Bemidji Parks and Recreation Department 1

2017 Annual Report

Bemidji Parks and Recreation Department 2

Mission Statement

The mission of Bemidji's Parks & Recreation Department is to provide facilities, activities, and park-lands to enrich the lives of citizens and tourists.

Parks and Recreation Commission Members

Mary Auger, Chair

Tom Anderson

Don Heinonen

Tina Kaney

Wendy Kvale

Annette Meyer

Tanya Prim

Parks and Recreation Commission

The Parks and Recreation Commission is a seven member advisory board to the City Council and city manag-er on matters relating to parks and trails including:

Plan and develop programs and activities.

Develop schedules of hours and fees for the use of recreational trails and park facilities.

Study possible government and private foundation grants available for the acquisition and development of park and trail facilities.

Develop plans for improvement and betterment of existing facilities.

Develop plans for acquisition of additional facilities.

Coordinate recreational trail and park activities with other community organizations and groups.

Promote public interest and understanding of the City’s Parks and Tails activities.

The Parks and Recreation Commission in the Fall of 2017 began a Strategic Planning Process. Through

this process the Commission will identify or update the Department’s Vision, Mission and Core Values

and identify short term and long term goals, objective and action steps. This planning process will be

completed in 2018.

Bemidji Parks and Recreation Department 3

The Park at South Shore was completed and the Grand Opening was held in June, 2017

Investing in the environment through parks and open spaces increases neighborhood property values,

brings neighbors closer together, provides fitness opportunities close to home and tends to pay for them-

selves.

Programming provided through park and recreation agencies combats the national obesity epidemic through the development of healthy lifestyles, strong minds, and fit bodies.

Children’s play activities are an es-

sential part of human development

and helps make healthy adults. We

maintain 10 active play areas in the

Park System.

Regular physical activity is one of the

best methods of insuring quality

health. For every hour spent walk-

ing, riding, or running on our Trail

System you burn 500 calories.

Integrated and accessible leisure

time services and facilities are critical to the quality of life for people who may be disadvantaged or

have a disability.

Community recreation programs help bridge ethnic and cultural differences.

Programs and facilities often provide tourism opportunities for local businesses.

Active families tend to be closer, happier and healthier.

A healthier lifestyle may be only a few steps away. Turn off your TV and computer and head to the closest

park or trail. Join a fitness class, walk/run group, or join us at one of our Special Events.

South Shore Park—Grand Opening

Benefits of Parks and Recreation

Bemidji Parks and Recreation Department 4

Parks staff annually maintains more than 250 acres of public lands. This maintenance includes 160 acres of

highly maintained high usage park area and approximately 8090 feet of shoreland.

Facilities under the stewardship of the Parks Department include 10 picnic shelters, 3 buildings, 3 swimming

beaches, 4 boat accesses with 5 docks, 1 fishing pier, marina, 6 softball and baseball fields, 1 disc golf course,

1 lighted cross country ski trail, 4 skating rinks, 13 miles of trails, 10 playgrounds, 8 play courts (tennis, bas-

ketball, and pickleball), a skate park and dog park.

Staffing

The Parks Department consists of 4 full-time maintenance staff and approximately 17 seasonal staff. Six

seasonal warming house staff are employed from December through March and 11 summer seasonal mainte-

nance staff are employed during the summer. This includes a downtown maintenance staff that focuses on

the downtown area for approximately 30 hours a week from June though Labor Day.

2017 Parks Department Highlights

South Shore Park Grand Opening was held in

June to celebrate the completion of the park pro-

ject.

A Trailhead including bench, bike rack, fix it sta-

tion and kiosk was established at the Historic De-

pot parking area located on Minnesota Ave.

Girl Scout Planter installed and planted at Paul

Bunyan Park

Improvements were made at North Country Park

through the Outdoor Recreation Grant and the

Mayors Monarch Pledge. Improvements included

a pavilion, new plantings and signage.

Buckthorn control efforts at City Park and Lake

Boulevard. Parks Department partnered with the

Conservation Corps of Minnesota to remove buck-

thorn in City Park and Lake Boulevard right of

way.

Three Community Gardens offer 36 plots garden-ers can rent and grow their own food. Each garden spot provides water, a small shed, and opportunity to meet new people. All plots were rented in 2017.

In 2017, the warming houses were open a total of 64 days, with average daily attendance of 67 skat-ers at City Park Outdoor Rink.

Parks Department

Bemidji Parks and Recreation Department 5

Parks staff continue to provide support and facilities for many community festivals and events. Park and

trail facilities hosted the following large scale special events:

Bassmaster College Series National Championship Dragon Boat Races

Knights of Columbus Walleye Classic Fishing has No Boundaries

Art in the Park Jaycees Water Carnival

Senior Softball Tournament Loop the Lake Festival

State Softball Tournament Mississippi Music

In addition many smaller one-day family, organizational and commercial picnics and events were held at the park facilities.

Diamond Point—the park facilities were rented for 76 family reunions, weddings and picnics through the

summer. In 2016, the facilities were rented for 65 events.— MRPA Award of

The City of Bemidji was awarded the Minnesota Recrea-

tion and Parks Association Award of Excellence in Spon-

sorship and Partnerships for the Paul Bunyan Inclusive

Playground Project. The MRPA Award of Excellence

program recognizes agencies in Minnesota for outstand-

ing achievements in parks, recreation and leisure ser-

vices.

The Paul Bunyan Inclusive Playground Project received

this accolade due to the strong partnership between the

City, the Bemidji Rotary Club, and Shane's Inspiration.

The Bemidji Rotary Club led the fundraising efforts in the community as well as assisted with the installation

of the playground.

The passage of the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge brought together many

community members representing the Audubon Society, Master

Naturalists, BSU Sustainability Office, Bemidji Garden Club and the

Parks & Recreation Department.

Through a sustainable effort led by GreenCorps Member, Nicole

Deziel, three large pollinator gardens were planted at North Coun-

try Park, two areas were planted at the Public Library and a pollina-

tor garden was established at Lincoln School. The Birds, Bees and

Butterflies group established a campaign to educate and encourage

the community to plant native gardens that attract Birds, Bees, and

Butterflies. Signage, brochures and other materials were distributed in the downtown, local nurseries and at

pollinator garden sites. Community Events were held to celebrate Bird City and the Monarch Pledge.

Mayor’s Monarch Pledge—Birds, Bees, and Butterflies

Parks Department

Award of Excellence—Paul Bunyan Inclusive Playground

Bemidji Parks and Recreation Department 6

Forestry

The Parks Department are responsible for the management of Bemidji’s urban tree and landscape pro-

gram. The program is responsible for the control of

shade tree diseases such as Dutch Elm disease and

Oak Wilt, reforestation of city parks and boulevards,

and routine maintenance of the city’s boulevard and

park trees including the 125 boulevard trees located

downtown.

The Parks and Recreation Department was a host site

for a GreenCorps Member from August of 2016 to

August of 2017. The focus for the GreenCorps Mem-

ber was Urban Forestry. Over the 12 month period,

the city was able to update the Shade Tree Ordinance,

inventory over 2000 boulevard trees, establish a haz-

ardous tree policy as well as research and update in-

ternal policies and procedures.

Forestry Highlights

Hosted Arbor Day Celebration at Nymore Park with a 3rd grade class from Lincoln Elementary. Eight

fruit trees were planted near the community garden.

Bemidji named Tree City USA for 28 years and a Tree City USA Growth Award for 3 years!

70 boulevard and park trees were removed.

73 boulevard and park tree were planted.

Trimmed 150 trees in the downtown area and in boulevards and parks.

Hosted a chainsaw training session for all ful-time parks and public works staff.

Certified Arborist—Kyle Martin, Parks II, become a certified arborist. This is the first time the city

has had an arborist with those credentials on staff!

In response to the July 21st windstorm—full time staff spent 40 hours removing and trimming trees

and parks seasonal staff spent over 30 hours picking up and hauling debris in and around parks.

Bemidji Parks and Recreation Department 7

The Recreation Department’s main objectives are to provide recreation programs, events and activities, en-

courage the use of parks and trails, and promote an active lifestyle.

Staffing

The Recreation Department is staffed by one full-time Recreation Coordinator, part-time Special Events

and Park Programming staff, 4 seasonal camp counselors and various intern and practicum students as well

as volunteers.

Recreation Department Highlights

43% of the Recreation Department’s Revenue in 2017 was from donations, sponsorships, fees and grants.

The Recreation Department received $17,101 in both cash and in-kind donations/sponsorships to sup-

port recreation programming and keep our fees affordable.

Programs : in 2017 the Recreation Department offered:

9 Adult Programs with over 295 participants

3 Preschool Programs with 278 participants

9 Youth Programs with 258participants

3 Day Camps Programs with over 300 youth participants

Kids in Motion Day Camp—240 participants

Theatre Camp—44 participants

Lego Camp—24 participants

Special Events: the Recreation Department planned seven special events with over 1500 participants.

New Programs in 2017: Fit Club (adult fitness), Nature Club (afterschool program), My Play Club

(inclusive program at Paul Bunyan Inclusive Playground).

7 out of 35 programs offered by the Recreation Department had a waitlist.

7 of the 10 weeks of Kids in Motion Day Camp had a waitlist.

The City Council approved a Resolution Establishing a Youth Scholarship Program

in March of 2017. The goal of the youth scholarship program is to ensure that

youth are not denied the benefits of public recreation due to the inability to pay.

The Parks and Recreation Department established a fund at the Northwest Minne-

sota Foundation for the collection of youth scholarship donations. of In 2017, the

Parks and Recreation Department received over $850.00 in donations to the schol-

arship fund. Donations were made by the Bemidji Jaycees, the Knights of Colum-

bus, the First City Lions and several private individuals.

Fundraising for the scholarship programs will continue on annual basis. In 2017,

over $570 in youth scholarships were awarded to attend Kids in Motion Day Camp.

Recreation Department

Youth Scholarship Program

Bemidji Parks and Recreation Department 8

The Neilson Reise Arena is located within City Park and shares a building with the Bemidji Curling Club.

The City operates one sheet of ice and is the only facility in the area with year round ice. The Arena is

home ice for the Bemidji Figure Skating Club but is used by many local and regional organizations and

clubs. The facility is open from 6am to 12am and open most holidays.

Staffing

The Neilson Reise Arena is staffed by one full time Arena Maintenance II and four part-time Arena

Maintenance. Jake Pederson, Arena Maintenance completed the Arena Management certificate

through Ice Arena Institute of Management and Arena Operations Certificate Part I through ISI.

Neilson Reise Arena Highlights

The City hosted 372 hours of General Skate, 347 hours of open hockey and 138 hours of parent & pre-

school skate.

New this year, Parks and Recreation

hosted adult skate lessons and family

skate nights.

3,187 skaters participated in general

skate, open hockey and parent and pre

-school skate in 2017.

The Bemidji Figure Skating Club rent-

ed over 490 hours.

Youth Leagues/Camps/Practices rent

670 hours of ice time. Bemidji Youth

Hockey renting the highest amount of

ice at 255 hours.

Adult Hockey Leagues comprise 260

hours of ice rental.

BSU rented 185 hours of ice team with the Men’s and Women’s Hockey Program and Hockey and

Broomball Intramural programs.

Approximately $170,000 in ice rental revenue was collected in 2017, this is an 7% increase from 2016.

The increase in revenue corresponds to a rate increase and additional ice rental.

The operating subsidy for 2017 was approximately $127,810. The subsidy from 2016 to 2017 re-

mained flat as operating expenses in 2017 increased by 4%

The cost of R22 refrigerant has increased from $14.00/lb in 2012 to $22.00/lb in 2017. The cost has

varied over the 5 year span but trending upwards. The City purchases approximately 500lbs per year.

Neilson Reise Arena