Leisure Time Leisure Time (MAY - OCT 2019) | Page 6

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LETTER
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DIRECTOR
ow many times in our roles as parents/caretakers
have we had to answer the age-old persistent
question asked of us by our children/youth while
taking family vacations—“Are We There Yet?”
When I am asked that by my staff, I again am charged with
answering that question honestly.
The City of Port St. Lucie Parks & Recreation Department
is bringing back the Get Your Park On Challenge. Stay
tuned for your chance to win new prizes!
Our “there” is achieving the goal of a heightened sense of
appreciation from the community for parks and recreation.
My response to staff, then, is an unequivocal “No, we are
not there yet.” However, now that the City of Port St. Lucie
Parks & Recreation Department has our first-ever P & R
Strategic Business Plan, our road map is clearly visible,
marked with destinations and time of arrival as to when
this goal will be achieved.
We’re on the journey toward achieving our goal by following
the Strategic Business Plan, and our routes are clearly
established by the definition of the five goals which are at
the core of the Strategic Business Plan:
Table of Contents
Parks Map Soccer 28
10-Year Master Plan with Dr. David Barth Racquetball/Volleyball/Pickleball 29
10-Year Master Plan Breakdown Tennis 30
Article featuring Lyngate Park 1 Golf 31
Special Events 3 Botanical Gardens 35
Youth and Teen Activities 7 Community Center/Civic Center 36
Senior Activities 10 Minsky Gym/Community Garden 37
Dance 11 Volunteers/Kids at Hope 38
Martial Arts 13 Registration & General Information 39
Basketball (leagues) 23 City Council/Parks & Recreation Management 40
Baseball/Softball (leagues) 25 Football/Cheerleading 27
Goal 1: Analyze and strengthen existing parks operations
for optimal performance
This is an exciting time for our department as we have
undertaken three major initiatives:
• First-ever Parks & Recreation Strategic Business Plan
• 10-Year Parks & Recreation Master Plan (undertaken
as of July 2018 with anticipated completion date of July
2019)
• CAPRA (Commission for Accreditation of Parks &
Recreation Agencies) Accreditation, as overseen by
National Recreation & Parks Association (multi-year
initiative with anticipated completion date of FY 2020-
2021)
Elements of all three initiatives intermingle and are
interrelated among one another but, with a totality of all
three initiatives and their pending completion, we believe
that we will experience tremendous progress toward our
goal of assuring the community is keenly aware of and
appreciates the value of their parks and recreation agency.
Then we can say, with a resounding “Yes”, “We have
arrived.”
Goal 4: Advance programs, events and facilities through
innovation. We invite you, our treasured community of neighbors,
to come along with us on our journey to assure a bright
future for the parks and recreation industry and our
agency, in particular. You can join us by being involved
and voicing your wants and needs during the upcoming
public meetings and events that we hold to celebrate leisure
opportunities in the City of Port St. Lucie. Speaking with
a united voice, we can work together to bring quality, safe
and valuable parks and recreation services to everyone in
our community. We are on this journey together and, with
your support, we will reach our destination.
Goal 5: Invest in Human Capital Keep It Clean, Green, Safe & Fun,
Goal 2: Improve current programs and events to increase
the number of visitors and participation in Parks &
Recreation programs.
Goal 3: Improve existing parks and facilities and
effectively plan for future needs.
Sherman Conrad, CPRP
DIRECTOR