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MPR Newsletter Dec 20111. ,DECEMBER 2011 /�E IDIRN =- City of Meridian • 33 East Broadway Avenue, Suite 206, Meridian, ID 83642 Televhone: (208) 888-3579 • Fax: (208) 898-5501 DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE This year several new accomplishments have increased excellence in our -).,Wks and recreation "'W programs! Examples of improved a ! programs and y accomplishments include: 0 a partnership with PAL for new basketball courts in Heroes Park; ,�0 new bleachers at Mo Brooks Field a in Storey Park; Above: Meridian Parks & Recreation Director Steve Siddoway 0 Smoke-free Parks initiative; 0 the new Tully Park snow cone stand; 0 ADA upgrades in the Community Center; 0 completed pathway projects at Fothergill, Jackson Drain, and Heroes; and completed design/ construction documents for Five Mile Creek Pathway segments H1 (Pine) and E (Bridgetower); 0 Diane and Winston Moore Pathway dedication in Gordon Harris Park; 0 Lakeview golf course trees and landscape improvements; 0 Bark Park Golf Scramble; 0 AIC Award for Heroes Park; 0 youth programs, such as Ignite Youth; 0 new Mer -Ida -Teen camp for teens; 0 maintenance facility property acquisition; 0 improvements to events such as CableONE Movie Night, 4th of July, and Christmas Tree Lighting; 0 new volleyball tournament to benefit the f Hope Tree; 0 improved security cameras; 0 coordination of the Ten Mile Interchange landscape improvements; 0 staff realignments with Mike Barton as the new Parks Superintendent and Elroy Huff as the new City Arborist; 0 ongoing work, coordination, and agreements with Kleiner Park; and 0 the Rock of Honor Unveiling Ceremony. Whew! What a list—and those are just the highlights of a year that has been full of amazing accomplishments from a dedicated staff of parks and recreation employees who I am proud to work with. They work hard, but they love what they do, and it shows! Here are some fun facts and numbers associated with Meridian Parks & Recreation this year. In fiscal year 2011, we: (continued on page 2) Director's Message...................................1 - 2 Maintenance Shop on the Move....................2 Improvements Yield Remarkable Value ............ 3 -5 Back to Pathways........................................6 - 7 Smoke -Free Parks in Meridian.....................8 Pumped Up for Sports ................................ 9 MPR Commission Achievements ................... 10 Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park Update .......... 11 Special Events Bring the Community Together .... 12-14 A Record Yearfor Volunteering in 2011............15 Let's Recycle...................................................15 Youth -Centered Activities Spark Excitement ....... 16 The 4-1-1 on MPR Staff & Commissioners ........ 17-18 City of Meridian Thanks Petals & Stems .......... 18 and MGT Legacy Church Snapshot Gallery 2011 ..................................18-20 (continued from page 1) DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE 0 had 2,507 total registrations for recreation classes and camps; 0 offered 157 different classes/camps in 648 separate sessions; 0 hosted a variety of different classes at the Meridian Community Center, from art and dance classes, to new offerings, such as violin camp, preschool tumbling, family martial arts, woodworking for kids, and more; 0 provided scholarships to recreation programs through the "Care Enough to Share" Program to 26 Meridian residents; 0 reserved 15 picnic shelters in 11 different parks for a total of 856 shelter reservations; 0 had 4,286 players on 371 teams in our sports leagues last year; 0 used over 1,200 hours of gym time last year for volleyball, basketball, and dodgeball; 0 included 108 teams (1,355 people)—the maximum number available based on current field space—in the Spring Softball League; 0 had 1,100 people play on volleyball teams this past winter and spring; 0 hosted a Movie Night in Settlers Park every Friday night in June, July, and August. That's 13 free, family -friendly movies available in the park this summer; 0 hosted five (5) different major community events this year, including CableONE Movie Night, the Barn Sour Races, Independence Day (4`' of July) Festival, the Community Block Parry, and Christmas in Meridian/Tree Lighting Ceremony; 0 coordinated 60 other "event days" for special events hosted by other organizations in parks this year; 0 had 149 people register for the Barn Sour Y Fun Run, 6K, and IOK races this year; 0 currently maintain 182 acres of developed park land in 19 different sites, including one (1) Regional Park, four (4) Community Parks, six (6) Neighborhood Parks, three (3) Mini Parks, and five (5) Special Use Areas; 0 had only 38 acres of developed park land in four (4) different sites in the year 2000; 0 currently own another 184 acres of additional park land that will be developed in future years; 0 provided 2.4 acres of park land per thousand residents in Meridian, with a goal of providing 4 acres per thousand; 0 constructed a new 60 -acre park, Julius Kleiner Memorial Park, near Eagle and Fairview Roads, which is planned to open next year. This park is a donation from Mr. 1 Eugene Kleiner and the Kleiner Park Trust; 0 maintained nine (9) miles of multi -use pathways, half of which is in parks and the other half throughout the community; 0 managed over 2,000 trees in our urban forest system, from park trees to downtown trees. This year we will add over 1,000 more trees in Kleiner Park; and 0 received over 4,000 hours of volunteer service from community members this year:'' Thank you!! These are just some of our numbers and Pun facts at Meridian Parks & Recreation. We hope that you are part of these numbers, or soon will be! Sincerely, Le Steve Siddoway, Director Meridian Parks & Recreation MAINTENANCE SHOP ON THE MOVE With a rapidly expanding parks system, our Parks Maintenance Division headquarters has out- grown its current location on Bower Street. We are planning for the future by developing a new maintenance facility. This year the City purchased 6.11 acres located on the corner of Locust Grove and Lanark Street that will someday soon be our new lo- cation. Insight Architects has been chosen to lead us through the design process that has already begun. The design process will be completed in the spring of 2012, and construction will commence Above: Future Site of the Parks shortly thereafter. It is our desire to have a new facility in place Maintenance Facility located on the that we can Occupy by spring 2013. corner of S. Locust Grove & Lanark -Page 3 Lakeview Golf Course Landscape Improvements: 'Irate this past summer, Ron Howell with the Ashford Greens Homeowners Association (HOA) partnered with the City of Meridian to install sod and irrigation on approximately 7,500 square feet of frontage property along W. Dawson Drive in Meridian. The City owns the property in front of the Lakeview Golf Club's maintenance facility and clubhouse, which will be maintained by the Ashford Greens HOA. The next phase will involve the expansion of the # 1 tee box, irrigation, and seed or sod installation. The MPR Department helped Lakeview Golf Club t together a public outreach meeting this past `� 5'pring, where we invited all homeowners that abutted the golf course. Just over 450 postcards were mailed to neighbors. The event was held at the golf course clubhouse; it was well attended with nearly 80 guests. Over the summer 4nonths, four Eagle Scout projects , coordinated by 'City Arborist Elroy Huff, Above: Volunteers have provided 104 new plant over 100 new trees at Lakeview. The trees at Lakeview trees have been well Golf Club located at 4200 West Talamore received by homeowners Boulevard and golfers alike. This is a in Meridian great new addition to the golf course, with a variety of pines and deciduous trees donated by Jayker Wholesale 2Aursery, and planting done by a very large �� number of volunteers. The MPR Department _plans to plant an additional 25-30 trees next r spring. Five Mile Creek Restoration: Five Mile Creek restoration near Franklin and S. Locust Grove Road was completed this past spring with a grant from Ada County Soil and Water Conservation District. The scope included channel re -alignment, bank restoration, drought tolerant native plants, and native fescue seeding. An irrigation system was installed to accelerate establishment. Many thanks for a combined effort from Nampa -Meridian Irrigation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, City of Meridian, volunteers from church groups, and Meridian School District students. New Amenities in Settlers Park: The Leighton Family Baseball complex, home to Meridian Youth Baseball, is one of the premier baseball complexes in the Northwest. This year the complex got a little nicer with the addition of two new amenities. With funds generated from the league and numerous in-kind donations, Meridian Youth Baseball has added two batting cages that can accommodate up to six batters each at one time and two remote -control scoreboards (pictured above right). These improvements were completed at no cost to the City and will be a great asset for years to come. Benches were installed around the fishing pond along with giant boulders, which were donated by Rock Placing Company (pictured above left). Community Center Renovations Complete: The Meridian Community -" Center is located at 201 E. Idaho Street and is used by Meridian Parks & Recreation to hold classes and other special events. Because the facility was built before building codes Above: Meridian required buildings to be Community Center received new constructed to provide ADA upgrades access to citizens with disabilities, the restroom, counters and entrances were not up to today's standards. To bring this facility up to standard, funding was secured through a Community Development Block Grant to plan for and construct the necessary ADA upgrades. This spring we completed construction and now have new pedestrian ramps, renovated restrooms, accessible counters and sinks, and a new accessible drinking fountain. This facility is extremely popular with Meridian residents and is now accessible to people of all ages and abilities. (continued on page 4) (continued from page 3) IMPROVEMENTS YIELD REMARKABLE VALUE Security in the Parks System: Security system efforts continue to confirm savings for the City of Meridian in vandalism repairs. Occurrences are down. New lower price points on hardware and software are allowing for the upgrades, which include better uplinks to the City's network infrastructure. Heroes Park: Heroes Park is a 30 -acre soccer park that was developed through a partnership with the Meridian Police Activities League (MPAL). Last year, the park got a beautiful new amenity --a water feature. This water feature is unlike any other in the area because it is filled Above: Heroes Park, located at 3064 West Malta Drive, features a reclaimed water plaza Above Rieht. Basketball courts offer a new amenity at Heroes with "Class A" reclaimed water. "Class A" reclaimed water comes from the sewer treatment plant and is a highly treated source for irrigation and uses like water features. Because the Meridian Parks & Recreation Department and Meridian Public Works partnered to build this water feature that displays reclaimed water, we won a City Achievement award from the Association of Idaho Cities this year. A new wrought iron fence surrounding the water feature was added this fall. The decorative fence adds to the overall look and will keep the water feature looking good for years to come. We have once again partnered with MPAL to add more fencing separating the soccer field from the parking lot creating a safer environment for park users. There was an existing concrete pad at the park that was going to be utilized as an inline hockey court. Since it was not being used as planned, MPAL came up with an idea to Page h , `s convert this pad and install three full-sized basketball courts, which fit the site perfectly. The MPR Department coordinated the installation of the poles and hoops. They are adjustable to accommodate the age groups in the MPAL Programs. They are also open to the public. 5 At the 2011 Fall Awards Celebration held on November 2, the National Association of Police Athletic/ Activities Leagues and the Meridian Police Activities League presented Partnership Awards to Mayor Tammy de Weerd, City Council, and Director Steve Siddoway/MPR Department (pictured above left next to MPAL's Executive Director Tom Roy). Ten Mile Interchange Landscaping: Landscaping and irrigation for the Ten Mile Interchange is complete and is currently in the "grow -in" stage with the landscape contractor. The slopes were seeded with a drought- . tolerant, native fescue mix and are intended to t,-, have a prairie -style look. A similar sod variety, mixed with blue grass, was installed on the SPUI (Single -Point Urban Interchange) islands, for a similar appearance to the slopes. 4 This variety in the islands can also be manicured. Native cultivar drought -tolerant plants were chosen along with the grasses. The irrigation system was paid for from a federal grant, and reclaimed water will be used with an estimated 15 million gallons of treated water diverted from the waste water treatment facility, based on 32 inches of water applied on 18 acres in one calendar year. (continued on page 5) ' -IMPROVEMENTS YIELD REMARKABLE VALUE Storey Park• The Mo Brooks baseball field in Storey Park located on the corner of Main Street and Franklin Road is one of our oldest, most popular fields. For a number of years, this field was home to our local American Legion baseball team. Things have changed, and the Legion team that called Mo Brooks Field home is now playing their games at Meridian High School. Because of the age of the complex, it was time it underwent a facelift. This year, with the help of several volunteer groups, we painted every surface; recycled a box car and old fencing; repaired lights; leveled pavers; kled ed new concrete; sodded the bare areas; Yesurfaced the infield and warning track; and installed new bleachers. These improvements F% " Below: Volunteer groups lend a hand at Mo Brooks Field in Storey Park located at 205 East Franklin Road 04� have generated excitement and a sense of pride that has carried over to an increase in field reservations. What's in store for Storey Park in the near future? Storey Park, roughly 19 acres in size, has a total of approximately 15 acres of developed parkland. A Storey Park Master Plan project is underway; the project will provide a plan for the undeveloped park area, Z (continued from page 4) approximately 4 acres in size. The City needs to assess current use and future needs in collaboration with the neighboring property owners, park tenants, and businesses. The City has hired a consultant, Jensen -Belts Associates, to lead the project. The project will be complete next year. ACRD Stormwater Facility at Linder/Chinden: As part of the City's commitment to streetscape beautification, we have an agreement with Ada County Highway District (ACHD) that these facilities will be landscaped by ACHD and then the City will provide ongoing maintenance. Since we have agreed to maintain these facilities, they must be quality built. We managed the installation contract for this facility, and ACHD covered the complete cost of the contract. The installation contract has been awarded to Sterling Landscape in the amount of $12,723. This is a savings of over $12,200 had ACHD awarded the landscape project to the prime contractor building the intersection. Snow Cone Stand Adds Cool Treat for Tully Park Patrons: If you visited Tully Park this year, you may have noticed a new amenity near the playground. A new snow cone stand has j been a welcome addition for softball players, kids at the { skatepark, those out for a stroll on the Bud Porter Pathway, Above: Tully Park, located and many other park at 2500 North Linder Road, visitors. Stop by outfits a snow cone stand sometime next year during the summer season and enjoy a cool treat. The stand will be open from approximately May 15 -September 15 from now on! Downtown Tree Replacement Projects: Site tree wells in the downtown area were replaced this summer. This program helps to create safer walking zones by eliminating hazards caused by tree roots and providing aesthetic enhancements. The Heroes Park East Sidewalk Expansion project (pictured right) was completed this year. The project replaced the existing narrow concrete sidewalk with a ten -foot -wide asphalt pathway along Black Sand Avenue on the east side of the park. A dozen existing trees were relocated. The new pathway provides park users a full circuit around the perimeter of the park. The Northwest Corner Grading/ Drainage project (pictured left) at Heroes Park was completed this past spring. In order to protect neighboring homes from future winter storm events, we installed drainage improvements at the northwest corner of the park. This project provides containment, detention, and disposal of excess stormwater via swales, drainage infiltration beds, and berming. The Jackson Drain Connection project was completed this year. The project provides a Page 6 continuous ten -foot multi -use pathway connection between Eureka Avenue/Blue Heron Lane and North Lakes Place on Fairview Avenue. Pathway signage directing pathway users to other pathway links will be installed as part of an upcoming pathway signage program currently underway. The Fothergill Pathway Enhancement project connected an existing multi -use pathway along the Jackson Drain to the end of the pathway improvements accomplished on the Jackson Drain Connection project. The new pathway connection was constructed across vacant Ada County Highway District right-of-way on the east end of Blue Heron Lane. Existing Pathway Existing Pathway New Pathway Con ne(%on y connection ECHATE0..0 3 -.:.4 The Five Mile Creek Pathway Extension (Segment HI) from Pine to Fairview project will provide a multi -use pathway connection from Pine Avenue near Stonehenge Way, north along Fivemile Creek to Fairview Avenue at North Lakes Place. The pathway project is made possible by a Community Development Block Grant allowing the City to contract with Parametrix, a local planning and engineering consultant. After many months of coordinated efforts, easements have been secured, and we are proceeding to bid the first phase of the project for construction. This phase will provide a pathway connection between Pine and Badley Avenues. The anticipated completion date will be June 2012. (continued on page 7) BACK TO PATHWAYS Au b6 `h$ ow_dr, R Above: Five Mile Creek Pathway Segment HI north alignment alternatives Below: Five Mile Creek Pathway Segment HI I� south alignment The Five Mile Pathway Extension (Segment E) from Linder to Ten Mile project (pictured r —above right) will provide a multi -use pathway connection from the intersection of Linder and Ustick, west to Ten Mile. The project consists of two sub -segments: Linder to Bridgetower Subdivision and Bridgetower Subdivision to h Ten Mile. The first sub -segment crosses property owned by the Ada County Highway District and requires a pathway easement, paving, and an irrigation lateral crossing. The easement has been secured, and the lateral 7, crossing has been provided and installed by the Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District. The Bridgetower sub -segment is in the design phase. The project's design phase is funded by an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block (continued from page 6) Grant. A number of open houses and public meetings have been hosted to present the project and gain input from the nearby neighborhoods. Construction documents are currently at 99 percent completion. Approval of the plans, floodplain development application, and construction funding appropriations are pending. Once these efforts are complete, an easement and license agreement will be secured. Construction could begin in 2012, should funding be allocated. The Diane & Winston Moore Pathway was dedicated in May of this year. The pathway was previously constructed through the efforts of two developments in southeast Meridian --El Dorado and Gramercy. The one mile pathway runs from Eagle Road west to Gordon Harris Park and then north to Overland. A new memorial pathway sign was designed and installed at the junction of each leg of the pathway. Naming the pathway after Diane and Winston Moore recognizes the effort and commitment of the Moore family to our community. The dedication was attended by Winston and many members of the Moore family, friends, and city staff. The City will utilize the sign's design for updating current and future memorial pathway signage. Below: City dignitaries, MPR staff, MPR Commissioners, & Winston Moore with family members celebrate the Diane & Winston Moore Pathway with a ribbon cutting & sign unveiling The Meridian Parks & Recreation Department worked with the Central District Health Department (CDHD) earlier this year to gauge public support for smoke-free parks in Meridian, research smoke-free park policies in other communities, and propose a new resolution to expand smoke-free park policies in Meridian's park system. The City has an existing ordinance that has already been used to create smoke-free designations at several locations in previous years, such as the Adventure Island Playground in Settlers Park, Tully Skate Park, City Hall Campus, and the Police Department Campus. The new law prohibits smoking in all City parks. The smoking ban includes an exception for parking lots. This way, if someone is in a park and wishes to smoke, there is a place for them to go that is apart from the playgrounds, sports fields, and concessions areas where children and families tend to congregate, without having to leave the park entirely. The resolution passed unanimously by the City Council on February 15, 2011. Why Smoke -Free Parks? 1. Parks are about supporting healthy activities for families. The smoke-free policy will support and reinforce those healthy activities. 2. There is broad public support for a smoke-free policy in Meridian. SMOKE EE SNE Smoking is allowed in parking lots only. ` Meridian G11 Code 2 Page 8-, 0 In a statistically -valid, random sample survey conducted in the City of Meridian, 62% of Meridian citizens agreed that smoking should be prohibited in public parks. There were 26% who disagreed with a ban; and 12% were neutral. 0 CDHD conducted over 750 ad hoc surveys at various locations, including the Meridian softball league games, Movie Night in Settlers Park, and the Meridian Speedway. Results were similar, with 68% in support for a park - wide ban and 85% in support for a ban near playground areas. 0 At Meridian's Community Block Par F ,, �, event at Settlers Park, Project Filter , sponsored a booth and asked for signatures for or against smoke-free park ; policies. There were 275 signatures received in support, while ten signatures were received opposed to smoke-free policies. 3. Smoke-free policies are becoming the norm and are expected by the general public. 0 Such policies already exist at locations such as hospitals, worksites, schools, and restaurants. 0 Smoke-free parks policies—with a total park -wide ban—have been documented at 470 cities nation-wide. This does not include cities that have only designated smoke-free areas within city parks. 0 In Idaho, smoke-free policies come in many different forms (i.e., ordinance versus policy, or mandatory versus k voluntary, designated -area versus park- wide). Currently, at least nine cities L� have some type of smoke-free policy, and at least seven cities in Idaho are considering new smoke-free policies. 4. The dangers of secondhand smoke have been well documented. For example, the 2010 U.S. Surgeon General's Report states that "inhaling even the smallest amount of tobacco smoke can also damage your DNA, which can lead to cancer." C00! CENTRAL MSTRICT HEALTH DEPARTMENT J „Page 9 The fourth season of Dodgeball has come to a close. There were 20 teams in the league this year with 11 of them being Coed teams. The teams were split into two divisions --a Coed division and an Open division. Teams must have had three female players to start the game in the Coed division, and the Open divisions could have any number of males or females at the start of the game. The season started on August 29'' and finished up October 22nd. Each team had eight regular season matches and then was placed in a double -elimination tournament at the end of the season. The division champions this year were the Recess All -Stars (Upper Coed), eak Sauce (Lower Coed), and Clint 4 Yoward's Oblivion Express (Open). The Parks & Recreation Department will also be hosting the 2nd Annual Legends of Dodge - Ball Tournament on March 10, 2012. Men's Flag Football: This was the second year for the Adult Flag Football program, and it was a success. There g .,were 11 teams in the league, which is four more than last year. We are looking forward to expanding the league every year. This was a 6 on 6, "passing only," non -contact, flag football league meant for those football fans who wanted to throw the football around and get exercise at the same time. Good sportsmanship was the main objective in this league. We encouraged friends and families to create a team or come out and watch a game. Games were played at Storey Park or Bear ,-'Creek Park on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from September, 14' through November, 9' r-Pames started at 6:30 p.m. and were played until 10:00 p.m. Each game consisted of two twenty -minute halves. There were two officials along with a side judge to help keep the time and score. There has been some interest in having a Coed flag football league as well as a Women's flag football league. Volleyball: The 1" Annual Holiday Classic Volleyball Tournament was held Saturday, December 10`' at Heritage Middle School. The tournament f was able to raise just under $1,500 which benefited the Meridian Hope Tree and the less fortunate families in Meridian. A special thank you to the tournament teams, officials, volunteers, Meridian Joint School District #2, and sponsors for making a difference in your community. Without your help, this tournament could not happen. The City Parks & Recreation Department hopes to run this tournament each year to benefit a Meridian -based charity. Far Above: Holiday Classic volleyball players enjoy the tournament Above Middle (Left to Rielht): Human Resource staff Erin Lammers & Erin Montemurro, Mayor Tammy de Weerd, & MPR staff Steve Siddoway & Garrett White take a moment to pause for a photo while shopping for gifts at Walmart Above Last. Displayed prizes for the Meridian Hope Tree For more information on our sports programs, please contact Garrett White at 888-3579. The Meridian Parks & Recreation (MPR) Commission acts as an advisory council to the Mayor and City Council. In this capacity, the Commission works very closely with the MPR Department. The Commission is divided into three committees: Community Liaison; Recreation & Special Events; and Parks Amenities & Signage. These committees do the bulk of their work apart from the monthly Commission meetings; i.e., planning, reviewing, coordinating, investigating, brainstorming, and meeting with local businesses, homeowners associations, community leaders, and organizations, etc. Each year the MPR Commission sets goals and priorities to strive to accomplish in that calendar year. Likewise, the three Commission committees set goals for achievement. To this end, the Parks Amenities & Signage Committee has been focusing their efforts on several goals. Most notably, they have just completed an in-depth assessment of each of Meridian's active and passive park amenities and features. This information will be used to help determine the need for new amenities and any other park modifications. Together with input from past public surveys and community requests for various new amenities or enhancements to existing ones, the Committee will be able to better recommend to the Commission and the MPR Department their findings and recommendations. A second task the Parks Amenities & Signage Committee has been engaged with this year is developing a design for individual dedication plaques for each of our parks. The vision is to create a prototype plaque that would be tailored for each specific park. Generally, the plaque would indicate the park name, a dedication date, a brief dedication statement, a listing of key individuals who played a major role in the park's development, and those city officials who were seated at the time of the park dedication. The plaque would be located in a prominent site within the park. This effort has been a challenge to develop in terms of tracking down key contributors and correct dates for a few of Meridian's older original parks, but we are getting closer in identifying this data. Another task this year has been the development of a new standard for citywide Page 16 Y signage regarding our parks and pathways. The creation of the new pathway signage for the "Diane and Winston Moore Pathway" was accomplished by a review process of several styles of signs from a local sign maker, Trademark Sign Company. It is approximately 18" x 24" and made from thick aluminum making it very sturdy. These larger monument signs will be used to mark major pathways in the future. Pathway directional signs will include the name of the pathway, along with the City's logo and a list of recognizable international symbols indicating appropriate activities allowed. The color scheme is blue and gold and will have a clear coating which will increase performance against W discoloration. We think it is attractive and will be well received by the L community as our new signage standard. The Community Liaison Committee saw the Dog Park Task Force start their quest to raise money to begin the development of the future dog park at the Borup Property located near McDermott Road off Cherry Lane. From the many events the Dog Park Task Force attended asking for donations, to the 1 st Annual Bark Park Scramble raising over $2,700, the Dog Park Task Force hit the ground running in 2011. Also, the Committee started the process of reaching out to the citizens of Meridian, better informing them in regard to Meridian's parks and pathways through an updated MPR Department brochure and improving its online information. The Recreation & Special Events Committee (pictured below) took the lead to plan and coordinate one fundraising activity for this year. The 1st Annual Bark Park Scramble was held in May at Lakeview Golf Club. This golf, tournament was well attended. Page 11 JULIUS M. K LEINER MEMORIAL PARK UPDATE Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park promises to - �e the jewel in the crown of Meridian's park system. Kleiner Park is a 60 -acre park, located northeast of the Fairview Avenue and Eagle Road intersection in Meridian. This park is a gift to the people of the City of Meridian from Eugene Kleiner, in honor of his father, the late Julius M. Kleiner, who owned and farmed the land on which the park is built. The heavily -treed urban park will include large water features, rolling terrain, bicycle and pedestrian trails, 1} god lots of open space for picnics *. end community gatherings. It also contains a band shell with amphitheater for live music and festivals and a grand plaza that will feature a ;memorial to Julius M. Kleiner. Above: Artist Jay Warren sculpted a 7 -foot -tall statue of the late Julius M. Kleiner out of clay, which was later sent to the foundry & "Additional casted in bronze amenities include a beautiful grand entrance; two large ponds; an arboretum with labyrinth; splash pad, bocce ball, basketball and sand volleyball courts; playgrounds; picnic shelters; art sculptures; restrooms, and concessions. julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park is also home .� to the new Meridian Senior Center, which .J r_ r Above: This veteran salutes the fallen soldiers who were honored during an unveiling ceremony of the Rock of Honor Memorial at Kleiner Park held on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2011 ■ includes a fantastic new meeting/banquet room. Next to the Senior Center is the Rock of Honor Memorial, which stands as a tribute to veterans from Meridian who died while serving in the Armed Forces to protect our freedoms. By the early part of 2011, all construction activities were still only underground, with utilities and related work. Now, the park has sprung to life over the course of this summer and fall. All structures— including the Maintenance Building, three restrooms, concessions, picnic shelters, pump house, and the Senior Center—have been constructed this year and are nearly complete. Historic displays, signage, benches, splash pad, the Rock of Honor, steel art obelisks, parking lots, and hundreds of trees have all been installed in anticipation of next year's grand opening. Above: Concepts, including a unique leaf pattern, were developed for the signage of the park This winter, Eagle Scout that will be artistic & projects will build picnic functional for tables and trash receptacles way -finding for the park. The main element needed prior to opening the park is the access roads to the entrance. Upon completion of the access roads, anticipated next spring, we are really looking forward to opening the park to the public next year! Below: A view from the south pond of the future Senior Center being erected with steel beams SPECIAL ]EVENTS BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER Arbor Dav at Chaparral Elementary School: ,._ A traditional celebration was ' held at Chaparral Elementary with a proclamation read by Meridian Mayor Tammy de Weerd 1 rhr_,i 9_-kn 7yaS�A19 for Arbor Day, which was held in Above (Left to Rikht1: MPR April 2011. The Director Steve Siddoway, Idaho Department Mayor Tammy de Weerd, & of Lands presented City Councilman Charlie the 2011 Tree City Rountree reveal the Tree City USA Award. The USA Banner City of Meridian also received a Tree City Growth Award. A Royal Red Maple tree was planted in the rain following the program held in the school's gym. In the month of April, Elroy Huff, City Arborist, assisted in tree plantings in the park system and offered advice and support to any group that was planting trees in the community. 1st Annual Bark Park Scramble Raises Money for Dog Park: On Saturday, May 14th the Meridian Parks and Recreation Commission hosted the first Bark Park Scramble presented by Project Filter at Lakeview Golf Club, 4200 W. Talamore Blvd. The event began with a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m., and the cost to register a four -person team was just $250, which included green fees, carts, lunch, and a free nine -hole junior pass. Several excellent prizes donated by local businesses were given out to the tournament winners, plus there were contest holes, LeLk Scramble sponsor representatives from Project Filter smile for the camera Below: Participants are lined up and ready to get started to play some golf Page 12 including long -drive, long - putt, closest -to -the -pin, and a $10,000 hole -in -one hole which one player came a mere inches away from winning. The Bark Park Scramble wasn't just an event for golfers, though. Starting at noon, there were kids activities around the clubhouse, including bounce houses, putting and chipping contests, plus a free kid's golf clinic (pictured above right) after the event at 4:00 p.m. Helping Idaho Dogs, Inc. provided a dog obstacle course with demonstrations (pictured r left). A silent auction with great items to bid on was , also held with the tournament. When everything was said and done, the event raised over $2,700 toward the development of the new dog park planned near Cherry Lane and McDermott in west Meridian. Thank you to everyone who helped make it possible! 8th Annual Meridian Barn Sour Continues to Y Give Back: The Meridian Barn Sour l Ok/6k/ 1 Mile Fun Run was held on Saturday, June 25' this year �, and continued its tradition of raising funds for worthy causes. For the event's first six years, the proceeds benefitted the development of the Adventure Island Playground in Settlers Park, a universally accessible facility that includes a splash pad, a sound garden, climbing rocks, accessible swings, and more. With the completion of the park in 2009, the event now benefits the Meridian Parks and Recreation" Department's "Care Enough to Share L - Program," which awards scholarship to low- �. income Meridian youth to participate in recreation programs. In 2011, the event made over $500 which will buy a lot of fun for kids who need it. The race begins and ends at Settlers Park and incorporates different parks and pathways in a fun and challenging run through the city. The l Ok, 6k and 1 Mile Fun Run races are available for all ages to participate in. The post race awards ceremony featured free food and drinks, plus some great prizes from event sponsors Idaho Athletic Club, Shu's Idaho (continued on page 13) Page 13 (continued from page 12) SPECIAL ]EVENTS BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER _ ., Running Company and The Pulse Running and Fitness Shop. For more information about the Meridian Barn Sour, visit www.meridiancity.org/bamsour. City & Speedway Partner for Fourth Year to Enhance 4th of July in Meridian: The City of Meridian and Meridian Speedway teamed up again to _ provide the community with a full day of Independence Day activities in 2011. The event in Storey Park, which was sponsored Fox 12 and Real 7Y ife Ministries, was held on Monday, July 4`h with live music, bounce houses, a climbing w''all, and an obstacle course for kids. The evening culminated with a spectacular fireworks show at dusk. "Our partnership with the Meridian Speedway has really been a benefit to the community," said Steve Siddoway, Meridian Parks and ,A,Recreation Director. "It has given Meridian ;'-residents an Independence Day celebration and fireworks display they can be proud of We -Look forward to continuing our relationship ` with the Speedway next year." For more information about the City of Meridian's Independence Day Festival, visit www.meridiancity.or /g independenceday. CableONE Movie Nicht in Meridian Celebrates Completion of 5th Season: ,:Another season of CableONE Movie Night in Zr--� Meridian is in the books, and it's time to reflect back on what's become a great summertime r 'gathering place for Meridian families over the CA last five years.' We've shown a iw�r_sE. ec[ total of 56 movies and provided a venue for families to share countless memories together. Prior to .I . the movies, we've had a wide variety of activities hosted by event sponsors, including live bands, bounce houses, carnival games, drug awareness activities, martial arts demonstrations (pictured above), a demonstration from Birds of Prey, raffles, give- aways, and much more! In case you haven't heard yet about CableONE Movie Night in Meridian, it's an outdoor movie series that's held every Friday at dusk during the summer months of June, July, and August. It's free to attend, and concessions are always available. When first introduced in 2007, CableONE Movie Night in Meridian saw crowds of 200-500 people, but crowd sizes have now ballooned to up to 2,500 as the program's popularity grows. In 2010, the screen was moved back to accommodate the larger crowds. In 2011, additional speakers were added to the back of the movie night seating area to ensure that everyone is able to clearly hear the movies. Presenting sponsors for the 2011 season included Sierra Trading Post, Meridian Rotary Club, and Rocky Mountain Audio/ Visual. Thank you for your support! For more information about CableONE Movie Night in Meridian, visit www.meridiancity.org/movienight. 2nd Annual Meridian Communitv Block Party Energizes Settlers Park: The 2nd Annual Meridian Community Block Party on September 17' offered fun for the whole family and was a great way to send summer out on a high note. The day kicked off in the morning with the "Rock Around the Block Kids Fun Run" hosted by Meridian's Promise. Kids came dressed in pop star costumes and received back -stage passes instead of race numbers. Then starting at 10:00 a.m., the rest of the event kicked into gear. Live bands arranged by the (continued on page 14) (continued from page 13) Page 141 - SPECIAL ]EVENTS BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER Mayor's Faith Ambassador Council performed throughout the event, and free food was available on a first come first serve basis from Cheerleaders Sports Grill and Qdoba (pictured above) for those in attendance. The event also had most of the instructors on hand who offered classes in the Meridian Parks and Recreation Fall Activity Guide. These instructors hosted demonstrations and workshops to give people an opportunity to experience their class before registering. Onsite registration was available, and participants received a 10% discount by registering during the event. Other community partners were in attendance providing some great activities. The Meridian Police Activities League hosted a variety of football drills and skills competitions. Games2U Entertainment had games available, including video games and giant hamster balls. Rocky Mountain Roll brought all kinds of fun with jump houses, giant slides, a bungee run, monster boxing, tsunami surf, triple play sports cage, and a climbing wall. Finally, Dart Zone Meridian had a Nerf game (pictured above) field set up at the event and organized games for all ages. Mayor Tammy De Weerd explains, "This `block parry' is a great way for members of our community to enjoy many of the elements that makes Meridian a great place to live, work, and raise a family. The abundance of green space, free activities, and the availability of family friendly entertainment are all great reasons to come spend a Saturday in the park." She added "This event could not have been possible without the gracious support of our community volunteers, Faith Ambassadors, and our business community who stepped up as sponsors." For more information about the Meridian Community Block Party, visit www.meridiancity.or /g blockpaity Christmas in Meridian Features a Variety of Christmas Events: The Meridian Parks & Recreation Department kicked off the Christmas season on Friday, December 2nd with the City's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, which began at 6:30 p.m. in Generations Plaza on the corner of Main Street and Idaho Avenue. Those that showed up early were treated to a special showing of the short cartoon, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," on our inflatable movie screen at 6:00 p.m. During the ceremony, co -emcees Mayor Tammy de Weerd and Don Nelson of Today's Channel 6 led the audience through a magical evening that included free hot chocolate and coffee from Starbucks, free `ti ti donuts from Krispy Kreme, free carriage rides, performances by local school choirs, the �� announcing of the Christmas Essay Contest, and the arrival of a very special guest (pictured below) who helped us light the City's Christmas Tree! The next morning, Saturday December 3rd, the Meridian Community Center on the corner of E. 2nd Street and Idaho Avenue hosted the 3ra _ Annual Children's Winterland Festival from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. A ton of fun was had by all the kids who came, including pictures with Santa, cookie decorating, face painting, toy building, arts and crafts, games, carolers, and much more! At the end of the event, some ' great prizes were raffled off for those who visited all the activities. For more information about the Meridian Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, visit www.meridiancity.org/christmas, or for more information about the Meridian Children's Winterland Festival, visit www.meridiancity.org/winterlandfestival. Page 15 I"I��I"I�I�•\I" I.�'i� V��I ��V!1 " \ 111 In 2011, volunteers recorded over 4,000 hours r in Meridian parks, saving the City over $61,000. This total far surpassed the previous yearly high mark for the Parks & Recreation Department. Volunteer project highlights from 2011 include: 0 four large projects to plant a total of 100 trees at Lakeview Golf Club; Above (Left to Right): Oregon State r University alumni Randy Gibson, Don Brown, & future Beavers Alex & Megan Brown prepare to spread bark at Meridian Idaho City Hall 0 installing new benches around the fishing pond at Settlers Park; .0 multiple volunteers at events, such as CableONE Movie Night in Meridian, LET'S RECYCLE! Park Pilot Program: Meridian Parks & Recreation is partnering with the Solid Waste Advisory Council and the Meridian Public Works Department to initiate a pilot recycling program in our parks. During sporting events and picnics at our shelters, there is a large quantity of water in Y -,plastic bottles and soft drinks in cans consumed. Currently, the waste generated ends up in the trash. With the help of our r partners, we are adding 20 permanent recycle containers at Settlers Park located on the corner of Ustick and Meridian Roads placed in strategic locations to capture this waste. Look for these containers soon, and please recycle. City-wide Efforts: Over the past two years, the Meridian Parks & Recreation Department has processed many recyclable materials, which were acquired from other City departments and the community. We are pleased to announce the Department received over $250 through recycling efforts, which was donated to the "Care Enough to Share Program" this Meridian Block Party, Independence Day Festival, Meridian Barn Sour, Meridian Bark Park Scramble, Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Children's Winterland Festival; 0 two large projects at Mo Brooks Field in Storey Park that included infield renovations, sod laying, and tree planting behind the backstop; 0 pathway edging at all parks; 0 restoring the plaques at Generations Plaza; 0 picnic table building and tree planting at Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park; and 0 continuous efforts by the Parks & Recreation Commission and Dog Park Task Force members to improve our parks system. LeLt-* Volunteers pick up trash along the ditch bank of the entire H.R. Bud Porter Pathway at Tully Park year. This contribution benefited needy children who wanted to participate in MPR Department activities but did not have the financial resources. In addition to printer cartridges and cell phones, we are now accepting other small, electronic devices (undamaged)—this is a new change for 2011/2012. The following is a complete list of recyclable materials: 0 Inkjet printer cartridges 0 Laser printer cartridges 0 Cell phones 0 Laptops 0 iPods 0 MP3 players 0 Digital cameras 0 GPS devices We would like to encourage everyone to join us in this effort. Collect your items from home, work, or wherever, and just bring them by our office. You'll be doing your part to help recycle and support kids in our community at the same time. YOUTH -CENTERED ACTIVITIES SPARK EXCITEMENT Ignite Youth: The Teen Activities Council held the first annual "Ignite Youth" event in February 2011. Ignite is an organization that was started by a marketing firm in Seattle. Groups all over the world have since started their own Ignite events. While youth are allowed and encouraged to participate in Ignite events the world over, our event was the first event solely for youth in the world. In an Ignite event, people are invited to present an idea to an audience. The presentations are given via PowerPoint, and all include twenty slides that are pre-set to auto -advance every fifteen seconds, giving the speaker a mere five minutes to get their point across. In 2011, 12 teens presented their ideas (pictured above) to an audience of over 200 and to three local "celebrity" judges. The winning presentation went to two boys from Meridian High School whose presentation was titled, "The History of Monsters." New Summer Teen Camp Here to Stay: This past summer, the Meridian Parks & Recreation Department started a new summer camp program for teens --Camp Mer -IDA - Teen. This program is designed for teens ages 12-14. Over the course of the summer, we had 94 enrollments in the program. Teens participated in general camp activities, including arts, crafts, games, guest speakers, and science projects --all geared toward teens. The teens chose to participate in a service project and made key chains for servicemen/ women serving in Kandahar Afghanistan. At the end of the summer season, the teens went on two "teen -only" field trips, including a half- day whitewater rafting trip on the Payette Page 1 River, and a day spent at Wahooz Family Fun L Center in Meridian. The teen program was a smashing success, and we plan to continue it for many years to come. Teen Activities Council: It was a great year in 2011 for the Teen Activities Council (TAC). We held seven events for teens in Meridian, including a back - to -school barbecue, a Halloween Party (pictured right & below), Ice Skating, the already mentioned Ignite Youth, attending a Idaho Steelheads hockey game, and a night at Wahooz Family Fun Zone. Overall, almost 500 teens participated in these various events.: The TAC is a subcommittee of the larger youtf leadership group, the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council. The TAC is made up of a group of high school students from around Meridian who are interested in planning recreational activities for teens. The group meets to brainstorm ideas and organize activities once a year throughout the school year. For more information regarding the TAC and upcoming events, please contact Recreation Coordinator Allison Kaptein at 888-3579, or email her at akaptein@meridiancity.org. Above: Mayor's Youth Advisory Council j -'Page 17 -THE 4-1-1 ON MPR STAFF & COMMISSIONERS ERS The following Meridian Parks & Recreation Department maintenance staff received promotions: 0 Mike Barton was promoted from Parks Maintenance Foreman to Parks Superintendent in May 2011. U Ir Elroy Huff (pictured below right next to Steve Siddoway) accepted an exciting new opportunity as the City's Arborist in March 2011. Director Steve Siddoway publicly honored Elroy Huff at the June 8, 2011 Meridian Parks & Recreation Commission +7 r� meeting for his dedicated service during his role as Parks Superintendent and for the tremendous impact he has had on the parks system and on the MPR Department from 2000 to 2011. He was presented with an award plaque. 0 Roger Norberg was promoted from Groundskeeper III to Parks Maintenance Foreman in July 2011. n J �y a� �T Jeremy Aldrich Tom LeClaire 0 Jeremy Aldrich was hired as a Groundskeeper III in December 2010. 0 Dan White was hired as a Groundskeeper III in October 2011. 0 Kevin Gallivan was hired as a Groundskeeper II in February 2011. 0 Rodney Starr was hired as the 3/4 time Recreation Site Supervisor in November 2011. We said farewell and publicly acknowledged the following Meridian Parks & Recreation Commissioners for their outstanding volunteerism: 0 Steven Yearsley served on the Commission from October 2009 through January 2011. He has been appointed to the Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission. 0 Andrew Mitzel served from February 2011 through August 2011 filling the youth seat. He is currently pursuing his Master's Degree at Boise State University. 0 Tom LeClaire served from June 2007 through October 2011. Commissioner LeClaire was Chairman of the Community Liaison Committee. In addition, he was instrumental in establishing and leading the Dog Park Task Force. Tom has now placed more of his time and energy in serving on the Ada County Planning & Zoning Commission and Impact Fee Advisory Committee. Michael Martin was appointed to be the new Commission President in January 2011. Commissioner Phillip Liddell was elected Vice President. Kevin Gallivan Mike Barton Roger Norberg (continued on page 18) �n Dan White Rodney Starr Michael Martin Phillip Liddell Matt Stoll Andrew Mitzel Steven Yearsley Sharon Borton (continued from page 17) THE 4-1-1 ON MPR STAFF & COMMISSIONERS We welcomed the following new Commissioners to the team: 0 Matt Stoll was appointed to Seat 7 in March 2011. He currently is the Executive Director of COMPASS (Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho). He and his family have resided in Meridian over the past nine years and have "an extreme interest in the high-quality parks and recreation system." 0 Sharon Borton was reappointed to the Commission in November of this year. She has resided in Meridian for approximately 15 years. She was previously on the MPR Commission and stepped down to pursue a Master's Degree, which she finished. She is currently an educator at Meridian Middle School teaching 7th grade Language Arts. She is married and has two sons. Page 18 4 At the February 9, 2011 Commission meeting, we formally recognized Creg Steele (pictured above between Steve Siddoway & Mrs. Steele) with a wall plaque and certificate of appreciation for serving as past Commission, President (he was Vice President prior to this),.��: Creg has been the longest person to serve on the Commission since October 1999. The City of Meridian would liKe to thanL: FE TAL5 & 5TEM5 1 2668 W. Fairview Avenue, Boise Phone: 8 8 8-24 i 4 For Providing all of the City Hall tree decor! MGT LE_GACY CHURCH 1507 N. Meridian }load, Meridian Phone: 888-23 10 For decorating the tree! SNAPSHOT GALLERY 2011 1. Meridian Parks & Recreation year-round and seasonal staff attend a team -building event at Bear Creek Park held in September 2011. (continued on page 19) ' • Page 19 ,3NA]PSHOT GALLERY 2011 7 (continued on page 20) (continued from page 1S) 2. Meridian Parks & Recreation Department Staff - 0 Front Row - Brad Day, Jeremy Aldrich, Jay Gibbons, & Colin Moss 0 Middle Row -Debbie Miller, Kevin Gallivan, Phil Harris, Janice Smith, Allison Kaptein, & Rachel Myers 0 Back Row - Mike Barton, Steve Siddoway, Spence Chivers, Dan White, Garrett White, Roger Norberg, Terry Whipple, & Elroy Huff 3. MPR staff members Debbie Miller and Janice Smith show some excitement at the June 29, 2011 Kleiner Park Tour with staff. 4. Mike Kleiner and Father, Eugene Kleiner, smile for the camera at the Rock of Honor Memorial Unveiling Ceremony held on November 11, 2011 in Kleiner Park. 5. Surrounding Lakeview Golf Course neighbors get a first-hand look at the proposed tree planting sites identified on a large-scale aerial map at an open house held on April 21, 2011. 6. Parks crewman Brad Day (in between Dan White [left] and Elroy Huff [right]) resizes the trunk of the tree that was donated to the City of Meridian for the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony held in Generations Plaza on December 2, 2011. 7. At the Meridian Parks & Recreation Department's 2011 Tour of Facilities held in September, equipment demonstrations were given and on display in Heroes Park. Allison Kaptein and other tour participants were encouraged to hop on board the featured mowers, etc. 8. MPR Director Steve Siddoway celebrates with Winston Moore at the Diane & Winston Moore Pathway Dedication held on May 24, 2011. (continued from page 19) SNAPSHOT GALLERY 2011 9. MPR Director Steve Siddoway facilitates a tour with the Commissioners of Kleiner Park on July 7, 2011. 10. From Left to Right, Dog Park Task Force members Stephanie Griswold, Brian Draper, and Commissioners John Nesmith, Shawn Testin, and Treg Bernt enjoy a round of golf at the tournament held at Lakeview Golf Course in May 2011. 11. Commissioners walk a portion of the proposed Fivemile Creek Pathway Segment E (Bridgetower Connection) during their Pathways Tour held on October 12, 2011. 12. At the April 13, 2011 Pathways Tour, MPR staff and Commissioners brainstorm potential pathway connections within Meridian. 0 From Left to Right: Matt Stoll, Steve Siddoway, Jay Gibbons, Phil Liddell, Michael Martin, Treg Bernt, & John Nesmith 13. From Left to Right, Commissioners Creg Steele and Phil Liddell enjoy the sunny weather at the Diane & Winston Moore Pathway Dedication in Gordon Harris Park held in May 2011. 14. Meridian Parks & Recreation Commission: 0 Front Row -President Michael Martin, Shawn Testin, Sharon Borton, & Creg Steele 0 Back Row - John Nesmith, Matt Stoll, Vice President Phil Liddell, & Treg Bernt 9 14 10 ti Sow W. �= L__ .1% 12 Page 201 '- �' L 13