ANCHORAGE PARKS & RECREATION

ANCHORAGE PARKS & RECREATION

6 6:15 Welcome, Purpose, Process + TELL US WHAT YOU LIKE 6:15 6:30 The Big Picture, Our Parks TODAY 6:30 6:45 How are we doing? What barriers exist to park use? 6:45 8:15 Breakout Groups, What would you like to see happen next? 8:15 8:45 Groups Present, What did you learn? 8:45 9 Next steps 6 9 For Kids: Fun projects to help you think about what you want!

Strategic Planning Process 1. Feb Start Up & Initial Team Meetings 2. Feb-March Conduct Background Research & Review 3. Feb-March Develop Public Outreach Materials 4. Feb-April Prepare & Facilitate District Workshops 5. April-May Online Web-based Community Survey 6. Feb-May Facilitate & Participate in Project Partner Meetings 7. April-May Collect Public Comments; Prepare Draft Strategic Plan, 2009-2014 8. June Review & Refine Draft Strategic Plan 9. July-Sept Refine, Prepare, Present Final Plan

Strategic Planning Partners & Stakeholder Groups Community Councils Interest Groups The people of Anchorage (those who love parks, trails, recreational programs; those who aren t yet very involved) Park Summit Group Park Foundation Municipality of Anchorage Parks + Rec staff Parks + Rec Commission Assembly Mayor s office

Outcomes of the Strategic Planning Process Engage users (gain valuable insight & ideas, ask for parks support) Connect users to District Managers Expand and increase partnerships Gain support for Parks & Recreation Service Area (funding for ongoing park improvements and most critically, maintenance of existing parks, park facilities) Continuity of support for parks (bridging the transition between administrations) Cultivate an engaged Parks Commission

What is Parks & Recreation in Anchorage?

What we have: 10,946 acres of municipal parkland 223 parks 250 miles of trails and greenbelts linking neighborhoods with surrounding natural open spaces and wildlife habitat (120 miles paved trails) 110 athletic fields 5 pools 11 recreation facilities 82 playgrounds

What does a Park District Manager do? How can you connect to your District Manager? Jeff Mathis, mathhisjd@muni.org; 343.4163 Teri Peters, PetersTW@muni.org; 343.4297 Scott O Brien, O BrienSC@muni.org; 343.4475 Shawna Popovici, PopoviciSL@muni.org; 343.4202

What we do: Recreation Programs for all ages at: Recreation Center Operations 5 Pools Adapted Recreation Programs Community Gardens Special Events Ski Lessons / Ski Programs Summer Adventure Camps Youth Employment in Park

We have accomplished a lot since we developed the 2005 strategic plan Established Parks Foundation Youth Programs Expanded Facilities Open Seven Days Per Week Created 4 District Parks w/ District Managers Park Maintenance Transferred to Parks Increased Public Involvement VOLUNTEERS! Stabilized Capital Funding

As we plan for the future some of the challenges we face Funding solving the maintenance backlog, generating needed operations revenue Cost of Energy Stabilizing Partnerships + Leadership Community Involvement getting the word out and hearing from all the right folks

Since 1985, operating budget has decreased; park assets have doubled Operating Budgets from 1980 through 2008 at Present Value and Park Asset Trend Parks Annual Operating Budget Park Asset Value

Opportunities for future action! Funding now is time to establish long-term funding; good models to choose from Eagle River Parks Service Area Cost of Energy find new ways to identify & use renewable sources Stabilizing Partnerships + Leadership create stronger support from stakeholder groups and group leaders; work with new administration Community Involvement develop and use new tools for increasing participation

Strategic Plan Framework Core Goals Take Better Care of What We Have Private-Public Partnerships Parks as Community Building Blocks Parks as Economic Engines Balanced Services and Facilities for Diverse Community Improve Access and Connections Steward our Natural Resources Create a Strong Parks and Recreation Organization

Opportunities Community Involvement Increased Volunteer hours quadrupled to more than 90,000 per year in 2006, 2007 and 2008 Park advisory groups for Cuddy, Delaney, Kincaid Park Stabilized but have not resolved capital funding Park Bond passed for $5 million in 2007 and $2 million in 2008 Park Foundation established bringing non-municipal funding for parks More than $12 million in federal and state funding available for parks

NORTHWEST PARK DISTRICT Accomplishments Chester Creek Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project completion summer 2009 will allow for free entry of salmon into the Westchester lagoon Spenard Skate Park Completed Cuddy Family Park and Skating Oval Completed Veteran s Memorial Design Phase Completed Ship Creek Trail Completed between Downtown and Mountain View Town Square Park renovations underway Brown s Point Park Play Area completed Innovate to stretch dollars. Take better care of what we have.

NORTHEAST PARK DISTRICT Accomplishments Opened new Ship Creek Trail (Ship Creek to Mountain View) Improved programs at Mountain View and Northeast Community Recreation Centers Scott Gomez Ice Rink refurbished (with support of Scott Gomez Foundation) Upgraded shoreline at University Lake Park Completed construction of Softball Complex at Chuck Albrecht Fields Refugee Garden completed in Mountain View Bartlett High Pool upgrade underway Remodeled front desk and kitchen at Russian Jack Chalet Created Disk Golf for beginners at Russian Jack Innovate to stretch dollars. Take better care of what we have.

SOUTHWEST PARK DISTRICT Accomplishments Kincaid Park road and bike trail improved (new bridges, handicap access from stadium to chalet, stadium area improved, Parks Partners drilled well and laid underground pipe for snowmaking and soccer field irrigation) South Anchorage Sports Field Complex planning complete Sand Lake Improvements completed creating a lower-profile launch for fishing and boats Motocross Agreement completed to solve conflicts and provide operating structure Innovate to stretch dollars. Take better care of what we have.

CENTRAL + SOUTHEAST PARK DISTRICT Accomplishments Bear Tracks Park created with partnership Redeveloping Ruth Arcand Park with Horse Council Section 36 replatted to PLI (Park Land) and Master Plan underway Firewise Agreement with Fire Department to decrease fire danger in the forest / urban interface Acquired Independence Park Hillside District Plan out for review

2009 Construction Projects Neighborhood Parks: 15 Park Upgrades from Park Report Cards = $ 1.2 million Community Parks Safety and Accessibility: Valley of the Moon, Goose Lake, Jewel Lake = $2.3 million Trails: Chester Creek to UAA = $1.3 million Facilities: = $4.9 million Athletic Fields: = $4.3 million Creek Restoration: = $3 million

Breakout Group Tasks Breakout by topic: trails, playgrounds, safety, health, open space/habitat, recreation, community outreach/participation Identify group scribe and spokesperson Big picture strategies Identify 2 or 3 broader ideas that you have on this topic The specifics ( stuff in your backyard) Read through the list/map of what s been accomplished and what is planned for this summer. What s missing? What would you add to this list? Identify specific projects.

Group Report Back Tell us what BIG PICTURE strategies your groups identified Give us a couple of examples of the types of SPECIFIC PROJECTS you would like to see happen

Next Steps - April thru June A::B summarizes meeting results and shares with community councils and other project partners/stakeholder groups next 2 to 3 weeks Conduct work sessions with project partners and stakeholder groups next month Develop draft web-based survey; get feedback from project partners; provide link to survey April/early May Based on community, partner, stakeholder feedback, begin to draft plan strategies and action items; continue to check-in with all interested parties May/June

Other ways to let us know what you would like to see in Anchorage Parks + Recreation facilities, programs: Complete a comment sheet and mail to Agnew::Beck, 441 W. 5 th Ave., Ste. 202, 99501; fax to 222-5426 E-mail Shelly, shelly@agnewbeck.com Call Shelly, 222-5424 Contact Parks Planner, Suzanne, littlesr@muni.org, or 343-4586 Visit our project webpage, www.agnewbeck.com; click on current projects ; click on Anchorage Parks and Recreation 2009-2014 Strategic Plan Update Volunteer for projects this summer! Contact Suzanne

Thank You www.muni.org/parks.cfm