City of Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities 2019/2020 Annual Report

Parks, Recreation A N D Community Facilities Annual Report FY 2019/2020

“Teamwork divides the task and doubles the success” - Anonymous

On behalf of the entire staff of the Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Department we are pleased to present the FY19/20 Annual Report. I believe our parks, recreation and community facilities are what makes Mesa a great place to live, work and play. Although this year provided us with numerous changes in how we live our lives, one thing we were able to provide was outdoor spaces for families to gather and stay active.

Our Department was able to step-up and provide much needed services to Mesa United Food Bank in assisting with Feeding Mesa, and other agencies that provided services throughout Mesa. I am proud and impressed by the level of work that our Department has accomplished this past year. Please take the time to see why Mesa is Your Place to Play!​

Marc Heirshberg,

PRCF Department Director

It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve as the Chair of the Mesa Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. This year started with the exciting anticipation of the growth of our programs. Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, this excitement quickly turned to a passion to continue a key component of our mission: Working together to focus on services that meet the ever-changing needs of our Community. In this annual report you will read about the responsive, supportive, and creative ways the Department responded to the deep needs of our community. The staff of Mesa Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities took on the challenge to feed, educate, and stabilize the ever-changing demands of the 2020 Pandemic and the results were spectacular. I am deeply moved and humbled by the heart and care our staff gave to our community and I look forward to seeing what the next chapters bring in the future.

Jo Martin,

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Chair

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Our Mission

We contribute to a healthy and vibrant community by providing exceptional experiences and services to those who live, work and play in Mesa.

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City of Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities manages over 2,398 acres of parks and open space that includes 205 city parks and retention basins, 4 community recreation centers, 9 aquatic facilities, 3 dog parks, 2 baseball stadiums, as well as the convention center, amphitheatre, tennis center, and cemetery. The department offers year-round recreation opportunities that include aquatic, fitness and outdoor programs, inclusion services, community events, and adult and youth sports leagues.

We provide after school programs and day camps when school is out of session. Our Parks and Facilities Maintenance Division also provides parks maintenance and maintenance for municipal buildings.

Mesa Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Jo Martin, Chair Nycole Leyba, Vice Chair Claud Cluff Matthew Erickson Kimberly Forest Rob Giles Jaime Glasser Cindy Hayton Brent Maldonado Jacob Martinez Orchidia Peterson 3

PRCF Strategic Plan Priorities Cre ate th e b e s t ve rs i o n of o u rs e l ve s • Inspire staff to live healthy lifestyles • Focus on teamwork through collaboration and communication • Promote a sense of ownership and pride • Support employee growth and development De l i ve r o n l y th e h i g h e s t q u a l i ty s e rv i ce s a n d ex p e ri e n ce s • Foster creativity and innovation leading to memorable customer experiences • Focus on relevant services • Impart quality through safety and accessibility • Embrace technology to maximize efficiency Ba l a n ce n e e d s w i th wa nts to s ta b i l i ze t h e b otto m l i n e • Focus on fiscal responsibility • Strategic management of our physical assets/infrastructure • Understand our communities’ desires • Invest in long range planning • Optimize staff resources Bu i l d s tre n g th th ro u g h co m m u n i ty co n n e c ti o n s a n d re l ati o n s h i p s • Promote relationships that bring our community together • Focus on community outreach and education

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Feeding Mesa Mission Statement Address Mesa residents’ highest priority need of “Access to Food” (based on Community Needs Assessment) by providing nutritious food/meals to Mesa residents who have been affected

by COVID-19 and by partnering with existing services, non-profits and Mesa based restaurants.

Feeding Mesa Program Goals • Provide convenient ways for residents to obtain nutritious food • Support Mesa non-profits who have increased needs due to the impacts of COVID-19 • Keep Mesa-based restaurants open • Repurpose City staff affected by facility closures

Focus on Teamwork through Collaboration and Communication 4

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Feeding Mesa Partnered with United Food Bank to utilize the Mesa Convention Center and its staff to store, package and assist in food distribution events.

Since operating out of the Convention Center, more than 1.46 million pounds of food were distributed; 1.23 million meals were provided to more than 28,000 households with 74% of households served residing in Mesa.

Fo o d Dis trib u t i o n Prog ra m

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Feeding Mesa Canned Food Drives

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Canned food drives at 6 locations throughout Mesa

21,878

lbs. of food collected for United Food Bank and Midwest Food Bank through June 30, 2020.

Meal Preparation at Mesa Convention Center Convention Center kitchen, in partnership with onsite caterer to provide nutritional meals

Front Line Health Care Workers Support

Delivered to Waste Not AZ, in conjunction with United Food Bank to 11 Mesa partners including: A New Leaf, St. Vincent DePaul, House of Refuge, Paz de Cristo.

Restaurant prepared meals delivered to front line health care workers

29,090

Restaurant Buy-Out Program

12,618

meals distributed to the staff of 51 health care facilities through June 30, 2020.

45

Mesa-based restaurants participated on a rotating schedule 6

meals were prepared and distributed through June 30, 2020.

Recreation Centers

Red Mountain | Eagles Community | Webster | Jefferson

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FAMILY EVENTS HELD

4,310 ATTENDEES

255,067

VISITS BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AT ALL FOUR RECREATION CENTERS 7

Promote Healthy Lifestyles Optimize partnerships and opportunities to share resources

29,877

Silver Sneaker Visits

CREATING NEW MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS FOR SENIORS The Red Mountain Center began participating in the Silver & Fit health insurance gym membership subsidy program. The Red Mountain Center is now contracted with 4 programs – Silver & Fit, Silver Sneakers, Renew Active, and PRIME. The addition of Silver & Fit increased overall insurance program participation by 22%, generating an additional $9,256 in annual revenue.

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Athletics

Foster creativity and innovation leading to memorable customer experiences

2,022 YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUE​ REGISTRATIONS

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Athletics Mesa Tennis Center Hosted their first Pickleball Tournament in February of 2020, the PPA Mesa Grand Slam and was sponsored by the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA). A total of 614 players participated in this tournament in both professional and recreation divisions.

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Aquatics

Summer 2020: The Aquatics Team faced several challenges during the 2020 Swim season, but happily prevailed. Swim lessons continued with smaller groups and four pools were available for open swim.

Making Waves Scholarship Donations Increased to​ $20,500 in scholarship funds for learn to swim lessons and lifeguard training opportunities for lower socioeconomic families and individuals.

6,830

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LEARN TO SWIM LESSONS​ TAUGHT

119​

NEW LIFEGUARDS CERTIFIED 11

Adaptive

Impart quality through safety and accessibility

1,391

PARTICIPANTS

During the COVID-19 stayhome order, the Adaptive team was able to stay engaged with the participants through virtual activities that began in April 2020. 455 individuals with intellectual disabilities participated in 8 virtual sessions per month including a talent show, show and share, chair yoga, drawing, hiking, cooking, games, dancing, and more.

786​

PARTICIPATED IN TGIF SOCIAL CLUB ACTIVITIES

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Youth Programs

1,383

YOUTH SERVED IN SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS 2019

17

NEW MEMBERS OF THE TEEN LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM LEARNED IMPORTANT JOB SKILLS

Fun ‘N Fitness

2,801

PARTICIPANTS IN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS 13

Volunteers

Promote relationships that bring our community together

1,400 26,222

volunteers hours of service

Building Excellent Volunteers (BEV) is a volunteer group designed for teens ages 13-18. The volunteer events are fun and informative about our city. Volunteers provided support for special events as well as a variety of programs including adaptive, aquatics, athletics, and recreation centers. Special guest speakers presented at bi-weekly on-line meetings. Topics covered in the virtual meetings included resume building, interview skills, goal setting, communication, and time management. Volunteer hours may be used for Mesa Public School Service Learning.

A year to remember volunteers 14

Park Rangers

Focus on community outreach and education​ The PRCF Park Rangers teamed up with local Eagle Scouts to make fishing structures from 100% recycled products. Over time these structures will help reduce fish die off caused by lack of shade, structure and healthy bacteria/algae. The structures help create a much healthier habitat for the fish in our community fishing waters which in turn creates a better fishing experience for our angler patrons. They will also last many decades under water with zero maintenance.

RANGER FACILITIES VISITED THIS YEAR:

14,815 PARKS 307​POOLS 189​REC CENTERS 15

Special Events

Special Events Facilitated (pre-COVID): Merry Main Street

12,755 10,600 4,000 15,000 29

skaters at Winter Wonderland​ Santa visitors​

at the Christmas Tree Lighting​ attendees at Celebrate Mesa​

major calendar events

Understand our community’s desires 16

City of Mesa Cemetery

403

INTERNMENTS COMPLETED​

292

GRAVES SOLD Tree and Turf Renovation

172

dead or declining park trees removed.

49

new trees planted.

*Turf rehabilitation ongoing.

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Mesa Convention Center and Amphitheatre Convention Center and Amphitheatre Facility Improvements:​ • Implemented digital display boards for each meeting room as well as electronic wayfinding monitors​ • New PA system installation​ • New signage, decal and sconce installation​ • Building B & C interior paint​ • New sales software for onsite orders​ • New 400 mega-hertz Radios​ • New golf carts

Embrace technology to maximize efficiency 18

Dobson Ranch Golf Course

Paradigm Golf Group assumed management of Dobson Ranch Golf Course in June 2019. During FY 19/20, Paradigm invested more than $450,000 in course improvements and upgrades, including:​ • Enhancements to the Pro Shop and entrance​ • Renovation of the restaurant​ • Expansion of the patio and courtyard areas​ • Expansion of the driving range, and addition of targets and goal posts​ • Addition of new state of the art golf carts 19

Parks & Facilities Maintenance

PRCF’s Parks and Facilities Maintenance team members

met their goal by completing all safety inspections and repairs found.

The inspections consist of ensuring playground equipment meets safety standards; chemical monitoring systems function per industry standards; sports fields are safe and playable; lighting systems function as they should; environmental hazards do not occur; and concrete walkways do not present tripping hazards.​ Other large undertakings included installation of over 30 new overhead doors at 7 fire stations to improve critical response times, and replacement of outdated generators at fire stations and police stations to ensure they have uninterrupted power to better service our citizens.

2,932

facility safety inspections

5,289

work orders completed by Parks Maintenance

799

work orders completed

by Facilities Maintenance

Strategic management of our physical assets/ infrastructure ​ 20

Awards The American Planning Association (APA) named Pioneer Park, one of the six Great Public Spaces on APA’s annual Great Places in America list. APA’s Great Places in America program recognizes the streets, neighborhoods and public spaces in the United States demonstrating exceptional character, quality, and planning – attributes that enrich communities, facilitate economic growth, and inspire others around the country. ​ Arizona Parks and Recreation Association recognized the Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF) with three different awards during the Best of the Best Awards Ceremony: OUTSTANDING ADAPTIVE PROGRAM:

Certified Autism Center​ PARTNERSHIP AWARD:

Partnership with Dave Bang for Jefferson Park​ YOUNG PROFESSIONAL:

Oscar Venegas

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Development

MESA PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES ADDED 90 ACRES TO THE PARK SYSTEM AND ACTIVATED 3 AGING PARKS WITH NEW PLAYGROUNDS. • Eastmark Great Park Phase 3 opened on ​N ovember 9, 2019​ • Eagles Park opened on December 7, 2019​ • Signal Butte Park opened on January 18, 2020​ • Renovated playgrounds at:​ Jefferson, Washington and Stapley Parks 22

Invest in Long Range Planning Renovated

72,614

SQUARE FEET OF ​ SPACE IN CITY PROPERTIES

Improved

BUILDING ASSETS AT

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CITY SITES 23

Marketing

268,451 WEBSITE USERS

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Our Social Media Audience grew from 8,588 to 10,983 followers.

Optimize Staff Resources

TEAM MEMBERS:

177

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES

100

FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT SEASONAL AND PART TIME EMPLOYEES 25

Financial Overview Fiscal Year 2019/2020

GENERAL FUND​: CAPITAL AND BOND FUNDS​: ENTERPRISE FUNDS​: EARNED FEES AND CHARGES​: RESTRICTED FUNDS​:

Annual Budget

$37,222,400​ $21,497,000 $11,856,300 $10,923,300 $9,300,600

Focus on fiscal responsibility

Citywide Budget

$1,830,000,000 Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities

4.4% |

$79,876,300

ALL OTHERS​: $1,750,123,700 26

Mesa Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities 708 W Baseline Bldg. 4| PO Box 1466 – Mail Stop 7010 Mesa, AZ 85211 Monday-Thursday | 7am-6pm 480-644-PLAY | www.mesaparks.com