Recreation Director’s Report
August 9, 2011
The Recreation Department has been rather busy this summer. One reason has to be because of all the fantastic weather we have had. So far 88 Season Passes for the Recreation Area have been sold for 2011 season. This compares with 81 sold in 2010, 79/2009, 66/2008, 71/2007, & 52/2006. The number of Season Passes sold each year continues to grow. 27 Tennis Passes have been sold for 2011. This compares with 21/2010, 21/2009, 24/2008, 20/2007, & 26/2006.
The Red Cross Swim Program is one of the Recreation Department’s cornerstone programs. Again this summer the Recreation Department offered three 2-week sessions of swimming lessons. In 2011 a total of 114 kids registered for lessons. We had 103 swim lesson participants in 2010, 97 in 2009, 75 in 2008, 92 in 2007, and 102 in 2006. I would like to thank Kayla (Gallipo) Desabrais for her outstanding job performance as a swim instructor and as the Lifeguard Supervisor. Kayla was first hired in 2005 as a lifeguard, was a certified Red Cross Swim Lesson instructor a few years later, and since summer of 2008 has been the Swim Area Supervisor. The Recreation department receives many compliments for the work she does. The kids she teaches love her, the parents like her, and the other swim instructors and lifeguards look up to her. I wish her luck this fall as she continues to look for a full time teaching position.
The Recreation Area is a place many school groups, day camps, and day cares come to visit and use all the amenities it has. For the second summer in a row the Recreation Department has worked closely with the Boys & Girls Club of Brandon. In 2010 the Boys & Girls Club visited the Recreation Area for two weeks, while in 2011 they used the Recreation Area for 6 weeks, June 20-July 29. Each day they arrived around noon and departed about 4:30pm. Their first and last weeks were swim oriented camps. Kayla Desabrais and her staff did a super job working with B & G Club bigger numbers. The other 4 weeks were theme weeks for the B & G Club, they used the volleyball court, the tennis courts, basketball court, and other open green space they could find to play soccer and other outdoor games. Each day that weather permitted they also swam for a prescheduled amount of time. B & G Club brought approximately +35 kids to the Recreation Area EACH DAY they were there. That means they brought in over 1050 visitors to the Recreation Area this summer. Having these large of numbers is wonderful for the Recreation Department. We are able keep the staff busy longer and filled in some of the slower times of the season.
The Recreation Department continues to work with closely with the “Pittsford Seniors”. On the 4th Thursday of each month the “Pittsford Seniors” host a luncheon at the VT Police Academy cafeteria. The Recreation Department helps by advertising these events. Another way the Recreation Department assists is by taking reservations because seniors need to call ahead so the proper amount of food can be prepared ahead of time. The seniors just celebrated their 4th anniversary of their program and it was their busiest yet. See attached chart for details.
The Recreation Area now has 18 holes of disc golf. Thanks to the efforts of Terry Poor and Tony Freson. The Recreation Area is seeing an entire “new” group of clientele that the Recreation Department was not reaching before. On a summer day many people can be observed carrying their “disc bag” full of discs to the first tee. Please be sure to thank these guys when you see them.