Town of Pittsford, Vermont

PITTSFORD RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Director’s Report
November 1, 2004

            I’ve said before and I’ll say it again October has to be one of the busiest months for the Recreation Department. Recently I’ve been busy completing the Recreation Department FY 2006 Budget and Work Plan that had to be handed in by Friday, October 29^th. These are two new responsibilities that have been placed upon all departments. Town Manager, Michael Balch has asked department heads to work up their own budgets, before the Town Manager would produce a draft budget and than give it to me to go over and present to the Recreation Committee. The new way is much more productive because now you have the actual individuals who are running the departments creating their own budgets, which cuts down a step of supervisors reworking numbers that were given to them with no basis other than that was what you got last year. I’ve also found the creating a Work Plan for the next fiscal year has forced me to become more focused on the goals of Recreation Department and creating strategies to ensure that we accomplish them. The Recreation Department, in my opinion, has taken great strides to achieve many goals over the last three years and there is no doubt that with a work plan in place it will be a driving force for our department to accomplish many more goals in a shorter time frame. My hope is as Recreation Committee members and other individuals read our plan that they will get excited about a project or two and will want to step forward to lend support or will ask to take on certain tasks.

            On Saturday, October 9^th, group of volunteers, and myself tore down the old playground structure at the Recreation Area. New equipment was purchased last winter and put up this spring to take the place of this old and hazardous structure. A new “Tot Playground” will be developed where the old equipment was located within the Swim Area. As you know the new play structure that we built earlier this year was placed outside the Swim Area so that kids would not be tempted to go inside the fenced in area around the pond when lifeguards aren’t on duty. The new location on the north end of the picnic pavilion has proven to be a good choice, the structure is where children can and do play on it every time there is something happening at the Recreation Area.

            On Saturday, October 16^th, the Recreation Department and Maclure Library hosted our 3^rd Annual “Pittsford Pumpkin Party” at the Recreation Area. This particular program is designed for families with young children ages pre-k – 3^rd grade. This year’s program included a “Pumpkin Hunt”, pumpkin decorating, arts & crafts, hay wagon rides and story teller, Michael Luzader. Apples, fresh popped popcorn, and plenty of hot chocolate was served. Over 115 people came out on a crisp fall morning to participate and enjoy this event. (The “Pumpkin Party is a successful program that done well and residents have supported it every year we’ve ran it, however there is so much potential for it grow into something even more special for the Town. There is so much more we could do so many more activities and projects we could incorporate in the program if only we could count on having reliable help each year. I think this program, because of the time year that it’s held and the other things happening at the Recreation Area at the same time, the “Pumpkin Party” could be built up into something larger, if we had the help.)

            The Aerobics/Kickboxing program began on Tuesday, October 19^th, 5:30-6:30pm in the Lothrop Gym. The past two years the program began in January, but because of the success we had last year and after speaking with the instructor and some of the main participants from last year I decided to start the program earlier. So far the response has been good, at the first class a total of seven out of nine participants signed up for the entire program (that was enough registrations to pay for entire session on the first night). The second Tuesday of the program we had seven participants attend. I’m confident as word gets out that the Recreation Department is offering the program our numbers will increase some.

            I’m disappointed to report that the School Break Fun Days program that takes place during the Teacher’s Convention in October didn’t receive the minimum number of participants needed to make them go. Both day trips, the Green Mountain Rock Climbing Ctr. and the Rutland Bowlerama had to be cancelled due to the fact that only 5 children signed up. This particular program has been a difficult one to figure out. Sometimes we have plenty kids sign up and other times there’s hardly any interest. We’ve tried offering some really cool programs that you’d think would be no problem to fill fail, and we’ve had ordinary programs, that don’t seem exciting or fun end up full. Another reason this program wasn’t able to run was because the Brandon Recreation Department, who usually co-sponsors this program with us, was not able to offer any support this year. The Brandon Recreation Department is still without a full time director running the department and wasn’t able to lend much support to this particular program. Typically between the two towns we can fulfill any minimum participant requirements.

            On Friday, October 29^th, at the VT Police Academy, the Pittsford Recreation Department hosted its annual Halloween Teen Dance. It was an extremely successful evening with 261 teens (7-10 graders) attending. The old record of 216 was easily surpassed. The large group was easy to manage everyone for the most part was well behaved and there were only a few minor issues to address. Thank you to the 16 chaperones who helped keep a close eye on everything. We had great group of parents who help out and because of them and their help we were are able to offer such a smooth program, it couldn’t have been done without. Also the Recreation Department is gracious to Mr. John D’Esposito, and the START program, for providing funds that paid for a police officer to watch over our event. We rarely ever have a problem where we need a police officer, but we like to have one present to deter any mischief behavior before it’s even thought of. The next “Teen Night” event is scheduled for Friday, December 10^th, at the VT Police Academy, 7 – 10 pm.

            On Saturday, October 30^th, the Recreation Department and Sugar Hollow Sno-Mads co-sponsored a State of VT Snowmobile Safety Course held at the Pittsford Fire Station. There were total of 16 participants who took advantage of this educational program. Snowmobile operators learned about snow travel safety, current laws, respecting land owners rights, trail sign recognition, and even some very basic riding skills. This Snowmobile Safety Course is a mandatory class for anyone who wishes to operate a snowmobile in the state of VT, and was born after 1983. This was the third time in four years that the Recreation Department has co-sponsored this program; I feel it’s important to educate the young riders in town properly to help make all the trails safer.

            Most recently I’ve been busy coordinating the 5^th and 6^th grade boys and girls basketball program, along with the Recreation Department’s Youth Basketball program for grades 1^st – 4^th. I take care of all the administrative duties, I find coaches, I do all the scheduling, and I’m responsible for finding the referees for all the home games. It just makes sense for me to do this work for Lothrop School since I’m making all the same contacts for my own program.

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