11/06/2006 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• 2006 Playground Program Report • • Join us at the playgrounds for some sensational summer fun! Theme weeks, arts -n- crafts, specialists and games are just a sampling off the fun things we'll do this summer. New this summer is a 2 day per week session. Sign up for one session or both sessions — the choice is yours! How much fun do you want to have? The above description is what appeared in this summer's Recreation Review advertising the Playground Program. Registration began in late May and continued until the program start date of June 19. The Playground Program is long time favorite of many in the area and one that has undergone many changes over the years — the most drastic being the switch this year to the two day per week option due to the elimination of the program's general revenue funding. In this report you'll find some of the highlights of and thoughts on this summer's program including program structure, registration totals, themes, specialists, staff, responses to the changes from both parents and staff, and recommendations for 2007. PROGRAM STRUCTURE Morning Program Days /Dates: Monday/Wednesday, June 19 — August 2, No program July 3 (7 weeks) & Tuesday/Thursday, June 20 — August 3, No program July 4 (7 weeks) Hours: 8:30 a.m. — Noon Locations: Birch Park Days /Dates: Tuesday/Thursday, June 20 — August 3, No program July 4 (7 weeks) Hours: 8:30 a.m. — Noon Locations: Clearwater Creek Park and Highland Meadows Park Afternoon Program Days /Dates: Monday/Wednesday, June 19 — August 2, No program July 3 (7 weeks) & Tuesday/Thursday, June 20 — August 3, No program July 4 (7 weeks) Hours: 1:00 — 4:30 p.m. Locations: Behm's Park, Birch Park, and Sunrise Park Morning & Afternoon Program Costs Due to the budget cuts this summer the price for the program was increased significantly from previous summers. The cost for the seven week program this summer was $75 per child per session for non - residents and $50 per child per session for Lino Lakes Residents. Although these prices were identical to last year's prices, the hours of the program were cut by more than half — resulting in an overall price increase of over 50% from the summer of 2005. Friday Programs Fridays were operated a little differently this summer. We offered a Playground Friday option this year that was conducted each Friday afternoon from June 23 — July 28 from 1 — 4:30 p.m. at two different sites per week. Each week the two different sites changed from the previous