At its last meeting for the summer, Wrangell’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board approved a new fee assistance schedule for using public facilities.
parks and recreation department director Kate Thomas explained the new assistance schedule would allow applicants up to a 100-percent discount for a specific activity each quarter, depending on income level and household size. For example, a three-person household making $26,120 or less could receive a 50-percent discount on an activity or 75-percent off from a pass. Guidelines follow the state’s poverty level measurements.
“That’s what I based the fee assistance guidelines on,” she said.
The application will also feature a short essay portion, which will require applicants to explain how recreation affects them personally. Because resources for the program are limited, Thomas reasoned the essay could be taken into consideration in the event demand was too great.
Addressing concerns over group rental rates for the community center, the board also looked at providing a pair of options to users such as the Garnet Grit Betties roller derby team. One option, already adopted for use with the Wrangell Swim Club at the pool, would require the purchase of a pass for the length of time that the group is practicing. The other would be based off an hourly facility rate of $30, down from $40.
In other business, materials needed to make signs directing visitors toward the Mt. Dewey trailhead were reported to have arrived.
“The materials were delayed a little bit from Seattle,” Thomas explained. The vinyl signs will be created at no additional cost using the high school’s workshop, designed using its new computer system.
Bob Lippert reported he had last month conducted some repairs to the Dewey trailhead as well, improving accessibility.
A new logo for the department was chosen by the board, one of 16 entries put forward by local artist Charity Hommel. The submission was part of a wider contest to devise an emblem for the parks and recreation department.
“She put in a ton of effort,” said Thomas.
Website development for the department is also ongoing. Thomas explained she hopes to improve the site’s interface, in addition to focusing on updating information in a more timely manner.
In her director’s report, Thomas explained this year’s summer youth program is underway, with about 20 participants each day.
She also reported the department’s new summer intern has been doing well. Staci Florschutz is serving as the intern through July, offering an exercise curriculum as part of her sports science studies at Brigham Young University-Hawaii.
After the first two weeks of the program, Thomas said adult yoga has seen the highest attendance, followed by high-impact aerobics and kickboxing. As there has been little to no attendance for low-impact aerobics, she said its slot may be refilled with evening yoga instead.
The swimming pool reopened on May 20 after several months of repairs, and has been seeing steady usage.
“It was a huge success,” board member Cindy Martin said of the reopening. “There were over 85 kids in the facility at any one point.”
While there have been some “hiccups” with resetting the chemical balance of the water, the pool has otherwise proven leak-free under testing.
“We’ve been successful in that thus far,” said Thomas.
The lifeguarding program is again fully staffed, with six adults and an instructor on board. Courses for the learn-to-swim program also resumed last week.
Asbestos abatement scheduled for the end of June will force summer rec to relocate for three days, but should otherwise cause no additional bother.
The department will be preparing for the AKqua Chautauqua, due in Wrangell from June 25 to 27. Heading through Southeast on a wider tour, the performance group will be holding a variety of workshops, a parade through town, and a grand show at the Nolan Center. Parks and Rec is also readying itself for the city’s annual Fourth of July events.
“June is pretty intense and high-speed for us at Parks and Rec,” Thomas commented.
The board’s next meeting will be in September, when it will take action on signage, summer programming, and future additions to the Mt. Dewey trail network.
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