On Tuesday, July 16, the Olympia City Council signed a proclamation designating July 2024 as Parks, Arts, and Recreation Month.
The proclamation recognized the benefits of parks, arts, and recreation programs, including promoting physical and mental health, creating a sense of community, and serving as critical infrastructure for advancing climate goals.
The city's park system features 54 properties, over 1,400 acres, 23.5 miles of trails, 12 playgrounds, and two spray grounds.
Paul Simmons, Olympia's Parks, Arts, and Recreation director said the department has over 7,700 volunteer hours through their park stewardship program and about 9,700 participants in their recreation programs. The department also built a cultural event series that features five partner events.
The Parks director noted that the department has been able to significantly increase its annual scholarship program, taking it from just a couple of thousand dollars per year to over $20,000 per year, which is given out to youth and families.
The dedicated funding sources from voted measures have allowed the department to invest over $1 million annually into camp major maintenance, ADA facility upgrades, and Percival Landing repairs.
Simmons added that the funds have also enabled the department to pursue new projects and meet the community's growth, such as the Grass Lake Nature Park, Kaiser Woods Park improvements, and the future Yelm Highway Community Park, which will include the city's first soccer fields.
The voted measure has allowed the Parks department to aggressively pursue state and federal matching funds. Over the last six to seven years, they have received close to 30 grants and secured about $10-$12 million in state and federal money to supplement the local dollars provided by the community.
Simmons reported that the funding has provided an Oly on Ice for the last five years, which he said has become a holiday favorite and tradition for many families in the community during those cold, dark, and wet months.
Additionally, Simmons described how the department's day camps typically sell out quickly, like concert tickets. He explained that the summer day camps open on the first Saturday in March and fill up quickly.
Simmons also highlighted the department's partnership with the Bridge Music Project, which has been contracting with the city for several years. The project works in Olympia's middle schools and reaches youth that the department's traditional programs may not.
The program targets foster youth, incarcerated youth, and homeless youth and teaches them to deal with life's problems through music, including songwriting and performing. At the end of the program, the participants get the opportunity to go into a recording studio and record a song.
"Our core purpose as a department is to enrich lives by connecting people with quality experiences. We lead with our values which are dedicated, inclusive, responsive, respectful, innovative, and fun," Simmons said.
He added that the theme for this year's Parks, Arts, and Recreation Month is "Where you belong," reflecting the department's goal of ensuring everyone in the community feels they belong in the city's parks, programs, and services.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here