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Recreation Director’s Report September is here, the children (and lifeguards) are back in school and that puts an official end to the summer programs at the Recreation Area. The Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Program continued to have wonderful participation. A total of 112 kids participated in swim lessons in 2006 which was down slightly from the 117 in 2005. Daily usage of the swim area remained steady up to the week before school began. That week leading up to the beginning of school however was very slow even though the weather was somewhat favorable for swimming during the day. I think families were busy that week getting prepared for the school year and that visiting the Recreation Area wasn’t a priority, but that shouldn’t take away from the successful season we had. The Recreation Department is again offering a Hunter Safety program this fall. For the second year now, this program is being held at the VT Police Academy rather than in the conference room at the Town Offices. The Academy classroom is much larger and can handle larger class sizes, while participants and parents can learn in a much more comfortable setting. Pittsford resident Mr. Rick Hedding is the instructor for the class. This is the third hunter safety class he has taught for the Recreation Department in the past year, earlier in the spring the Recreation Department offered a home-study version of the program that he facilitated. The Pittsford Youth Soccer program began on Saturday morning, September 9. Overall numbers are up slightly from last fall with a total of 93 (90/2005 & 76/2004) participants between the age of 4 and the 4th grade that are playing. Mr. Dick Williams, Otter Valley Girls Varsity Soccer Coach, and some of his players are assisting me with the actual on-field instruction of the 4 & 5 year olds and the 1st& 2nd graders. This is the fifth straight year the OV girls varsity soccer team has been associated with this program. There’s no doubt that the OV girls are an invaluable piece of the puzzle that makes this program so strong. The 3rd & 4th grade group was large enough to split up into two teams a 3/4 Boys team and a 3/4 Girls team. Both 3/4 teams have their own coaches, separate practices, and their own game schedules. Other programs the Recreation Department is sponsoring this fall are the Pittsford Pumpkin Party, a Halloween Teen Dance, Kripalu Yoga, Men’s & Women’s Open Basketball, and Cardio-Kickboxing/Aerobics. I’m also starting to coordinate a Snowmobile Safety Class, the Annual Holiday Craft Fair in November, and the Caroling on the Green event in early December. Recently I received an e-mail from the Pittsford Planning Commission stating that they are working on a new Town Plan and that they were seeking the Recreation Committee for their input. In addition, the Planning Commission has invited Recreation Committee members Chairman, R. Ketcham and Vice Chair K. Shortsleeves, along with me to their next meeting on Tuesday, September 19 to discuss the future of the not only the Recreation Department but the Town of Pittsford as well. The Planning Commission has forwarded some questions to Recreation Committee to help us begin thinking about their process. These questions along with other items will be discussed the September Recreation Committee meeting. This will be a good opportunity for the Recreation Committee along with myself to reevaluate and update the Recreation Department’s long & short term goal lists before we talk with the Planning Commission. This information will also be most useful for when the Recreation Department starts creating a Work Plan for FY 2008, a budget for FY 2008, and a five year Capital Expenditures (FY 2008-FY 2011) Plan. At their meeting in August, the Recreation Committee was asked to think about programs and/or projects that they liked to see included in the FY 2008 Work Plan so the Recreation Director could begin the budget process. I’m happy to report that on Wednesday, August 9 the Recreation Department took delivery of a new Kubota compact tractor. This tractor is equipped in a manner to better serve our needs of keeping up with the maintenance of the Recreation Area and the many different programs and activities we host there. On Saturday, October 14, 2006 the Recreation Department and the Maclure Library are co-sponsoring the annual Pittsford Pumpkin Party at the Recreation Area, 10-11:30 am. This is a family oriented fall festival with activities such as arts & crafts, hayrides, and decorating pumpkins. Hot chocolate, popcorn, and apples make it all worth the while. The Recreation Department is seeking volunteers to help on the day of the program with the actual activities themselves, please consider helping if you’re available. Also face painters are needed to paint small designs on young children’s faces, no special talent needed just a wiliness to try.
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