12-10-87 Agenda & Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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-2- Special population group activity programs frequently are not self- sufficient financially. These programs include Senior Citizen programs, pre-school programs and programs for the handicapped. Although these programs do not always hold their own financially, • they are very important to those they serve. As a service to the people it is our obligation to serve the minority as well as the majority. For this reason, programs for special populations are implemented at reasonable costs with the intention of subsidizing deficits with other funding alternatives such as donations , other program subsidies, or the general fund as in the case of Senior Citizen programming. Traditional programs offering participation to large numbers without fee requirements include summer playground programs, puppet wagon and skating rinks. These programs are truly municipal programs because they offer the same opportunity to the people without a user fee . . . a gift from the tax payers. Summer playgrounds and skating rinks cost the City $23 , 633. 00 in supervision alone. Certainly they are not inexpensive programs. However, the concept of "opportunity for all" resounds in the user statistics and the democratic user benefits can be witnessed. Special events such as "Festival in the Park" , trips, "Snow Spectacular" and others are sometimes financially sufficient but more often than not they are subsidized by other program profits. Even so, the spirit of enjoyment by so many people who participate in such activities is seen to outweigh the financial burden imposed. There is a vision that every municipal recreational professional • strives to accomplish. That vision is the provision of leisure recreation opportunities to all people, young and old, rich and poor, skilled and unskilled. Opportunities include organized and unorganized activities. It is hoped that through leisure recreation education people learn to balance their free time in leisure activity that offers enjoyment, laughter, physical and mental exercise and rejuvenation of spirit. All too often people obligate themselves to activities and the benefits to be derived are lost in the stress of competition and stringent discipline. In other words, play becomes work. To help combat this easy leisure trap, I wish to continue to pursue the programming of low-organized activities which offer participation regardless of skill and does not obligate the participant to stringent discipline. Also, with the addition of self-directed facilities in the parks, people will have the opportunity to participate in leisure pursuits that need not be organized and can be done at their convenience. Such facilities would include biking, walking and ski trails, vita or exercise courses, skating rinks, bang boards, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, bocce ball courts, archery ranges, playgrounds, picnic areas and tetherball. The vision is that everyone participates in leisure recreation daily . . . that the benefit of recreation can be experienced and enjoyed by all.