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1996-01-29 TOWN OF WAPPINGER RECREA nON COMMISSION P.O. BOX 324 20 MIDDLEBUSH ROAD WAPPINGERS FALLS. N.Y. 12590-0324 CONSTANCE O. SMITH SUPERVISOR January 29, 1996 MEMO TO: TOWN BOARD MEMBERS FROM: RALPH J. HOLT, CHAIRMAN RE: 1995 ACTIVITY REPORT The purpose of this report is to provide you with a better understanding of just what makes up our recreation function, and how we go about fulfilling our obligations with the resources provided. This report will be in some detail but I believe in going through it, you will gain a good feel for the amount of recreational activity we are involved in. For the purpose of this report, we will break recreation into 4 segments. 1. Staff 2. Maintenance 3. Summer Programs/Winter Programs 4. Senior Citizen Center 1. Staff. The Chairman of the Recreation Commission (R. J Holt) , the assistant to the Chairman (Mrs. M. Roe) along with (6) members (J. Ennesser, J. Chappas, R. Friedman, B. Gutzler, E. Korz and S. Miller) make up what we look at as staff. The Chairman and Assistant handle most fmancial matters, including budget preparation and presentation when requested. The Chairman and Assistant also handle all personnel problems, work assignments, and work schedules. They also track and report monthly on our budget actual position and recommend to the Commission action to take to keep our financial position in line. We also discuss individual financial matters with the Comptroller and Supervisor when necessary. Members respond to fire and burglar alarms at nights and on weekends and open and close parks on weekends as needed. The commission members also help with special concerts i.e. West Point Concert with setting up and feeding the members of the band. The Commission members provide advice and counsel on all matters concerning the Recreation Program. In addition to this, each member has distinct responsibilities, such as: (a) Park responsibility (Martz- Spook Hill, etc.) (b) Soccer, Little League, Pop Warner (c) Halloween and Christmas Party (d) Many miscellaneous functions The talent of this group is outstanding - teachers, engineers, legislature etc. 2. Maintenance Our Recreational maintenance function is made up of(3) full time people and (4 part-time people. We have a Supervisor (Mr. John Vorndran), and two other full time men (Mr. S. Tompkins and Mr. R. Weber). Our (4) four part time people (Mr. L, Rompala, Mr. C. Boss, Mrs. L. Doroni, andjob open) work from the middle of March to the middle of November. These people are the backbone of our function. They must be considered as " Jacks of all Trades" and in this case master of many. They start off with the primary assignment of mowing over 130 acres of grass once and often twice a week. This in itself is a large effort. The following recreational areas make up the large mowing job. Parks - 1. Robinson Lane, 2. Spook Hill Park, 3. Quiet Acres, 4. Martz Field (which includes the Barn area) 5. Rockingham Park, 6. Airport Park, 7 Schlathaus Park, 8. Castle Point Park, 9. Fleetwood Park, 10. South Fowlerhouse, 11. Cemetery 12. Kendall Farms, 13. Reese Park, 14. Hamlet Court. As stated, keeping our Parks mowed is a major effort, but much more is required. We do plumbing, painting, carpentry, masonry and some mechanical/electrical work. As.a member of our part-time group, Mrs. Lucy Doroni opens and closes Robinson Lane Park, raises and lowers the flag, and cleans the restrooms and areas around the store. The following is some detail on the different type of work performed by this work force. WORK ACCOMPLISHED IN 1995 ROBINSON LANE Turned on the water in the Spring and turned off the water and cleared the pipes in the Fall. Had to dig up well (2) and treat for contaminated water. 2 Installed new toilets in the ladies room Painted the concession stand building Painted dugouts Fertilized fields in the Spring and the Fall Installed a new main gate Installed a new rail by main gate Installed pea stone under the swings Put new clay on several infields Repaired Fencing Planted new trees/and removed old dead trees Repaired dugouts SPOOK HILL Area Lights were installed at the Park for security Security system was tried and purchased for park Turn on the water in the Spring and drain in the Fall Fixed a clogged sewer line- break up cement, fix clogged line and patch cement Sealed basketball court and handball court Painted the building with special graffiti proof paint Fixed shingles on roof Cut trees and trimmed brush - used brush hog to clear heavy brush Fertilized area in the Spring and Fall York raked the parking lot Set a post to place plaque for tree that playground children planted CASTLE POINT Installed new main gate Put down clay on both ball fields Weld and fixed holes in the upper part of the fence Stained the pavilion Fertilized the park in the Spring and Fall Cut dead trees and cleaned brush Extended upper ballfield QUIET ACRES Sealed basketball court Turned on the water in the Spring and off in the Fall York raked ball field often Took down tree by roadway 3 BARN (MONTFORT ROAD) Did finishing work on pole barn and painted Had two tennis courts resurfaced - maintain the courts -clear debris, fix nets and wind screens etc. Take care of volleyball courts - clear debris, fIx nets, york raked to level beach sand Trimmed brush along the creek - extended area for fIshermen Installed new utility sink in bath. Sealed driveway Painted inside of barn Maintained all equipment- changed oil, sharpened blades and did minor repairs MARTZ FIELD Installed a new pressure tank so toilets flush better- not so many clogged toilets Painted buildings Painted dugouts Put down new clay on the ballfIeld Painted backboards and put up new nets Maintained kiddie playground REESE PARK Put up new gate - including welding, cement work and setting up. Built a new walkway bridge across creek Picked up garbage that people dump at the entrance. ROCKINGHAM Made new parking lots Trimmed around the pond Cut down dead trees and cleared brush SCHLATHAUS Maintain house - Set up for concerts, Halloween, Christmas, Special Playground Programs i.e. music shows and end of summer picnic Helped transplant new Christmas Tree which was donated to Town Installed plywood on ceiling of bandstand, repainted and added railings on stage and stairs 4 AIRPORT PARK Built new walkway over culvert Put fence around culvert Cleaned brush between fields (median) and seeded. Had to remove brush Sprayed weeds Planted new trees, mulched and watered CEMETERY Filled in holes Picked up garbage FLEETWOOD Fixed swings TOWN HALL Framed and sealed the gazebo Put new sand in boccie court and rolled ALL FIELDS Mowed, fertilized, filled holes, leveled and seeded fields as necessary Picked up garbage twice a week Trimmed fields, along fences and around equipment as necessary Sprayed weeds and killed poison ivy Painted picnic tables SUMMER PLAYGROUNDS Move supplies to playgrounds Take care of various maintenance problems, i.e. plumbing, doors that won't latch, locks that won't work, toilets that are clogged, sinks that won't drain, etc SENIOR CENTER Move tables Move supplies to and from Schlathaus 5 Drop off and pick up picnic equipment 3. Summer Programs/Winter Programs Our summer and winter programs are headed up by our Director of Recreation Mr. B. Reimer. Mr. Reimer has (9) nine years experience in this function and the role is part time. During the winter we hire leaders for our aerobics, gymnastics, volleyball and basketball programs. During the fall/winter we will have on the average of 18 part time people handling programs. Our summer programs require a significant increase in personnel. We will provide direction to about 600 children and our summer camps have a very extensive agenda. Our staff can grow as high as 59 people. We have a state law that says we must have one counselor for every 12 children attending our summer program. The following is a detailed listing of all the functions we maintain. There is no question, concerning the adequacy of our program. It is the best of all the surrounding Towns and it is done at a reasonable cost. RECREATION PROGRAMS ADULT PROGRAMS Aerobics - 2 nights a week January to May and October to December Adult Volleyball- Tuesday Nights - January to May, June to September, October to December Adult Basketball- Wednesday Nights - January to March, October to December Adult Tennis Clinic - May to Mid June - Classes on Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. July & August - a session each month with classes on Tuesdays & Thursdays 11:00 to 12:00,6:00 to 7:00 and 7:00 to 8:00 Concerts every Thursday Night -End of June to Middle of August 7 - 9 p.m. (A special West Point Military Academy Concert in the Spring or Summer) Bus Trips to Radio City Easter Show and Christmas Show CHILDRENS WINTER PROGRAMS Boys & Girls Gymnastics - Saturdays 10 - 12 January to May Boys & Girls Basketball- Saturdays 10 - 12 January to April CHILDRENS SUMMER PROGRAMS Summer Basketball Program- 1 week camp Monday - Friday 10-12 6 Summer Playground Program - 6 sites- 5 days a week Martz Field - Board Games, Crafts and sporting equipment are available - Special Days such as - Mexican Day, Tie Dye Day, Pizza Day, Crazy Hat Day, Relay Races, Connect Four Relay, Drawing Contest, Talent Show Quiet Acres - Board Games, Crafts and sporting equipment are available - Special Days such as - Inside Out Day, Make your own Sundae, Q.A. Olympics, Independence Day Celebration, Carnival Day, International Day, Happy Meal Day, Halloween in July, Water Day, Tie Dye Day, pizza party day, nok hockey championship. Robinson Lane - Board Games, craft and sporting equipment are available - Special Days such as - Halloween Day, Native American Day, Camp Birthday, Dessert Day, Easter in July, Fiesta Day (Taco Day), Olympic Day, Scavenger Hunt, Water Relay Day, Happy Meal Day. Castle Point - Board Games, craft and sporting equipment are available - Special Days such as - Scavenger Hunt Day, Tree Planting Day, Olympic Day, Happy Meal Day, Bar- B- Q Day, International Day, Pudding Wrestling, Halloween In July, Tie Dye Day, Lip sync Contest, Pizza Party, Sundae/Face Paint day. Hughsonville Playground - Board Games, craft and sporting equipment are available - Special Days such as - Halloween Day, Ice Cream Sundae Party, Tie Dye Day, Dessert Day, Junk Art Day, Easter In July, Olympics, Sponge Art, Mexican Day. Spook Hill Park. - Board Games, crafts and sporting equipment are available - Special days such as - Pot Luck Lunch, Wild West Day, Camp Olympics, Happy Meal Day, Pizza Party, Tie Dye Day, Halloween In August. All Camps went to Splashdown on Tuesdays, had a trip to Fun Central, went Bowling at Holiday Bowl, and went to Discovery Zone. There also was a Karate Demonstration at each of the playgrounds. Three camps went to Schlathaus Park for a music show and three camps went to see a mime show. All camps when to Schlathaus Park for a large end of summer picnic. TENNIS CLINICS - Children ages 6 and up July & August - one session each month with classes Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00 to 9:00, 9:00 to 10:00, 10:00 to 11 :00 7 SWIM PROGRAM - Each playground had 5 days of swim lessons (Extra Charge for Program) Robinson Lane - June 27th to July 5th Castle Point - July 6th to July 12th Martz Field - July 13th to July 19th Quiet Acres - July 20th to July 26th Spook Hill- July 27th to August 2nd Hughsonville - August 3rd to August lOth 4. Senior Citizen Program Our Senior Center is headed by Mrs. K. DeLisa, our Director. She has (2) two part-time people assisting her and she also brings in assistance to help her with her exercise and line dancing classes. The Center has 200 members eligible to attend daily sessions and another 185 on a waiting list. As the number of senior citizens continue to grow, so does the need to provide an outlet for them. As I feel about our entire program, our Senior Center is handled the best and is the best of all the surrounding Towns. SUMMARY 1995 was a successful year for all phases of recreation. We were able to complete many of our goals. Our people, full time and part time are dedicated industrious workers. We look forward to 1996 and hope that we will be able to maintain the progress we have started. In closing there are some objectives that we would like to achieve in the future. 1. Fence in the entire area around the Recreation Maintenance barn located on Montfort Road. (For safety and vandalism reasons.) 2. Replace our 1974 tractor that is becoming unsafe to operate (It is the last of our old equipment.) 3. Start to layout the Rymer property for our next Town Park. (This will replace Hughsonville for our Summer program. 4. Open Briar Lane (20+ acres) for a new park. (We intend to open right of way this year 1996.) 5. Build tennis courts on the west side Town. 6. Finish the Park at Castle Point. (Additional ballfield and running track, storage building etc.) 8 7. Add one (1) full time person to the Senior Center staff. The last two objectives or maybe dreams would be to construct a swimming facility and then a golf course. (Both are almost impossible, but you never know.) Sincerely yours, ~~ Chairman, Recreation Comm. Mbr 9 FINANCE BUDGET UNDERlRUN INCOME * NET COST (Charge for TO TOWN Program Participation) 1993 A $168,164.00 $15,495.62 3,330.00 B $ 92,578.00 2,542.03 10,910.00 Senior 3R, 145 00 3,3R5 R7 $298,887.00 $21,423.52 $ 14,240.00 $263,223.00 **Transferred from Parkland $33,337.98 for Robinson Lane Electric, Mower, Truck and Airport Park. 1994 A B Senior $171,564.00 91,988.00 39,045Jill $302,597.00 $12,368.57 149.65 4,R30 26 $17,348.48 4,780.00 10,910.00 $ 15,690.00 $275,459.00 **Transferred from Parkland $5,900.00 for mower. 1995 A B Senior $216,857.00 84,791.00 40,R2R 00 $342,476.00 $36,064.54 2,426.66 4,905.41 $43,396.61 6,555.00 11,365.00 $ 17,920.00 $261,159.00 **Transferred from Parkland $24,929.00 for truck. *There are also funds amounting to around $7,000. each year from the Youth Bureau Funding that lowers the net total shown. **These funds are not included in the budget numbers As best we can determine our budget is far lower than any of the surrounding Towns both in total dollars spent and in the dollars per capita spent.