360.378.4953 -- 580 GUARD STREET -- PO BOX 1946, FRIDAY HARBOR, WA 98250
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360.378.4953 -- 580 GUARD STREET -- PO BOX 1946, FRIDAY HARBOR, WA 98250 |
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STAFF:
Recreation Rebecca Clarke Abby Spann Recreation Director:
Administrative Assistant Dodie Swift Taylor
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MISSION STATEMENTIt is the mission of San Juan Island Park and Recreation District to improve and enhance the quality of life on San Juan Island by:
Adopted 3/1/2001
2008 End of Year Report
San Juan Island Park and Recreation District locally known as Island Rec was established in 1984 as a junior taxing district for San Juan Island. It is governed by an elected board of five commissioners. Bill Cumming, Alisa Schoultz, Scott Zehner, Ralph Hahn and Jim Ricks are current commissioners. Bill Cumming and Alisa Schoultz started a new term this year.
2008 was the fourth of six years of Island Rec’s voter-approved 10-cent operating levy. The 2008 operating budget totaled $541,383 of which $214,114 was generated by property taxes. Sponsorships, donations, program fees and reserve funds contributed to the rest of the annual budget. The levy rate decreases each year and 2008 rather than collecting 10cents per 1,000 of assessed property value Island Rec collected only 7.5 cents.
Island Rec employed two full –time staff Recreation Director, Sally Thomsen and Recreation Specialist Abby Spann; two year round part- time positions, an administrative assistant and park maintenance/custodian; and 30 seasonal employees. The administrative half-time position is currently operating as a job share by Barb Jensen and Patty Curtiss. The Maintenance/Custodian position was filled by Nicki Davis for most of the year. Complementing the work of staff, over 130 volunteers contributed over 1,500 hours in providing recreation programs for San Juan Islanders
Island Rec continued to develop and maintain Island Parks and Trails. Highlighting work in parks was the creation of a partnership with the Dog Park Committee to build and operate Eddie and Friends Dog Park. This new park attracts dozens of folks and their pooches daily. Major park maintenance projects included clearing thickets of blackberries and replacing the damaged fence along the west boundary of the Lafarge property; and replacing the damaged fences in the skatepark. Island Rec contributed $10,000 towards the Elementary School new playground that is enjoyed by school kids and the general public. San Juan Island Trails Committee was established in 2000 as a spin off of Island Rec’s Board. In 2008 it operated under San Juan County Parks with Island Rec as its sole monetary supporter.
This year we saw an increase of 16% in program participation with over 8,700 participants involved in over 1,550 hours of recreation program hours. During most summer weeks 100 hours or more of recreation program time was offered, while during the school year we operated programs 6 days a week, with several days of each week offering multiple opportunities. In 2008 annual special events including Music on the Lawn; the K-9 Carnival; Teen Halloween Party; Father Daughter Dance; Skate Board and BMX Jam; Friday Harbor 8.8k Loop Run and Children’s Festival continued to gain in popularity. Introduced to the Special Event line up was, Touch a Truck, an event giving kids of all ages the opportunity to explore trucks and machinery used in public works, safety and building industries. A total of 10 Special Events were offered.
Partnerships are vital to much of Island Rec’s success. Island Rec continued its on- going partnerships with San Juan Island School District; San Juan County 4-H; San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce; San Juan Island Sailing Foundation; San Juan Island Fitness Club; San Juan Island Prevention Coalition and San Juan Island Family Resource Center. San Juan Islanders benefit from these partnerships with increased recreation opportunities and increased quality of programming. A new partnership was established with the Town of Friday Harbor for the Special Event, Touch a Truck.
Island Rec provided nearly $19,000 in scholarships which was an increase of over $2,400. Over 50 San Juan Island children benefited directly from participating in one or more of Island Rec programs. Island Rec contributed $2,880 towards swimming lessons for 144 Island children.
San Juan Islanders and Island Rec benefited from the generosity of several key sponsors in 2008. Kings Market, Islanders Bank, Island Petroleum Services and Islanders Insurance all contributed $1,000 or more to Island Rec programs. Their sponsorship supported major island events many scholarships for San Juan Island children.
Island Rec’s Board initiated the Shining Star Award program this year to honor businesses and individual who have made mentionable contributions to Island Rec. This year’s recipients were:
Community Spirit Award Selfless giving of goods, services and or financial support
Partner Award Commitment to providing recreational opportunities through cooperative efforts
Outstanding Volunteer Service
Island Rec looks forward to 2009 and its 25th anniversary providing park and recreations services to the San Juan Island Community.
Island Rec - Creating community through people, parks and programs.
Staff Changes Badminton enthusiast and softball umpire, Fred
Schaller said it best: “you are losing one winner and
gaining another.” He was referring to the imminent Last summer’s Camp Eagle Rock Director, Rebecca Clarke, continued to work for Island Rec throughout the winter in our open gym and fair building programs. Fortunately for Island Rec we snagged Rebecca before she moved on to other opportunities. We look forward to Rebecca’s enthusiasm and the community connections she brings to the job. As Abby moves on to marriage and Island Rec hires Rebecca Clarke in the position she vacated, it’s a win-win for all.
CONTACT INFO email: phone: fax: 360.378.4958 address: mailing address: |
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