Kzoo Parks 2019 Annual Report

2019 ANNUAL REPORT A year in review

Letter from the Director Sean Fletcher Director, Kzoo Parks Kzoo Parks had a great 2019! Several park improvement projects were completed including Reed Street Park, Rockwell Park (restroom/activity building), and Crane Park.

Parks staff also improved City parks with a number of clean-ups throughout the year.

The Recreation division continued to provide quality programs for youth and great special events for all residents. The LED Video Board was a huge hit at Summer Cinema movies around the City. Kik Pool had a very successful year with attendance and revenue exceeding expectations. Safe Halloween was moved to Milham Park and was a big hit with many in attendance.

Planning continued for our 2020 projects including a splash pad in LaCrone Park, improvements in Verburg Park, and Phase 1 of the Kalamazoo Farmers’ Market renovations.

Our team looks forward to a great 2020 and we hope everyone has a chance to visit a park, participate in a program, or attend a special event!

251 Mills Street Kalamazoo. MI 49048 269-337-8191 kzooparks.org 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS Building Better Parks

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Bringing our Community Together

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Activities for Everyone

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2020 Preview

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New Interactive Parks Map

www.kzooparks.org/parks

We now have an interactive map on our website to help make it easier for you to find a park near you. Our parks, green spaces, facilities, and the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail are included on the map. You can click on each park for pictures and information.

We Want To Hear From You! We are constantly striving to present the best possible programs, parks, and activities for you and your family. Please let us know if there are programs or events that you would like to see offered, or if you have any suggestions on programs or events that we already offer. Call us anytime at 269-337-8191.

We also have an app that allows you to communicate with staff in realtime. Let us know how we’re doing by sharing information on your visit to one of our 33 parks or facilities! The HAPPiFEET app allows users to share their experience or report any concerns in real-time through images, videos, or text from their location. Download the HappiFeetKzoo Parks app to let us know about your park visit!

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL Stay up to date on programs, events, & park improvements.

@kzooparks

@kzooparksandrec 3

BUILDING BETTER PARKS

We are committed to building better parks for our community, with our community. When planning park improvements we review neighborhood plans and engage with residents to understand what they would like their park to become. When installing playground equipment, the youth in the neighborhood help us by picking out the playground they like the best. Thanks to funding from the Foundation for Excellence, we have been able to increase investment in our parks.

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New this year, Fairmount Dog Park is free to use!

$1.28

Million

Invested in parks in 2019

Children play on new playground equipment at Rockwell Park during Kalamazoo Eastside Neighborhood Association’s National Night Out event.

$4.8 Million Invested in parks since 2015 5

Reed Street Park This year Reed Street Park got a complete makeover! Improvements included new playground equipment, a walking path, a picnic shelter with tables, basketball court, outdoor exercise equipment, and bike racks. This park improvement was supported by the Foundation for Excellence.

“It looks amazing, a great enhancement to the Edison neighborhood.”

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“...This will be a great asset to Kalamazoo. I certainly will bring my grandchildren over that way for memories.”

“Kids are going to have so much fun there!”

Crane Park

This summer, park improvements were completed at Crane Park, including new accessible walking paths and an accessible parking area. A new entrance to the park was created with repurposed bricks from the former road through the park, the park’s tennis courts were also resurfaced and new pickleball courts were added. A new water fountain and picnic tables were installed and new walkways were completed in the ornamental garden and wedding area.

Bronson Park

Monuments placed in the honor walk in Fall 2019.

Park improvements in Bronson Park started this fall and will continue into spring 2020.

Improvements include better sound & lighting, upgraded electrical & irrigation, more trees, informational kiosks, and new furnishings to the park, as well as the relocation of Kirk Newman’s children sculptures.

Through this project an Honor Walk will be created at the east end of the park and the memorials throughout the park will be relocated there. Once completed, the Honor Walk will include 14 monuments and will allow for more respectful visitation and barrier free accessibility.

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Space-themed Playground New space-themed playground equipment was installed this spring at Springmont Tot Lot in honor of James McDivitt, a Gemini/Appolo astronaut and former Oakwood neighborhood resident. This project was supported by Community Development Block Grant funds.

Restroom Building at Rockwell Park In November a new restroom building was installed at Rockwell Park. This will allow us to utilize Rockwell Park for our Eastside Super Rec site next summer! This project was supported by the Foundation for Excellence.

Bike Racks in Vine Parks

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Through a neighborhood planning project between the Vine Neighborhood Association and the City, new bike racks were installed at South Westnedge and Dutton Street Parks. This project was supported by the Foundation for Excellence.

Kik Pool

This year the Kik Pool got a fresh coat of paint with bright, fun, summertime colors thanks to local artists at Dream Scene Placemaking.

“I love the new, vibrant colors on the building!�

The pool had a great turnout this year with 1,487 visits, 31 percent more than last year.

We were also able to host two free pool days this year, one on the opening day of the pool (June 8) and one on the closing day of the pool (August 17).

We will be resurfacing the Kik Pool in 2020 so that it will be able to last for many more years to come!

14,827 31% Visits to the pool

More visits than 2018

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BRINGING OUR

COMMUNITY TOGETHE

Lunchtime Live!

We are honored to be able to host events throughout the year that bring our Kalamazoo community together to enjoy our City’s parks, make memories, and have fun. Our events are always free and welcome to everyone.

We are looking forward to enhancing our current events and adding new events in 2020!

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Candy Cane Hunt

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ER

Special Events in 2019

Egg Hunt Six Starz Skate Jam 8 Summer Cinema Movies 15 Lunchtime Live Events 3 Block Parties Safe Halloween Kalamazoo Holiday Parade Tree Lighting Ceremony Candy Cane Hunt

Summer Cinema

Safe Halloween

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ACTIVITIES FOR EVERYONE

We strive to offer the best possible recreation programs for all Kalamazoo residents. We offer youth sports, adult sports, after school programs, and summer camps. Thanks to funding from the Foundation for Excellence we have been able to expand our Super Rec program over the last couple years.

“Thank you so very much for providing a safe, affordable space for my son each day.

I love your staff and I love knowing he’s safe and well cared for while I’m at work.”

- After School Program Parent -

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Recreation Programs in 2019

Super Rec All Things Possible Camp Kzoo Field Trip Fest After School Moxie Volleyball Swim Lessons Soccer Middle School Archery Middle School Golf Middle School Bowling Adult Volleyball Adult Softball

1,608 Youth Rec Participants

152

Adult Rec Teams 13

Super Rec Super Rec is a FREE summer camp with weekly field trips. This year we were able to add a another site on the Eastside, for a total of 5 sites.

400 Campers 32% Increase in

participation since 2018

Moxie Volleyball Our Moxie Volleyball program has both “Mini Moxie” and “Moxie Juniors”, one for beginners and the other for experienced players.

135 Volleyball Players 29% Increase in

participation since 2018

After School Program Our After School Program offers tutoring, homework help, and activities in a fun and safe atmosphere.

105 Youth 14

12% Increase in

participation since 2018

Community Partners We are grateful for the generosity and support of our community partners, which allow us to offer even better parks, experiences, and programs.

• Airway Lanes

• Kalamazoo Municipal Golf Association

• Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo

• Kalamazoo Public Library

• Brooks Archery

• Kalamazoo Public Schools

• Boys and Girls Club

• Kalamazoo Valley Museum

• Community of Christ Church

• Kalamazoo Youth Development Network

• Continental Lanes

• Kellogg Community Credit Union

• Douglass Community Association

• Lake Michigan Credit Union

• Hispanic American Council

• Lee’s Adventure Sports

• Irving S. Gilmore

• Meemic Insurance

• Jeter’s Leaders

• Moxie Volleyball Kalamazoo

• Just Move Fitness and More

• New Village Apartments

• Kal 1st Volleyball

• Northside Association for Community Development

• Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center • Kalamazoo Book Arts Center • Kalamazoo College • Kalamazoo Community Foundation • Kalamazoo Crew • Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership • Kalamazoo Family, Career and Community Leaders of America

• Oakwood Neighborhood Association • Rollerworld • Rota-Kiwan • Saint Joseph Catholic Church • Saint Mary’s Catholic Church • Schupan and Sons, Inc. • Six Starz

• Kalamazoo Friends of Recreation

• United Healthcare

• Kalamazoo in Bloom

• Western Michigan University

• Kalamazoo Jaycees

• YMCA

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2020 PREVIEW Farmers’ Market Renovations The first phase of improvements at the Kalamazoo Farmers’ Market will start in September 2020 and will include the renovation of existing vendor sheds, a new vendor shed on the west edge of the market, expanded restrooms, and the realignment of Bank Street that will include sidewalk and the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail along the eastern edge of the market. The market will remain open during renovations.

Future phases will include completion of site work and an indoor event shed with a demonstration kitchen and playground.

It’s been a great year and we are excited to continue this work next year! We’ve got lots of fun stuff planned for 2020 including a Kalamazoo River Valley Trail Expansion, park improvements in Verburg and Bronson Parks, a new spray pad in LaCrone Park, and we will be working on the first phase of the Farmers’ Market Renovation!

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Verburg Park Project

Projects Planned for 2020 Kalamazoo River Valley Trail Expansion from Walnut to Pitcher and Lake to Reed Phase 1 of the Farmers’ Market Renovation

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LaCrone Splash Pad

Colored concrete and Environment are for Illustration purpose only and not supplied by Vortex. Not for construction

La Crone Park Splashpad®, MI

Park Improvement Project at Verburg Park Splash pad installation in LaCrone Park Complete park improvements at Bronson Park Resurfacing of Kik Pool

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Mayors’ Riverfront Park 251 Mills St., Kalamazoo, MI 49048

(269) 337-8191 www.kzooparks.org @kzooparks