Parks and Recreation Department Recreation Program Overview

Recreation Program The Sausalito Parks & Recreation Department strives to provide quality programs to Sausalito and its community that enhance growth, expression and recreation through people, parks and programs. I’m Jeff Dybdal, I have been a Recreation Supervisor providing oversight of the Recreation Program for the past 4 and a half years. I’m here to present a general outline of the Recreation Program and explain the community strengthening service that a strong recreation program provides the City of Sausalito in accordance with our department’s mission. PHOTO BY GINA RISSO www.ginarisso.com

Recreation Program Most people think of Parks and Recreation in terms of the first word in our department’s description, Parks. Parks are a vital part of our community; their open space enhances quality of life and increases property values. They are a passive form of Community Strengthening – giving those who opt to use them recreational opportunities. I’m here to help explain the other aspect of our department. Alongside Erin Stroud who is responsible for producing our amazing special events, I oversee the Recreation program. Recreation as compared to Parks, provides active structure for fostering a sense of community – by offering classes to citizens, we provide the content to get engagement, build relationships and help to make Sausalito a unique and welcoming place to live.

Recreation Program The Recreation Program is primarily advertised with Sausalito residents in the Sausalito and its Community Magazine. This publication is produced by the Parks and Recreation Department. We also advertise on the City’s webpage and offer on-line registration options. You may have also seen the beautiful fliers we have on display throughout city hall, some outside of the library along the hallway and many more downstairs by the Recreation Department counter. Of course we also maintain a friendly front-desk experience for anyone who wants to register in person or on the phone! If you build it, they will come. True. But, only once they hear about it! One of the biggest efforts our department is continually making is Outreach, marketing and keeping the community informed. The Parks and Recreation department advertises courses in fliers and in the Sausalito and its Community Magazine, The magazine is a publication that not only advertises the recreation program, but also provides other departments of City government, Sausalito institutions, non-profits and public agencies with a forum to provide information to the community. There are also paid advertisement options that help the Parks and Recreation department defray the cost of mailing the publication to all residents and postal box customers in Sausalito.

Recreation Program The Recreation Program consists of classes and programs offered by specialists under contract with the Parks and Recreation Department and Bocce Ball leagues in Spring and Fall coordinated by Recreation department staff. The Recreation Program runs courses year round on a quarterly basis. We offer between 35-50 youth classes and 40-80 adult classes per quarter. Monthly average participation in the recreation program is: 425 Adult participants and 1,450 Child participants.

Recreation Program The Recreation Program offers courses to Children and Adults in several program areas: Enrichment: early childhood development, language arts, photography, painting, caretaking, environmental conservation, health and nutrition. Dance and Music: ballet, salsa, drumming. Fitness: Yoga, Core Restore, Rosen Movement. Sports: Tennis, Bocce Ball, Basketball, Soccer. Camps: Jewelry Design, LEGO™ Engineering, Soccer, Multi-Sport, Traditional Day-Camps.

Indoor Bounce House Program PLAYLAND Indoor Bounce House Program One of our most successful programs is just over a year old. I’m proud to feature the Playland program. It has revitalized the MLK Gymnasium – The Playland operator provided cosmetic upgrades to the facility such as painting and restroom deep cleaning, resealing grout and caulking and re-purposing storage rooms as activity spaces. The program put inflatable bounce houses, train tables, art projects, small indoor play-structures and riding cars in the gym and opened for business to give kids 6 years and under an incredible experience of playful activity in the morning and afternoon. The program also offers birthday party packages in the evenings Friday – Sunday. Up to 60 guests welcome to celebrate a birthday for a child age 9 and under. The program is a major source of revenue - exceeding all other recreation revenues from classes/activities combined. The program has been well received in the community, has created local job opportunities and has given increased use to the gymnasium.

Recreation Program How do we have all these wonderful class offerings? Recreation program courses are primarily conducted under contract with an instructor who has a passion and specialty they are willing to share with the community. Contract instructors are not employees of the City. The typical contract terms are to split the program fees that participants pay 70% for the instructor and 30% for the City as Recreation Department Revenues. Typically an instructor will propose a course – I will review the proposal and work with the instructor to find classroom space and times that work within the facility use matrix and the instructor’s own schedule. At times I have had to adjust room rental availability to accommodate the recreation program. Once the logistics are set and the contract is agreed to, a contract instructor undergoes a background check at their expense. Once cleared, the class begins. I coordinate classes with between 25-50 instructors per quarter with 74 instructors currently under contract to provide classes. Instructors set their class fee and the revenues generated are shared between the instructor and The City. This fee sharing structure of contracts is fiscally prudent - Successful classes are financially incentivized - rewarding instructors and increasing recreation class revenues while classes with fewer participants don’t end up costing the City anything since there is no direct rate of pay associated with the contractor’s work. For a 30% split of a classes fee, instructors gain publicity, administrative support and classroom space. Likewise, Our community benefits by gaining a forum to exchange information, strengthen relationships and foster human development. It’s most likely the best deal in town, so if anyone here is interested in teaching a course, I’m very interested in hearing from you!

Recreation Program Revenues The Recreation Department’s Class Revenues have increased year to year with the exception of 2011 where there was a slight dip. Revenues in the current year are above expectations and should come in higher than last year as they are already almost at last year’s levels with a quarter to go.

Recreation Program The Recreation Program also provides support to the Edgewater Senior’s Club, a non-profit civic and social club for Senior Citizens in Sausalito. The Edgewater Room hosts the business and social meetings of the club and the Recreation Department coordinates and provides transportation and logistics for monthly trips. The Recreation Program also has a special area of focus that I oversee. The Edgewater Senior’s club has been meeting since the 1970’s with the full support of the City. Although incorporated as a non-profit in it’s own right and governed by an independent board of directors, as the City’s liaison to the club, I sit in on the business meeting and provide a report of trips and recreational opportunities for the Seniors and plan out and chaperone the monthly trips. The key message of Sausalito’s Recreation program is that we are here for you. We provide activities for diverse interests through all of life’s stages, and in so doing - as the parks and recreation motto goes, we create community!