Parks Department Annual Report 2017

Transcription

1 Parks Department Annual Report 2017

2 Parks Department Staff The Parks Department team consists of a small group of qualified and skilled individuals. The ISA certified arborist and municipal specialist provides tree care and maintenance. There is a parks foreman, building maintenance technician, plant health care specialist, and sports field/turf care maintenance, landscape and irrigation specialist. Together they maintain all park facilities in cooperation with other City Departments. - Del Barton, Parks Superintendent / City Arborist - Tim Miller, Parks Maintenance Foreman - Nancy Knight, Parks Maintenance Worker III - Tom Linville, Parks Maintenance Worker III - Gary Phister, Parks Maintenance Worker III - Jim Vanek, Parks Maintenance Worker I - Dustin Borcher, Seasonal Parks Maintenance Worker - Jessica Homewood, Seasonal Parks Maintenance Worker - Tim Jordan, Seasonal Parks Maintenance Worker - Jake Magill, Seasonal Parks Maintenance Worker - Jarred Oliver, Seasonal Parks Maintenance Worker - Alyssa Picket, Seasonal Parks Maintenance Worker - Cody Wichman, Seasonal Parks Maintenance Worker City of Powell Parks There are 10 City Parks that cover more than 125 acres and provide a wide range of amenities. Open green spaces, picnic shelters, playgrounds, tennis courts, skateboard and in-line skate park, basketball courts, volleyball courts, a wading pool, horseshoe pitching courts, band shell and stage, 1.5 miles of paved walking/biking trail, soccer fields, landscaped flower beds and potted plants, arboretum, softball and baseball fields, radio-controlled off-road vehicle course, fishing pond, snow sledding hills, ice skating, a warming hut, concessions, 2.5 miles of landscaped canal banks, veteran s memorials, rest area, RV and tent camping, are all maintained by the Parks Department. Beartooth Park,.43 acres J.K. Grover Park,.77 acres Homesteader Park, acres Powell H.S. Veterans Memorial Park and Walkway, 1.25 acres Southside Park, 4.72 acres Veterans Park, 2.87 acres VFW Park,.88 acres Westside Park, 4.8 acres Whitlock Park,.91 acres Woods Park, 1.12 acres American Legion Baseball Field, 11.7 acres Ed Lynn Memorial Field Bob Kolb Softball Complex Bob Kolb Little League Fields Babe Ruth Baseball Complex Merle Johnson Field Additional areas maintained by the Parks Department; - East and West Coulter Ave. canal banks, grass, trees, litter, and holiday decorating - Chamber of Commerce landscape and holiday decorating - The Commons At Pond Park exterior, and interior table and chair setting - Rainwater Addition, 3.86 acres - City Hall landscape,.17 acres - East and west water tower enclosures and Vining electrical substation landscaping

3 Tree Advisory Board The Tree Advisory Board is comprised of dedicated, knowledgeable, and professional people with a genuine concern for the urban forest of Powell. We meet at City Hall on the third Wednesday of each month. This group reviews proposed plans and ideas to find ways to improve the quality of life in the community by wisely investing in the benefits that trees provide. We had one member resign and one new member join the board. Jim Vanek was hired by the Parks Department and his position on the board was filled by Scott Hicswa. Powell was designated as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation for the 27 th consecutive year on April 28th in conjunction with the Arbor Day Celebration held at The Commons. Powell also received designation for acquiring the Growth Award for the 3 rd consecutive year. This years Arbor Day event was held at The Commons. On the first day 5th Grade students attended three 15 minute session on tree planting, the benefits of trees, and weeds and pests. A member of the tree advisory board read the Arbor Day proclamation to 5 th grade students, who were then given Scotch pine and hackberry seedlings to plant. Over 1000 seedlings and transplants of various tree and shrub species were available to the general public free of charge on the second day of the 2-day event. A new sign with an RQ code was created and placed near the corner of Gilbert Street and Fourth Street in the Powell Arboretum. - Del Barton, City Arborist - Floyd Young, City Council - TJ Bell - Sandy Frost - Scott Hicswa - Kent Kienlen - Josh Pomeroy - Josh Shorb - Jeremiah Vardeman Tree City USA 2017 Forestry Program Information Community Population: 6,300 Tree Planting and Initial Care: $3,250 Tree Maintenance: $2,700 Tree Removals: $2,250 Administrative Management: $2,500 Utility Line Clearance: $30,000 Volunteer Time: $664 Other (stump grinding & recycling wood chips): $500 Total Community Forestry Expenditures: $50,363 Expenditures Per Capita: $7.99 Trees Planted: 13 Trees Pruned: 27 Trees Removed: 9 Tree City USA Award 27 consecutive years Tree City USA Growth Award 4 years ISA Rocky Mountain Region, Gold Leaf Award

4 Powell Urban Forestry Program - There were two articles written, published and posted on the City s website: Understanding and Identifying Tree Defects and Tree Watering these were added to a number of articles already available - 7 trees were cut and removed in the Downtown and 5 replanted area due to significant dieback - 10 trees required tree trimming in the Downtown area and City Parks due to overgrowth or dieback - A total of 302 ash trees in the Downton area and City Parks were treated with insecticide as a preventative management measure for Emerald Ash Borer. 22 trees at the Powell Golf Course were treated. - Over 400 gallons of insecticide were applied to public ash trees in keeping with the City of Powell Ash Tree Management and Canopy Replacement Plan - The Electrical Department has continued contracted electrical utility line clearance, trimming or removing tree limbs or trees in the easement, dedicating $30,000. Green Life Solutions was contracted for the work. - This past calendar year saw 40 tree requests sent to the City Arborist regarding tree evaluations - There were 13 letters sent out requesting property owners to trim or remove trees and shrubs in accordance with standards set forth by City Ordinance - The Tree City USA and Growth Award application has been submitted to the Wyoming State Forestry Division for review and approval, due each year by Dec The new Street Tree Maintenance Cost Share Program was initiated with more than 15 requests - Tree City Ordinances were revised to reflect the industry standard of risk versus hazard descriptions - The City of Powell received the Gold Leaf Award from the ISA Rocky Mountain Region, recognizing the outstanding Arbor Day program that the Parks Department and Tree Advisory Board organizes annually - The City Arborist has adopted the ISA Basic Tree Risk Assessment Form used to conduct tree evaluations - Community Tree Assessment was conducted and final report provided by Consultant Arborist Mike Garvey Training Attended The level and standard of care that Park Department employees provide are directly associated with the training, certification and continuing education that they receive. With safety of the utmost importance, frequent training on the use of equipment, development of skills and abilities is essential. Sharing information and networking with other public employees provides the opportunity to learn new ways of accomplishing tasks and reaching Department goals. Attendance at training outside the City allows for that interaction. - ISA Rocky Mountain Chapter annual conference, Loveland, CO, Sept Northern Rockies Mountain Tree School, Billings, MT, Sept Urban Soils and tree inventory webinars, Jan. 20, Feb. 17, and March 16. Live online training in the use of i-tree programs - Department tailgate safety sessions were held for all employees on; Adult and Child CPR and Chemical Use Record

5 Community Events The Parks Department actively participates in and provides support to community activities throughout the year. From Little League Baseball to Kinder Day to the Arbor Day Celebration, the programs supported by the Department are made successful by accomplishing assistance requests, providing picnic tables, athletic field preparation, setting up tables, chairs, bleachers, and decorations for the events. - Arbor Day Celebration, Parkside, Southside and Westside Elementary Schools & The Commons, April Kinder Day at the Parks, Street and Electrical Departments, May 18 - Movie In The Park, Washington Park, July 20 - Shakespeare In the Parks, Washington Park, August 21 - Wings and Wheels, Powell Airport, August Powell Arts Festival, Plaza Diane Community Center for the Arts, August Paint the Town Red, August 25, Plaza Diane - Homesteader Days, Homesteader Museum, Sept Sample the Seasons, downtown Powell, Nov Powell Country Christmas, November 30 Dec. 1 - Big Horn Basin Farmer s Market, Washington Park, May through October Park Special Events Touting excellent facilities that are located within the parks, it makes them ideal for special events and recreation programs. Working in conjunction with the Powell Recreation District, a large number of cultural and recreational activities are available. There is something for all age groups to participate in and enjoy. And the handicapped accessibility to nearly all facilities make them an ideal place to go. - Little League Baseball, June - August - Homesteader Off-Road R/C Track, 10 scheduled events, May through September - Powell Horseshoe Club Tournament, 2 nd weekend in June - Co-Ed Softball Tournament - Women s Softball League - Men s Softball League - Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Washington Park, April - Powell Aquatics Center, triathlon, April - Sugar Beet Classic 5K and 10K, September - PHS Class Reunion Softball Game, June - Powell Middle School Aquathon, October - Color Run 5K Race, August - Wyo Cysters PCOS Awareness 5K Walk, September - Snowball Softball Tournament, April - Wyoming Class D Women s and Co-ed Softball Tournament, July - Hometown Hitting for Heroes Softball Tournament, September

6 Park Hosted Events The Parks Department provides additional support by providing and caring for athletic fields, outdoor and indoor facilities used by the Powell Recreation District and other public and private organizations. - Fishing Derby in June, total number of participants = 175, number of fish caught = Day camp for children - Girls and boys soccer - Youth tackle Football - Youth flag football - Youth baseball - Youth tennis program - Youth & Adult Softball - Youth tennis lessons - Ice skating - Snow sledding - Cross-country skiing Picnic Shelter Reservations From family reunions to birthday parties, organizational and business picnics to musical and stage events, there are well maintained picnic shelter facilities at most City parks. The band shell in Washington Park offers a place for special gatherings and is available through a convenient reservation system. Limited RV and tent camping sites are available, at no cost, located at the Homesteader Park & Rest Area, with a 3-day, 2-night stay limit. #Reservations by Month March April May June July August Sept Oct Nov Dec Homesteader Park Southside Park Washington Park Washington Park Band Shell #Guests by Park Homesteader Park 11 reservations, 570 guests Southside Park 28 reservations, 777 guests Washington Park 52 reservations, 2,548 guests Washington Park Band Shell 15 reservations, 2,280 guests TOTAL 108 reservations, 6,175 guests Total #Reservations by Year

7 Park Maintenance Projects Park maintenance projects continue to focus on infrastructure repairs and rehab. Numerous buildings and structures have been in need of repair for quite some time. Between maintaining sports turf and athletic fields to a high standard and beginning these repairs, finding available time for these projects has been difficult. By eliminating some of the smaller repairs first we were then able to focus on the larger projects. Plans are to continue this method. - Picnic tables restored, repaired and re-stained - Homesteader Park softball complex, one vandalized bench repaired - All parks athletic fields turf areas were core aerated, fertilized and treated for weeds and insects - Park playground safety inspections are conducted monthly at 7 parks with repairs/replacement as necessary - Christmas lighting and decorations installed on all light poles, downtown treescape, Absaroka to Clark, First to Third Streets, City Hall, canal bank, and aquatic center - Flowers and shrubs planted and maintained in the downtown area, Westside Park, Rest Area, PAC, Chamber of Commerce, The Commons at Pond Park and other areas of department responsibility - Restroom floors at the American Legion baseball field and Homesteader softball complex were painted - Fish were purchased (800-mix of brown, rainbow and tiger trout) and placed in the Homesteader Park fishing pond for the annual Fishing Derby held by the Powell Recreation District, fed and maintained - An additional 400 Firehole trout were provided by the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, fed and maintained by the Parks Department staff - Snow removal and salting operations continued in the downtown Powell area, City Hall, The Commons, Chamber of Commerce, Homesteader Park Rest Area, all City park sidewalks and handicapped access ramps. - U.S., State of Wyoming, and POW flags maintained at City Hall, The Commons, Chamber of Commerce, American Legion baseball complex, Homesteader Park Rest Area, and Powell High School Veterans Memorial. Flags are posted to half-staff, full staff, and replaced as needed. Cost is born by the department. - Sort, inventory, prepare and place in storage all holiday decorations used in Powell - Ice rink is set up and maintained on the basketball court at Homesteader Park - New adaptive playground equipment was installed at Beartooth Park through a generous $5,000 donation - Homesteader Park and Southside Park cedar shake shingles were replaced with metal roofing - Old cedar shake roofing was removed at the Washington Park restroom and replaced with new metal roofing - As part of the 10-year arboretum monitoring program all weather data collected from the automated weather station was collected and posted on the City website - Plans were created and then changed to accommodate the U.S. Highway 14A WYDOT project along Coulter Avenue including a large amount of staff time to make irrigation system repairs that totaled nearly $20,000 - RV dump station posts were painted traffic yellow at Homesteader Park - Grass edging was completed at the Rest Area, West Side Park, and west end sidewalk areas - The large debris pile that had been gathering at Whitlock Park was removed and a no dumping sign installed - Five trees were replanted in the downtown area and watered weekly - Five replacement trees were planted at Whitlock Park Park Maintenance Contracted Projects With an anticipated budget reduction the Parks Department looked to do as much in-house work as possible using our skilled employee labor, thus avoiding potential costly contracted services and projects. - Spomer Construction of Powell was contracted to provide red scoria rock to supplement the WYDOT highway construction project along Coulter Avenue. Approximately $6,500 for 50 yards of rock was provided from the budget and the Parks Department provided the majority of the labor. - SWI of Powell was contracted to install a section of fence to completely enclose Beartooth Park as part of a developmentally disabled project to upgrade park playground equipment. The project cost was $4, Ravenna Signs of Powell was contracted to design and produce replacement City entrance signs along Coulter Avenue and Absaroka Street public parking signs. Cost of the production was $3,500.

8 Volunteer Activities Sherwin Williams Paint of Cody provided 10 hours of volunteer labor and 50 gallons of stain with equipment to provide rehab of the warming hut exterior. The Arbor Day Celebration held at The Commons on Thursday, April 27 and Friday, April 28, and was only made successful through the combined efforts of numerous volunteers who provided more than 100 hours. Many thanks to the following individuals; Sandy Frost, Jeremiah Vardeman, Kent Kienlen, Mary McKinney, Josh Pomeroy, Scott Hicswa, Floyd Young and many others. Police Reports for Parks - 9 police reports were received regarding park-related or tree/shrub incidents - 1 incident of vandalism - 2 incidents on decorative and building lighting - 2 incidents of unsecured facilities - 2 incidents on public restroom issues - 2 incidents on irrigation sprinklers Additional Park Projects A number of administrative projects were completed this past year. Use of the City s website to provide a portal of information for the public has been a huge asset Park County Travel Commission travel guide, summer and winter brochure updated - Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Commercial Pesticide / Herbicide applicator licensing completed - Rotary Club attendance and membership at weekly meetings - The Park County Museum Board meetings were attended on a monthly basis - New Memorandum of Agreement with Heart Mountain United Soccer Association - Renewal of Memorandum of Agreements between City of Powell and Powell American Legion Baseball Association for use of Ed Lynn, Powell Little League Baseball Association for use of baseball facilities at Bob Kolb Little League Fields located in Homesteader Park, and Babe Ruth Field, Powell Community Gardeners, and Wyoming Sagebrush Hoppers - Seasonal Park Maintenance position description prepared and added to personnel administration records - 5-year budget plan prepared and submitted for department Capital Improvement Projects - The department received the Gold Leaf Award for outstanding Arbor Day activities by a community - Powell Arboretum sign was installed at Veteran s Park, individual tree signs on order - The fire extinguisher inventory was updated and additional extinguishers were added to new equipment - The park picnic shelter reservation form and user fees were revised

9 Adaptive swing installed Contracted fence installation Ceiling vandalism repaired Downtown vandalism repair/replaced Public parking signs replaced Irrigation system repairs Tree Donor Sign restored Coulter Ave. irrigation repair Holiday decorations installed Picnic table repainted/restored Ice rink preparation and upkeep Ash tree insecticide treatment