Parks & Recreation Annual Report FY19-20

C I T Y O F G R E E N S B O R O Parks & Recreation 2019-2020 Annual Report

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A Note from the Director

PARKS & RECREATION LEADERSHIP TEAM

Nasha McCray Director

Kobe Riley Deputy Director

City of Greensboro Parks & Recreation

Charles Jackson Community Recreation Services Division Manager

safe programs from Parks and Recreation, Greensboro Public Library and Museum, and Creative Greensboro, like the “Summer Stay- camp” kits children could enjoy at home. The department also converted the Greensboro Sportsplex into a shelter for persons experiencing homelessness during early stay- at-home orders. In response to nationwide calls for social and racial justice, we have unequivocally supported the City Manager’s review of policies and practices through an equity lens. When we say that we want an equitable park system, we mean that all people – regardless race, ethnicity, age, income level, or ability – must have access to Parks and Recreation programs, places, and spaces. We know that in the past three years, 70 percent of our renovation and construction funds have been spent in Greensboro’s “highest vulnerability” neighborhoods, as defned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index. We will continue to look at how we invest our resources to make sure we serve our whole community. The 2020-21 fscal year will be an eventful one. You can expect to see us investing in our facilities, enhancing our partnerships, creatively ofering in-person opportunities, transitioning programs online with your health and safety in mind, and making stronger connections within our department and with you – the community we serve! I would sincerely like to thank City Council, the Parks and Recreation Commission, our many community partners, staf, and residents of Greensboro for their unwavering support and trust in us as we venture into a new world of recreation. Without this support, these accomplishments and our ability to provide a model parks system for the enjoyment of all would not be possible.

This past year has been one of many frsts, from our nationally-recognized Adult Recess to the introduction of new facilities and unique programs. Other moments proved challenging, like adjusting how we serve our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite challenges, our Parks and Recreation team quickly adjusted. We became stronger leaders in the recreation feld, and have continued to make an impact throughout Greensboro. We have again been named a fnalist for the National Recreation and Park Association’s National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management! This is the highest honor in our feld, and acknowledges our excellence in long-range planning, resource management, and innovative approaches to developing outstanding services. Having previously received won the Gold Medal three times, we hope to earn the distinction in the upcoming year. Meanwhile, we started to implement our 20-year master plan, Plan2Play, and its goals to ENHANCE our existing assets, EXPAND our oferings through strengthened partnerships and transformative programs, and CONNECT neighborhoods throughout our city into a vibrant, healthy, and equitable park system. We have completed seven key projects, including developing our new comprehensive program catalog “Discover Greensboro,” converting an existing facility to a new active adult center, and adding a youth services programmer to increase opportunities for children from newborns to fve. These initiatives will change the way we serve the community for years to come. In the face of the pandemic, we quickly developed daily Facebook Live programs that were viewed 46,000 times in the frst four weeks. We helped launch GSO: Greensboro Summer Online, which promotes COVID-19

Ron McMillan Park Operations Division Manager

Shawna Tillery Planning & Project Development Division Manager

GREENSBORO CITY COUNCIL Nancy Vaughan Mayor Yvonne Johnson Mayor Pro Tem Marikay Abuzuaiter At Large Michelle Kennedy At Large Sharon Hightower District 1 Goldie Wells District 2 Justin Outling District 3 Nancy Hofmann District 4 Tammi Thurm District 5 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION Justin Washington Chair Kelly Gaines Vice Chair Kim Alexander-Henderson Marsha Glazman Bob Kollar Emily Linden Vanessa Martin Blake Odum Jef Smith

The Year in Review Highlights from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020

WhoWe Are 1,535 TOTAL YEARS OF STAFF EXPERIENCE

2019 JULY Launch of Piedmont Discovery App

2019 AUGUST Staf begin implementing Plan2Play master plan recommendations

355 PART TIME, SEASONAL, AND TEMPORARY STAFF

2019 SEPTEMBER First Dog Splash at Keeley Park Sprayground

142 FULL TIME BENEFITED STAFF 133 +

2019 OCTOBER Introduced new department logo and tagline

2019 NOVEMBER Grand opening for Keeley

OVERALL NUMBER OF CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES FOR STAFF 43 STAFF WITH NC PESTICIDE LICENSE 28 STAFF CPR/

Disc Golf Course and Mountain Bike Trail

2019 DECEMBER Keeley Park Phase II ground breaking

2020 JANUARY Discover Greensboro magazine, departmental program and facility guide, debuts

2020 FEBRUARY Completion of Trotter Active Adult Center

FIRST AID CERTIFIED 18

2020 MARCH Transition to virtual programs due to COVID-19

FULL TIME BENEFITED NEW HIRES 16 STAFF CERTIFIED PARKS AND RECREATION PROFESSIONAL/EXECUTIVE 5 STAFF RETIREMENTS

2020 APRIL

Held inaugural Great Greensboro Camp-In 2020 JUNE Helped plan and implement citywide Virtual Juneteenth Celebration

2020 MAY Launch of GSO Summer Online

Greensboro Parks & Recreation by the Numbers

$ 9.9 MILLION $ 815 THOUSAND $ 698 THOUSAND SPONSORSHIPS,

UNIQUE VISITS FOR VOLLEYBALL OPEN PLAY (JANUARY-MID MARCH) 680 + EVENTS HOSTED AT BARBER PARK EVENT CENTER IN 8 MONTHS 120 100 PERCENT INCREASE IN GREENWAY USAGE* 63 VIRTUAL PROGRAMS OFFERED MARCH-JUNE* 54 PERCENT

ECONOMIC IMPACT AT SPORTS FACILITIES

MONETARY VALUE OF VOLUNTEER HOURS

DONATIONS, & GRANTS

32,034 VOLUNTEER HOURS FOLLOWERS ON 20,278 SOCIAL MEDIA

INCREASE IN ATTENDANCE AT GARDENS* 39 PERCENT INCREASE IN ATTENDANCE AT REGIONAL PARKS* 20 PERCENT

TEENS REACHED DURING SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS 6,935

TREES PLANTED TO 1,000 +

INCREASE IN ROUNDS OF GOLF AT GILLESPIE*

INCREASE TREE CANOPY

*Response to COVID-19 Pandemic fromMarch-May 2020, compared to the same time in 2019

2019 - 2020 Projects

18

7. Dudley High School Tennis Courts

32

26

1

40

27

16

31

22

3

5

8

4

29

30

37 39

10

36

14

11

19

28

34

6 25 24

7

19. Lindley Park Playground

35

23

2

17

15

38

13

12

20

9

25. Ken Free Basketball Court

21

15. Grifn Community Dog Park

33

Master Plan Updates

Construction In

10. Lake Daniel Tennis

31. Spencer Love Tennis

Courts

Center Phase 2 Expansion

and In Design

Progress

32. Palmetto Trail Parking

11. Sunset Hills Tennis Court

1. Battleground Parks

22. Keeley Park Phase II 23. Glenwood Recreation

Expansion

Districts

12. Trotter Active Adult

Center Renovation

Planned Amenity Improvements

2. Caldcleugh Multicultural

Center Parking

Center

Expansion

13. Hester Park Athletic

Fields

3. Spencer Love Tennis

24. Barber Park Maintenance

33. Westbury Park Walking

Center

Building

14. Lake Daniel Greenway Bridges Replacements 15. Grifn Community Park

Improvements

4. Peeler Community Park

25. Ken Free Basketball

34. Windsor Recreation

Court

Center Seating

Renovation and

Shelter and Dog Park

26. Brightwood

35. Arlington Park Accessible

Improvement Projects

Neighborhood Park

16. Lisa Westmoreland

Shelter and Playground

Completed

Inspirational Garden at

Equipment

Under Design

5. Lewis Recreation Center ADA Entry and Bathroom

Country Park

36. Sunset Hills Accessible

27. Battleground Parks

17. Gillespie Golf Course Pro

Playground

Renovation

District Phase 1, Country

Shop and Cafe

37. Textile Park Playground 38. Twin Lake Community

Park Hillside Project

6. Gateway Gardens Visitor

18. Lake Higgins Ofice Roof

Center

28. Windsor Chavis Joint Use

Replacement

Park Improvements

Facility

7. Dudley High School

19. Lindley Park Accessible Playground Equipment 20. Hester Park Fitness Area

Tennis Courts

39. Peeler Community Park

29. North Bufalo Creek

Solar Mobile Charging

Greenway

8. Page High School Tennis

Station

Courts

30. Peeler Community Park

21. Westbury Park

40. Country Park Solar

Expansion

9. Woodlea Acres Tennis

Playground

Mobile Charging Station

Courts

enhance As part of our Plan2Play master plan, Greensboro Parks and Recreation is working to enhance the department’s existing assets.

Key Accomplishments

• Began construction of the Barber Park and Gateway Gardens shared maintenance facility. • Completion of Gateway Gardens Event Center. • Completion of the Lisa Westmoreland Inspirational Garden at Country Park by Greensboro Arboretum staf. • Garden staf planted more than1,000 trees and saplings in parks, gardens, and cemeteries in an efort to increase tree canopy in Greensboro. • Constructed new dock at Lake Brandt. • Enhancements made to Lewis Recreation Center including ADA accessible parking, interior ADA improvements, painting, and bathroom renovations. • Completion of athletic feld renovation at Hester Park. • Completion of Peeler Community Park multi-sport court. • Partnered with Greensboro Fire Department to enhance the rescue marker program, expanding outreach eforts related to trail safety and emergency response. • Turf Maintenance began maintaining LeBauer and Center City Parks turf to provide higher quality grass year-round. • A total of 570 volunteers for the Big Sweep Greensboro and Winter Wipeout litter cleanups collected more than 600 bags of trash from our community’s streets, streams, neighborhoods, and public areas. • Completed program review and update of Adopt-a-Street, Park, and Trail programs. • Renovated and improved the pedal boat area at Country Park. • Wall mural completed by local artist Darlene Glenn-McClinton at Country Park.

Reviving Trotter Center

The Smith Active Adult Center – formerly called a senior center – is bustling with activity. Workout classes, clubs, day trips. The place is always full. “This is an active, energetic welcoming place for all ages and abilities,” said Jennie Matkins, who oversees Parks and Recreation’s programming for older adults. “It’s not a place of just old people sitting around. It’s a very active building.” So full, in fact, that Parks and Recreation needed a second location dedicated to adults 50 years old “or better.” The department’s recently-adopted 20-year master plan, Plan2Play, called for adding an additional active adult center in light of the city’s changing demographics. Trotter Community Recreation Center, located within Hester Park, became that place. The new Trotter Active Adult Center has been reborn with exciting and refreshing renovations. The exterior has new landscaping and a repaved parking lot. The inside got a fresh coat of paint, an updated ftness room, and a new computer lab and a lounge. “The new facility aligns with the department’s vision of ‘Enhance, Expand, Connect,’ but it also illustrates the department and City’s commitment to provide a second recreational facility and programs geared towards our older, active adults in western Greensboro,” said Parks and Recreation Director Nasha McCray.

expand As part of our Plan2Play master plan, Greensboro Parks and Recreation is working to expand oferings by strengthening partnerships and creating transformational programs.

Key Accomplishments

• Gateway Gardens hosted a weekly Summer Reading Program for 1 to 5-year-olds. • Implemented Adult Recess Program, a grownup play event, with more than 600 attendees at Barber Park. Received national recognition for the program. • Simkins Indoor Sports Pavilion began hosting volleyball tournaments with Carolina Region Volleyball, resulting in an expansion of tournament oferings in the area. • Athletics Section earned the NAYS (National Alliance for Youth Sports) Better Sports for Kids Quality Program Provider designation. • Shifted to ofering virtual programs with community engagement, environmental education, garden, parks, recreation center, and youth services staf in response to COVID-19. • Youth Services added a Youth Program Specialist who specializes in programs for 0 to 10-year-olds. • Expanded Santa’s Workshop programming to ofer a children’s area, resulting in an increase of families coming to pick up toys. • Aquatics created Junior and Rookie Lifeguard Programs. • Planted 166 new trees in Kings Forest Park and neighborhood. • Environmental Education staf selected from recreation professionals across the country to teach at the National Park Ranger Training Institute. • Gate City Wheelers became sanctioned with the National Wheelchair Basketball Association and competed in their frst season. • Revamped and expanded Counselor in Training program to be more interactive for participants. • Expanded County Park pedal boat operation schedule due to increased demand. • Launched GSO: Summer Online virtual program platform in response to COVID-19 pandemic in conjunction with Creative Greensboro, Greensboro Public Library, and Greensboro History Museum.

Homemade TreatsWith a Side of Friendship

Two members discovered they shared a hometown. Harris made a new friend, and they ended up traveling together. One member said she had been fghting depression before she joined the group, but was feeling much better. “It’s one of the best programs I’ve done in my recreation career so far,” Jones said. “Just to see the smile on their faces, to hear the stories that came out of this program.”

Beginning last fall, they dished out shrimp and grits, neck bones and rice, and scampi to diners. But the newly formed Warnersville Recreation Center Homemade Recipe Club did more than just fll bellies. It helped forge community and new friendships. The idea for the club came fromWarnersville Recreation Center Director Quentin Jones and Facilities Coordinator Chamreece Diggs. They were hoping to come up with a new reason to bring older adults into the recreation center and to make good use of the skills of long-time Recreation Assistant Wanda Johnson, a great cook and caterer. “We just wanted to tap into our staf and what they are best at,” Jones said. “Give staf the option to perfect their skills to whatever they are passionate about.” The club started with 10 women, many recruited by Johnson, in September 2019. Each week had a theme. Johnson brought in her extensive cook book library for sharing. Club members brought in ingredients. Once a month, they feasted. “The frst time I went I was blown way,” said Deborah Harris, who joined the group at Johnson’s invitation. “Wanda had a spread. Eggs, grits, tea. She had homemade jelly, bacon, sausage. I just couldn’t believe it. You talk about delicious. After I went the frst time there was no problem to get me to come back.” “It gave me another outlet. When you’re retired, you have to have a plan in place. You have to stay busy and you have to stay active,” Harris said.

The club quickly doubled in size. The group started developing a cook book. And members bonded.

connect As part of our Plan2Play master plan, Greensboro Parks and Recreation is working to connect communities with a vibrant, healthy, and equitable park system through ongoing public input and engagement.

Key Accomplishments

• Barber Park and Creative Greensboro partnered for the annual “Shakespeare in the Park” program. • Partnered with City of High Point to establish R.E.D. Zone Football program. • Greensboro Arboretum hosted three large events, attracting roughly 15,000 visitors and collected over 1,900 pounds of food donations for Greensboro Urban Ministry. • Hosted the 2019 Guilford County Native American PowWow at Country Park. • Provided holiday wreaths to 409 Meals on Wheels recipients. • New Youth Services Specialist ofered 18 in-person programs and 18 virtual programs since beginning her role in late fall 2019. • Peeler Recreation Center connected with the community through their Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat event, drawing more than 600 people . • Glenwood Recreation Center hosted two community-based drives, providing more then 350 backpacks with school supplies and more than 200 turkeys to families in need. • Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation (AIR) added community outings to weekly programming to provide leisure education to participants of varying abilities. • Reformatted public input meetings for Battleground Parks District to virtual during pandemic. • Volunteer Services focused recruitment eforts towards local college and university students to increase awareness and participation in Parks and Recreation volunteer opportunities . • Volunteers with iCan Bike connected with individuals with disabilities to help them learn how to ride a bike independently. • Converted the Greensboro Sportsplex as a shelter for those experiencing homelessness under stay at home orders during initial phases of COVID-19 pandemic. • Community Food Task Force created a new model called the Community Connection which allows community partners to gather and share what is happening in the local food access arena.

Find Your Next Adventure

Boredom beware. Adventure is just a click away with the Piedmont Discovery mobile app. In July 2019, the City of Greensboro Parks and Recreation and Information Technology departments, the City of High Point, and Guilford County partnered to launch the free phone app that lets residents and visitors search for local parks, trails, and recreational opportunities. The app is available in the Google Play and Apple stores. “The Piedmont Discovery app is one of the only regional park and trail locator apps in the country,” said Greensboro Parks and Recreation Director Nasha McCray. The Piedmont Discovery app allows users to fnd outdoor amenities like trails, playgrounds, or dog parks, as well as indoor recreation areas and facilities owned by Greensboro, High Point, or Guilford County. App users can search for parks or trails nearest to them, fnd directions, and connect with local parks department websites for more details about each location. The app also lets users explore trails based on their difculty and terrain. More than 1,000 people downloaded the app in the frst month it was publicly available. The project partners are already contemplating the next phase of the project. “Piedmont Discovery could be expanding to include all parks and trails within Guilford County,” said Park Planner Vonda Martin.

Thank you to our many major sponsors and partners who have supported Greensboro Parks & Recreation within the last year.

ACC Action Greensboro Alcohol and Drug Services All Pets Considered Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - Sigma Kappa Omega Chapter AmeriLife of Greensboro ArtsGreensboro BB&T Best Friends Bed & Biscuit Capital Subaru Carey Sound Carolina Panthers Chick-fl-A Cone Health Foundation Country Kennel Creative Greensboro Defending Hands Foundation Deuterman Law Group Dicks Sporting Goods Downtown Greensboro, Inc. First Tee of the Triad FOX8 WHGP TV Foundation for the Carolinas – Carolina Panthers Challenger League Grant Fresh Empire Friends of Green Hill Cemetery

Girl Scouts, Carolina Peaks to Piedmont Greensboro College Greensboro Convention & Visitors Bureau Greensboro Elks Lodge Greensboro Farmers Market, Inc. Greensboro History Museum Greensboro Public Library Greensboro Regional Realtors Association, Inc. Greensboro Regional Tennis Association Greensboro Running Club Greensboro Science Center Greensboro Sports Foundation Greensboro Streetballers Greensboro Symphony Orchestra Greensboro Tennis Foundation Greensboro Tennis Program Guilford County Emergency Management Guilford County Schools Guilford Horticultural Society Hayes-Taylor YMCA HealthTeam Advantage HUMANA

JimWestmoreland Joseph M. Bryan Foundation Junior League of Greensboro Just One Foundation LifeStorage Martha and Spencer Love Foundation Master Gardener Volunteers of Guilford County National Forum for Black Public Administrators National Recreation & Park Association Natty Greene’s NC A&T State University NC Cooperative Extension at NC Land andWater Conservation Fund NC Native Plant Society NC 811 NC Recreation & Park Association New Garden Landscaping & Nursery Next to Nature Landscape Design Open Eye Project Out of the Garden Project Pennybyrn Guilford County NC Fusion Soccer

Piedmont Fat Tire Society Proehlifc Park Qorvo REI Regional Land Surveyors Rice Toyota Rob Landwehrmann Rotary Clubs of Greensboro, Inc. Sally & Alan Cone Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Greensboro Second Harvest Food Bank of NW NC Shift NC Summit Rotary T. Gilbert Pearson Audubon Society The Arc of Greensboro Triad Foot and Ankle Center UNC Greensboro VF Corporation Weaver Foundation, Inc. Well-Spring Retirement Community

Additional support for Parks & Recreation facilities, programs, and services is secured and provided by the following key non-proft support agencies: