ROSWELL RECREATION DEPARTMENT

Year End Report -1998

INTRODUCTION

This year end report for 1998 shows continual improvement in the services and programming that is being provided for the general Roswell public by the Roswell Recreation Department. It also shows some areas that continue to need improvement. Our overall costs to provide this program to the general public will compare with most other nationwide departments very favorably. Our professional staff are some of the best in the nation. They work under changing and diverse situations almost every day and do an excellent job in providing for the general public’s needs.

Roswell can be proud of her Recreation Department!

I. ROSWELL RECREATION PROVIDED BENEFITS TO THE ROSWELL COMMUNITY
  1. BRIEF SUMMARY NARRATIVE OF DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES
  1. RECREATION DEPARTMENT
    2.

1. Annual Numbers

Cost/Participant - $19.50/Participant - $2.64/Participation

  1. RECREATION ADMINISTRATION

    2. MISSION: Recreation Administration will strive to assist the Departmental Divisions in administration and planning while cooperatively and effectively striving to meet both current and future needs of the community to enhance their quality of life.

  2. The Recreation Department Administrative services share office space with the Parks Department Administrative services in the Parks and Recreation Offices, 1101 W. 4th, at Cahoon Park. Office space is provided for Kim Elliott, CLP, Recreation Director; Heidi C. Sims, CLP, Recreation Superintendent; Laurie Jerge, CLP, Recreation Program Analyst; and Joe Vargas, CLA, Recreation Supervisor for Sports and Special Events. The Recreation Administration Office does not have any clerical workers on staff. The Park Department loans clerical help, as needed. Sometimes, this can be awkward in getting work completed on time.

    The office location is ideally suited in Cahoon Park next to the Cahoon Swimming Pool and the Spring River Parkway. The park setting with offices next to major components of the Department, makes it ideal for the general public to have access to the Department, and continues to aid in public recognition of not only the Recreation Department but also the Park Department with whom we share office space. Many events occur in Cahoon Park and the office and meeting space is utilized as an operations center throughout the year.

    Planning and project coordination is done out of our office. During 1998 planning for a new skateboard park was completed. The location for this site is near the Unity Center in Cielo Grande Recreation Area. Sites Southwest from Albuquerque is doing the design. They worked with the youth on the design. If all the needed funds for an initial 5,000 square feet of skating area in Phase I can be located, the park site should be built by summer of 1999.

    Goals for 1999:

    Recreation Administration will:

    1. Maintain positive communication within the Department.

    2. Provide direction for the various Recreation Department Divisions.

    3. Set and meet deadlines within the Department.

    4. Develop a staff handbook.

  3. PUBLIC RELATIONS, STAFF TRAINING, MARKETING AND PROGRAM EVALUATION

Goals for 1999:

      1. will continue to work toward providing creative and innovative programming ideas to the Special Programs, Yucca Recreation Center, Roswell Adult Center and Cahoon Pool Supervisors.
      2. Will continue to work toward improving a staff training program for the Recreation Department.
      3. Will continue to work towards the completion of the self-assessment with other key staff.
      4. Will continue to survey and tabulate results with planning recommendations for the future.
      5. Will continue to promote Roswell Recreation, NMRPA and NRPA within the Roswell Recreation system to staff, volunteers and the general public.
      6. Will continue to develop a marketing plan for the Department.

The Special Programs Division will:

      1. Continue to expand family oriented events that provide new, exciting, entertainment and activities for a reasonable, affordable fee, and in a safe and inviting environment.
      2. Continue to develop those programs that will encourage participation by teens in the community.
      1. Provide a safe environment for patrons.
      2. Provide for an enjoyable experience by the patrons.
      3. Increase the number of classes offered by pool staff.
      4. Plan at least one (1) special event/activity for each two (2) week period the pool is open.

  

  1. ROSWELL ADULT CENTER

Staff at the RAC are Diane Holdson, CLA, Recreation Supervisor, who has been absent a lot the second half of the year due to illness, Shelia McKnight, CLA, Recreation Leader II, and Lynda Patton, Clerical Aide along with the Custodial Worker II, Nancy Kilgore. Our former Custodial Worker II, Mr. James Belt, retired during the year. Most of the programs and events at the RAC are planned with the help of volunteers. Our staff works mainly as facilitators and does an excellent job of working with volunteers and participants to make sure programs meet the needs of the community.

The Lifelong Scholar program, Senior Olympic program, Armchair Travelers program, Christmas Gift Fair and other programs continue to be very popular at the RAC.

The Baby Boomer market needs to be tapped by the RAC and planning continues to determine how this can be done. Another concern is that it appears to be more difficult to locate qualified instructors for the various classes being offered.

We surveyed those participants of the RAC who are on the ‘Courier’ mailing list. The survey showed a very high degree of satisfaction with the staff and programs. The survey also mentioned friction that exists between staff, the RAC Foundation, and some volunteers. Though not many listed these areas as problems, we are looking into the possibility that we can improve in these areas.

A $350,000 grant has been requested from the New Mexico State Agency on Aging to provide for a needed new addition to the RAC. We were informed that this request rated very high as a need but would not be requested from the State Legislature this year because no requests were being made from the State Agency on Aging for new construction or building additions. However, they indicated that if one of the state representatives would carry a bill through, it had a very good opportunity to pass. The City Council placed a limit of $300,000 on each departmental request, so this project was not submitted from the City. This request follows the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan recommendations.

More effort may need to be put into the area of marketing to the younger adult. An effort was made to work with Yucca Recreation Center to have a joint registration of programs. Some young adult classes are being held at Yucca Recreation Center. This has worked out very well so far and we plan to continue this joint effort between our centers.

      1. Continue offering quality classes for mental and physical well being of the participating adults.
      2. Continue to plan for the addition to the present structure to accommodate additional classes and activities.
      3. Encourage socialization of adults by enhancing group activities such as playing bridge, dominos, pool and card games in the evenings.
      4. Continue to make people aware that the Roswell Adult Center is not a senior center but a center for adults.

Yucca Recreation Center, 500 S. Richardson, is the old Roswell High School facility that was given to the City of Roswell to be used by the Recreation Department in 1975. Gladie Guzman, CLP, is the Recreation Supervisor with Shirley Williams, CLA, Recreation Leader II as the assistant. Lisa Schanck and Sara Hall fill the Recreation Leader I position. The current team seems to work well together. A need exists for a PT or FT Clerical Worker to do the paperwork.

An estimated 9,350 different individuals participated @ 106,196 times in programs offered by Yucca. This includes those programs not held at the Center. Some of these programs are Youth Basketball, Aerobics, Adult Volleyball, Vacation Fun Programs, Easter Egg Hunt, Fall Festival, Tae Kwon Do, Kite Festival, Youth Dances, and others.

Physical Education for Homeschoolers continues to be very successful. The Summer Vacation Fun Program increased in participation over last year and Roswell Folklorico continues to be well attended. Aerobics with Floyd Bell is doing very well. Real American Karate rented space at the Center and has helped the overall attendance at the Center.

The Wrestling program was dropped during the year because the instructor moved to Albuquerque. The Fall Volleyball program was not successful but plans have already been made to make changes in the program to again make it a successful program.

Maintaining an old facility continues to be a challenge. Three times during the summer, squirrels caused power outages at the center requiring repair work to our cooling system and sending the Fire Department to the building once. Work that still needs to be completed is the north and south locker room renovation and the replacement of the rest of the outside windows to the building that has not already been replaced with KalWal.

The Youth Basketball Program held at Yucca for games and most schools for practices is very successful. Having the 6-7 year olds play before Christmas really helps the overall program to have more space, especially during the season after Christmas for the older youth.

Cost per participant at Yucca is @$31.81 with a cost of each participation only @$2.80.

The RISD, TDTC, GED and ESL programs along with a variety of classes and civic organizations utilize the Center.

The Concession area, even though it appears to be doing well, can still be improved. Consistency is important.

      1. Utilize rooms and equipment for educational classes that enable individuals to pursue areas of interest and increase their skills and knowledge through participation in programs offered.
      2. Offer a structured recreational after-school and vacation fun program for children, ages 5-15 that is affordable, accessible and varied to provide age-appropriate activities that promote development in physical, mental and social areas.
      3. Provide a yearly basketball program for children ages 6-13 that allows for sports participation and education in the game for all enrolled, regardless of skill level, previous experience or physical abilities.
      4. Provide an annual Easter Egg Hunt for all children, ages birth to 10 years, that serves as a family-oriented, holiday activity that is supported through community donations and volunteer efforts.
      5. Conduct periodic, low-cost, recreational/educational activities at schools and other locations that provide exposure to constructive leisure time choices throughout life.
      6. Provide inter-agency communications within the community to help support the network of services available to the public.

 

III. AREAS RELATED TO THE DEPARTMENT’S OPERATION

  1. THE ROSWELL TENNIS ASSOCIATION

Goal for 1999:

      1. The Roswell Recreation Department will work more closely with the Roswell Tennis Association and the Department’s tennis contractors to improve tennis in the community.

 

  1. AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Goal for 1999:

The Roswell Recreation Department will

    1. Strive to give recognition to staff, programs and volunteers throughout the year.

C. TRAVEL AND TRAINING
      1. Recreation staff attended a shortened NRPA Annual Congress in Miami, FL. We were scheduled to attend the Congress and receive two national Kudos awards but Hurricane Georges caused staff to turn around and return because of the cancellation of the Congress.
      2. The NMRPA State Conference was held in Taos, NM and was only a one day meeting because the Southwest Regional Leadership and Training Institute was held in Las Cruces, NM. The Director was a main presenter during the day on the Benefits of Parks and Recreation.
      3. "Show Me The Money" and "Making the Most of It", a one day workshop, was offered by NMRPA in Roswell, NM.
      4. The NRPA Southwest Regional Leadership and Training Institute was held in Las Cruces, NM.
      5. Various other professional training opportunities were realized, as the budget allowed.
      1. The Department will continue to stay in the main line of communication with other leisure professionals in the State, SW Region and Nation.

  

E. PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS HELD BY DEPARTMENTAL STAFF

      1. The Department will promote professionalism within the Department and in all our dealings with the general public.

 

  1. SELF ASSESSMENT OF NATIONAL STANDARDS

Goal for 1999:

  1. DID WE ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION?

 A. In general, the mission of the Recreation Department was accomplished during 1998. It is felt that the Department did very well with the money allocated. We continue to train staff to meet the needs of the public, plan activities that are needed in the community, and, work cooperatively with many organizations to provide needed leisure services. We continue to have room to improve!

B. We are still not meeting the community’s needs in the aquatic area when it comes to families. Cahoon Pool is a baby sitting facility and will not change, even if renovated. A new outdoor Family Aquatic Center is the solution for this problem.

C. There continues to be a need for modernization of our leisure facilities. Even though we may currently be providing adequate facilities, we could be doing a better job of meeting the needs of the Roswell community. The RAC, Yucca Recreation Center, and Recreation Administrative Offices all need to be updated and modernized. A new outdoor Family Aquatic Center is still needed to replace the old Cahoon Park Swimming Pool facility. Tennis courts continue to need renovation. Cahoon Park along with other parks need renovation. The modernization of these facilities and the development of new are important as we begin a new century.

VI. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE

A. We need to continue to press for the needs of the Department in reference to modernization of leisure facilities. This will also benefit the community and will encourage business to locate in the community. We need to continue to press for a new Recreation addition to the Parks and Recreation Administrative Offices in Cahoon Park, a new addition at the Roswell Adult Center for needed space, and continued renovation of Yucca Recreation Center to see the original project to completion. Also, we will need to press for the development of the Family Aquatic Center at Cielo Grande Recreation Area since the Cahoon Swimming Pool does not meet the needs of the community and renovation will not solve the major needs we currently have at the site. The further development of the other aspects of Cielo Grande Recreation Area should be a priority for new facilities.

B. There is a need to continue a strategy of surveying the general community to gather information to help us in planning our programs. We may need to focus on specific areas as determined by past surveys.

C. It will be beneficial to expand the band program and start a drama program in the community. Little seems to be done in these areas, especially with the youth. However, budget is a key in this area.

D. Concerning the operation of the Department, we need to continue assessing and comparing our current operation with the national standards developed by CAPRA. As we determine our deficiencies, we will try and correct them in an effort to have a better department. This may eventually lead to national accreditation of the Department.

E. Last year we mentioned the need to develop a marketing plan and a written security plan for the Department. This is still important, but it has taken a back seat to what some would deem to be more of a priority. Both of these areas, a marketing plan and security plan, are seen as very important for the future.

F. Tennis in Roswell is growing. The Department will need to watch what happens very closely in the community to make sure we are meeting the communities needs in this area.

G. New activities and events should always be considered for inclusion in all aspects of our programming making sure that the budget will allow us to plan and develop these ideas

H. The Department has done fairly well getting organizations to honor and recognize our supporters who have contributed much to leisure in Roswell. We should continue this effort, even though it is time consuming. It is good for the community and the Department.

I. Staff training remains as one of our goals and is extremely important to the quality of the services that we provide. We will continue to provide training opportunities for staff and send staff to professional training, as the budget will allow.

J. The Department does not have secretarial staff on payroll with the exception of a clerical aide at the Roswell Adult Center. The Administrative staff is not in as dire a need for secretarial personnel as long as we can share with the Park Department. However, Yucca Recreation Center relies on all recreation staff to do secretarial and reception duties. This poses some problems, especially in dealing with the public. The addition of a clerical worker at Yucca Recreation Center should be looked at very closely to aid in the efficiency of the operation. It is also important, at some time in the future, to look at removing the clerical work assumed by the Recreation Superintendent in areas of finance and personnel so more time can be devoted to the day to day operation of the Department. It may also aid in improving our communication between certain offices at City Hall.

K. Looking at the possibility of raising fees should continue to be considered, since the general public felt that we should charge more for our services in a survey completed in 1997.

M. It is important to plan for the future. Even though we may be providing adequate programs and services in our current facilities, it is very easy to get behind and then have to play catch up. If this happens, the cost to provide needed services and facilities will increase more than our ability to provide.

N. The Recreation Department needs to link facilities possibly with an intranet application and specifically with our registration software. The RecWare software is ideally suited for our situation. The need is to purchase the multi-site software application so we can begin to be more efficient in our operation and to track our users better. Along the same lines, we need to better develop the world wide web space provided to us for our use. We are not taking advantage like we should of the available technology.

The Recreation Department does a good job with what we are given to work with in the community. We have good staff and a great community for which to work. If we can keep our eyes on the future we will continue to move forward to meeting the needs of the community.