban Parks 1. Diantha Schull, Executive.Director, Libraries for the Future Libraries are catalysts for community development. They can be an anchor for the city as a meeting place and as a symbol of an impartial location for organizing community projects. A library is a collective site that share many of the same • characteristics as parks (See 3, above). 2. Jim, Diers, Director, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods A Department mixes various city functions on a local level. It coordinates neighborhood preservation and development. It helps improve service delivery by the city on a neighborhood basis. It fosters community empowerment by pinpointing resources to be tapped so people can become involved. Seattle's Neighborhood Matching Fund meets the locals halfway. The sweat equity, donated goods and services, and professional skills are matched with city money. Seattle does about 250 projects a year. To date $3,000,000 has be allocated for this purpose, with the budget rising to $4,500,000 in the near future. Some of the Seattle Neighborhood Projects include: a) Planting 1,500 trees in 45 neighborhoods. Ballard did 1,200 in one day. b) Street -End Development: berms & a statue, seating area and a sculpture,terrace part c) Troll @ Fremont d) Martin Luther King Memorial. e) Murals f) Pea Patches with a gathering /meeting area in it. g) Transforming an asphalt parking area into a place of raised planter boxes faced with mosaics. h) Landscaping around a park. i) Plant box areas near schools. j) Re- forested a three acre ravine of open space. k) Renovated a park shelter house. • 1) Built a playground. m) Re- created a wetland. GREAT PARKS /GREAT CITIES FORUM OCTOBER 26, 1998 PAGE TWO 3. Chris Walker, Senior Research Associate, Urban Institute The Urban Institute is an organization funded by Lila Wallace and the Reader's Digest. Its purpose is to develop and foster partnerships around the country that will create new parks and improve existing ones, It funds acquisition, capital improvements, programming and maintenance needs. Its policy context is working with people AND places,systems that work,collaboration and partnership, in a way to solve problems WITH the community. The Institute's definition of partnership is: An agreement among multiple parties to share assets, risk, influence, money and time to pursue joint goals. There must be assets at risk, expected returns and enforceable commitment. In most projects, there are General Partners and Limited partners. The general partners are in for the long term and are principally the Parks and Recreation Department, its staff and volunteers, and non- profit organizations. The limited, or short -term, partners are the special interest groups with a narrow focus or an individual agenda. These entities include recreationists, environmentalists, historic interest people, the arts and culture crowd, organized community groups, and community development- minded citizens. The Partnership Framework has several elements: Structure - -- general or limited partners, or a mix. Control who does the management and decision making? Assets and Both are brought by all participants and include finances, organizational Liabilities personnel and skills, public image. and constituency. Risks The type each partner is willing to take. Risk can be measured in several ways: • Capacity: Can the partner perform as promised & consistently? Commitment: Is participation sporadic or even totally absent after agreement made? Strategy: Do the activities created make sense? Return on Effort: Doesn't work or advance parties towards the goal? Culture: Can parties communicate across both private and public audiences? Common Langauage: Are all partners using the same terms and definitions? Partnerships should be created in a logical sequence:Predevelopment,Design, Implementation, Management. Cooperation Requires a strategy: a) Confront poor performance, clarify responsibilities and reconcile. b) Raise the stakes and increase rewards. c) Change the number of partners as needed. d) Lengthen time horizons if necessary. e) Make sure the contributions and payoffs are public, with results clear to everyone. After lunch, seated at a table with commissioners from other cities's parks boards, several of us walked to the top of the water tower for the views of Seattle and to look at the historical plaques (same enamel maker who did the Dumas Bay Centre signs) that traced the history of Seattle parks and the Olmstead Brothers firm's participation. Before and after lunch were discussions of mini case studies that were in small groups. The four cases discussed are shown below, along with my notes taken during the discussion. • GREAT PARKS /GREAT CITIES FORUM OCTOBER 26, 1998 PAGE THREE NEW PARTNERSHIPS FOR PARKS 41 Case -let 3: Schools, Schools, Everywhere! While campaigning for re- election, you are deluged by complaints from sports organizations that there are not a sufficient number of playable practice and game fields to respond to the accelerating demand. These sports organizations are requesting that existing developed and undeveloped park sites be changed to respond to this urgent need. At the same time, your Parks Department has demonstrated quite conclusively that the inventory of existing fields in parks along with upgraded school fields would be adequate to meet both the current and projected demand. However, the School District has little interest in making improvements to their fields or upgrading their maintenance levels so that their fields can be used by community teams, because it feels it has to focus solely on meeting the needs of its students. How can you represent the best interests of your constituents and the park system? This one was submitted by Bellevue. I commented that Federal Way seems to have some of the same attitude problems, as far as school district participation in field upgrades or maintenance. I suggested that what Federal Way had done could be used in Bellevue: Saghalie, CPAC, Lake Grove, Mark Twain (with CDBG) and volunteers. In j Seattle, there was a sufficiently mobilized constituency of sports and education people to add monies onto bond elections for field improvements at schools. Consensus was that getting money for maintenance from non - profits was less likely than contributions for capital equipment funding. Schools need to be reminded that their public and the parks /recreation public is the same audince...local citizenry. Parks provide a service to schools and that should be recognized. Interlocal agreements, user fees seen as necessary. So are mitigation fees for parks. 0 The Comprehensive Plan should be an ACTION PLAN FOR COOPERATION AMONG ALL ENTITIES IN THE CITY. Case -let 2: Controlling Development Six years ago, the old shipping town of Salty, Oregon held a very successful community visioning meeting, and public access to and along the waterfront was stressed as a very high priority in the city. City staff went to work and found funding to prepare a vision plan for the entire waterfront and to implement the first phase of the project. However, one small but important link was not attainable — an old shipyard whose owners still believe in your city's former, ocean-going past. After losing the battle over acquiring the land, the city's effort stalled. Today the land uses in the area have started to change to light industrial, hotels, condos and restaurants. As the mayor of this community, you need to take the lead in reinvigorating the community process so that waterfront development happens in an attractive way that encourages positive use and public access. What are the most important steps you would take in the remaining one year of your term tc - achieve visible results and a lasting legacy? This was submitted by Vancouver, Washington, The site is the old Kaiser shipyards. The group felt the area along the waterfront should be designed for public use, at no charge, with a "hold harmless" agreement with the property owner. Maritime history should be featured in area exhibits, as well as a way of showing the working landscape of current business, Get other property owners nearby to join in to promote the economic contribution of their businesses to the community. • GREAT PARKS /Great Cities OCTOBER 26, 1998 PAGE FOUR New Park Models -- Design and Process Case -let 10: Whose Park Is It Anyway? • Your nonprofit has just led a two -year community planning/visioning process for a local park, and is dependent on the parks department to implement what has become an original, community- inspired plan. Unless bond money is approved, the department will commit little staff time to planning Snake River Park. You fear the result will be a park developed "off the rack," with little attention to creating the unique park experience you think your planning process suggests. Parks department staff you have worked with in the past have not treated your park proposals seriously, feeling that your group does not have the expertise to make basic decisions about the placement of facilities and paths, parking, lighting, and many other considerations that affect future maintenance and safety. They also think the plan's proposed adventure playground and drumming circle are "flaky" ideas. How do you convince the Parks Department to be more creative? The most obvious omission is the lack of Park Department participation throughout the two year "planning /vissioning" process. An understanding of how parks fit into the entire city budget is needed. Elected officials have to have accountability. There needs to be flexibility and mutual respect among all parties. Attempts at communication have to be realistic. Goals and process have to be defined so that all participants agree on them. There has to be a common ground of building, operating and maintaining the property. By fostering community ownership in a project, there will be commitment and accomplishment. The city and its citizens have to mobilize their resources, collaborate and work across and with all departments within the city. Case -let 9: Frederick Law Who? You are a landscape architect working for the city and have been involved in a year -long community design process. After all the community's ideas have been put on paper, your senior colleague has produced a plan that feel will create a dysfunctional park. You think she has separated uses into a disconnected jumble of recreational facilities, such as ballfields, pools and a rec center, each meant to serve the needs of specific users — but with no overall vision or design to tie it together and make it a true community place. Meanwhile, the community has reviewed it and approved it. Of course, they've never heard of Frederick Law Olmsted, and cannot envision anything beyond this typical park setup. This scenario is nothing new and no one in your parks department thinks there's anything wrong as long as the plan has gone through the proper public process and meets safety guidelines. But, you have grown tired of seeing parks developed as narrow recreation facilities. Hidden opportunities need to be shown. Partnership is essential. What are the alternatives? None were presented in the mini -case. More outreach is needed, beyond the vested interests. The silent majority is a latent community of participants. There appears to be no system for evaluation of an overview for the project. Has the neighborhood impact been evaluated? It's necessary to communicate to the public at large what can be accommodated at the site. What is a realistic use? People have to be educated about what the impact of a fully operational site will be. Suggestions on getting the broadest public input were: questionnaires to capture the character of the community, as well as its preferences of ingredients and choice of end results....put park design on the Web /Internet and solicit comments. . .public meetings with presentations by staff and designers. NO r • PIE (r 64N E?/ T i i t. /rLL V &z I T »r411 ReRogrs Cokfr o7'Prie L oC ,4L la T r- -ca gieN7S '' fi4 c4 Do () E \Tt v,v) ..cCtilqo PER .1" ol./W - eC/4 D reA4 co 61- Great Parks /Great Cities: Providence. Rhode Island Li /o Wallace- Reader's Digest Urban Parks Institute / Project for Public Spaces. Inc. (4) f^T, x � yam ..... Leon Younger General Partner, Leon Younger and PROS Rebuilding The Indianapolis Parks System Leon Younger is the General Partner of Leon Younger and PROS, a management consult- ing company which specializes in sports, recreation and park organizations. He has pre- sented revenue enhancement and training workshops across the United States, and internationally. Previously, he was the Director of Parks and Recreation in Indianapolis, Indiana; Executive Director of Lake Metroparks in Lake County, Ohio; and Director of Parks and Recreation in Jackson County, Missouri. In 1992, when I was hired to run the Indianapolis park system, it had been in a downward spiral for about 10 years. In fact, the local newspaper had ranked all the city departments in terms of meeting citizens' needs, and the Parks Department was rated second to last. Part of that decline was due to budget cuts; the parks depart- ment work force had shrunk from 800 employees to about 350 over ten years. However, in the process of cutting back park services, Indianapolis had lost its whole sense of the value that great parks can have for a city. If we raised the money Soon after I arrived, the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce did a study we would have a chance on the park system that concluded it needed $100 million in capital to meet the goals improvements. Mayor Steve Goldsmith challenged us to create half that amount — $54 million — in three years, with no additional tax money. We had to either earn it, or get people to invest in us. If we raised the money, we would have a chance to meet the goals outlined in the report in regards to infra- • structure repairs. 34 To meet the challenge, we knew we needed to develop a different kind of fiscal strategy, one that tapped into the abundant resources -not necessarily financial resources -of the neighbors living around the parks, as well as the entire communi- ty of Indianapolis. To do that, we initiated a strategic planning process, which helped us identify four types of opportunities- partnerships, efficiency, privatization, and earned income. Partnerships - a . i In Indianapolis, nobody had looked at the potential of partner- �` `�� n _.� ships as part of an overall fiscal strategy for a long time. The . ' rv-. a AME CH(1RCN P P gY g �� � �� r o , Rte; �� Parks Department had about 200 partners but they were "rela - -,; tionship" partners only meaning that we were funding many of t their activities. Measuring the value of contributions by partners ,x". is very important. We wanted partners who would contribute ` dollars or services to parks and programs in a more equitable manner. One of the first things we did was sit down with the key leaders in our many neigh- borhoods, and ask them: "What could this park do for you ?What problem could this park solve ?" Once they thought about how a particular park could help their • neighborhood, they became interested in becoming the kind of partners we were interested in having. For example, we initiated partnerships with local churches that were willing and able to maintain several neighborhood parks near their church, in exchange for a small fee. This allowed us to dedicate union labor to the larger parks where their skills were needed more regularly and used more efficiently. Neighborhood partnership projects can start small, for example with spring and fall cleanups of a park. In Indianapolis, one strategy we used was to simply set baseline standards for maintenance, and then inform the neighborhood groups that if they wanted to exceed this baseline standard, they could go out and raise the money and get a higher level of service and site amenities. Many good partnership opportunities grew up around our greenways, which were in an advanced state of neglect. For example, we built partnerships with associa- tions and school districts who could help us build links to the greenways from area institutions. Schools and parks had never been planned together as complimenta- ry facilities, so we began to share investments. This strategy proved successful because we both benefited from the relationship. 35 • Efficiency Another important part of our strategy was to evaluate what our core and non - core services were, in order to be able to make decisions about where to focus our money and activities.We developed a model that ascertained what our costs were for supporting the activities at all of our facilities, and called this an "activity -based costing model:' In looking at what our services were costing us, we had to ask our- selves: should we really be providing this activity, and how much should it They were only using the cost us to do it? We recognized that we needed a strategy to be able to shallow end of the pool determine how we could develop a balance between providing what we with their families. thought was important with what we could afford. We measured what the actual cost for us was, for example, if somebody used a swimming pool, or one of our recreation centers. And we found out we were spending much more than we thought. For example, we discovered that one local swimming pool was operating at a cost of $44 per person /per visit. Part of the problem was that these pools were designed for competitive swimming. Most of them were large and deep. However, 80% of the pool users were not using the pools for this purpose. They were only using the shallow end of the pool with their 11) families. So we converted many of our competitive facilities into shallow, zero- depth pools, which we then called "family aquatic centers." Facilities should be changed to reflect how people use them. Rigorous tracking of program and facility capacity will help you understand where your efforts need to be concentrated, in order to bring the use and facilities provided in line. This data can also help form an argument to eliminate a program that has become institu- tionalized and eats up money because it is not well attended and is at the end of its lifecycle. Privatization After we conducted our "activity -based costing model;' we began to look at what elements of our services were being repeated, and what we were providing that „ w; somebody else could do more efficiently. _ __� : The result: we competed and out - sourced I 1 -_ _ z-t"-4 l _a I9 functions within our system, which : ,, - - ; M -- helped us maintain our budget, and brought new dollars into our system that we used to enhance our facilities and pro- 3 6 grams. For example, we out - sourced the management of golf, and required each • contractor to put in a certain amount of capital improvements. This resulted in a full rehabilitation of all of our golf courses and programs within two years. Earned Income We also did a revenue plan where we evaluateds all of our available resources. We found that we pricing many of our services for the 20% who could not pay instead of for the 80% who t could. Instead, we began to price our services according to the benefit received. The idea is that if a person goes to a park and is able to reserve a Li t „ , . picnic shelter for their personal use or for the use �► of their church group, they have retained a bene- fit that is not available to everyone else. Our _._.... _ thought was that they should pay for this kind of benefit. Benefit -based pricing became our method to determine price and we changed our pricing policy to reflect this thinking. However, we also realized that there were certain subsidies that people needed and so we priced our services in conjunction with a subsidy strategy for each program area that included a different subsidy level for seniors, people with disabilities, adults, youth, day camps, disadvan- taged youth and adults. Overall, we knew that we were charging much less for our activities in terms of what people would pay, and so we raised our prices based on benefits, but we also established a sliding scale, through business and individual spon- sorships, for people who couldn't pay for our services. The real challenge was to bring our programs up to a high standard and communi- cate our enthusiasm to the people. People love to help. However, you need to cre- ate the mechanisms to allow them to invest in the park system. The challenge is to find people who have vision and who also know how to solve problems. By 1995, the park system was no longer ranked at the bottom of all city depart- ments; it was now ranked number 2, right below the fire department, and had been a finalist in the NRPA Gold Medal Award program. We made that leap by devel- oping successful partnerships and by developing a fiscal strategy that tried to use all the resources already available to us in the community more effectively. We made that leap by developing successful partnerships and by developing a fiscal strategy that tried to use all the resources already available to us in the community more effectively. 37 • Lila Wallace- Reader's Digest URBAN PARKS • TNST ITUTE Local Churches Pitch In to Spring 1997 Maintain Indianapolis Parks Indianapolis, Indiana The Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Department has established a unique partnership with local churches for park maintenance. The partnerships have reconnected communities to their parks, provided an opportunity for churches to make money, saved the city in maintenance costs, and allowed the parks department to spend more money on capital equipment. Project Background: In 1995, the Indianapolis Parks Department (INDY Parks) initiated an entrepreneurial program to decentralize maintenance of small neighborhood parks through partnerships with local churches. Both churches and parks have traditionally played key roles in anchoring their communities, and it was felt that churches could be an asset in fostering a sense of neighborhood responsibility for the city's deteriorating parks. INDY Parks reached out to local churches when it realized that maintaining small neighborhood parks of five acres or smaller, especially "tot- lots," was no longer economical • for the department. This was primarily due to the investment the department had made in large maintenance equipment, most of which could not be used in small parks. Together, the department and the church ministries devised a three pronged strategy. The first strategy was to create an "urban park ministry," which would make ministers the local managers of park upkeep. The second stressed the opportunity the church would have to involve youth and the homeless in the program, two groups with whom the churches were already working. The third strategy was to allow churches to become more involved in decision - making over the future of their local parks, including programming and equipment needs. According to Joseph Wynns, Assistant Director of INDY Parks, the program "was not just a maintenance program, but a way to transfer power to the local people. The idea was to increase accountability and ownership over the parks, and couple that with resources." Funding: The city puts up $60,000 a year for the partnership program and sends out requests for bids to all the churches in the city outlining the scope of services required. Each contract is for general maintenance and grass mowing. The contract includes baseline standards for turf care, litter, surfaces, benches, and shelters. The city and the union review all applications to determine if the applicant can conduct the maintenance on par with the union's maintenance contract with the city. The city maintains liability for the program, but insists the churches provide workmen's compensation. tOry qy • x, The city pays the churches individual grants based on the church's scope of work, the size of the park, and the number of parks they service. Grants range from $500 to $5,000 per year and are administered on a monthly basis. The grants do not cover any new equipment costs or the salaries of existing church maintenance personnel. Churches that maintain their own property were the ideal candidates for the program, since they have already made investments in equipment and maintenance personnel. Some parks had as many as six churches submitting bids. Impacts: The program has saved the city money on mowing equipment, fuel, gasoline, the hauling and disposal of clippings and trash, and union scale wages and benefits. Since the program is fairly new, exact cost saving figures are not available. However, according to Joseph Wynns, both smaller and larger parks are now in considerably better shape. Youth outreach programs in local parks have increased. The churches often expect youths or others involved in church programs to put in time maintaining the parks. For example, the Shepherd Community Church runs a mission and expects each patron to bring in one bag of trash from the park in exchange for a meal. The Shepherd Church has also used the program as an entrepreneurial opportunity: they submitted and won a maintenance and mowing contract for many of the bank properties in their neighborhood. The church has generated enough revenue from these programs to start a summer day -camp in their park. Other churches may contract the work out to neighborhood people. Besides money, the churches are given substantial authority over the parks including program planning, site supervision and use of fee services (like pools) at no charge. The success of the program and the savings incurred by the parks department has encouraged the city to make capital improvements in almost every park in the program (so far 23 of the city's 80 local parks are involved). Many have new playground equipment, walks, and pavement as a direct result of the initiative. The local union, which voluntarily forfeited their contract to maintain some of the small parks, has supported the initiative and has been involved in shaping the contracts and reviewing the bids every year. Since the city has not reduced the size of its unionized maintenance force, there are more workers to look after the larger parks that have not been bid out to the churches. Lessons Learned: The city maintains that the success of the program is due in part to the willingness of the parks department to give up control over the parks but maintain a close eye on them through a partnership. Wynns noted that the city carefully monitors the equipment used by the churches, and has been known to cancel contracts due to inappropriate or inadequate equipment. The city also makes sure that the churches understand that there is a baseline standard that has to be met for maintenance of the parks, and holds training sessions to demonstrate various problems and solutions in park maintenance (for example, the churches are alerted to the problem of bees in summertime garbage cans.) The city also stresses the importance of hiring and keeping one worker per task. Contact for further information: Joseph L.B. Wynns, assistant director, INDY Parks, (317) 327 -7050 •