MONROE - Findings from a tour of four Monroe parks by city aldermen this week could have a favorable impact on the Parks and Recreation Department's budget next year.
The city parks and recreation commission scheduled a tour of Honey Creek, Sunset West, Twining and Recreation parks Wednesday, guided by Paul Klinzing, parks supervisor, and Marjorie Klinzing, recreation director.
Three of the five city aldermen who joined the commissioners on the tour indicated they would give more thought to the needs of the department at budget time this fall.
Charles Schuringa said he would be likely to support almost any budget increase request from the department next year, while Paul Hannes said he would be thinking about giving his support also.
"(The Parks and Recreation Department) are so good at raising funds, it shouldn't cost the city much (for a budget increase)," said Jan Lefevre, the third alderman who indicated more thought to the department.
Compared to 2009, the department's 2010 parks budget increased by 1.73 percent, or $7,300, to $433,000. For recreation, the budget increased by 2.9 percent, about $5,900, to $208,623. But the celebrations and events portion of the budget took a big cut of 9.4 percent ($2,700), and the swimming pool took a 4.5 percent cut ($2,800). Forestry remained about the same with a 0.47 percent cut.
So what do Monroe parks need? Basically, maintenance - particularly for restrooms, ball diamonds and grass.
Age and increased use of some of Monroe's parks also create special problems. The department's five-year plan shows an increasing need of expanded or reconstructed parking lots, tennis courts and bathrooms.
"Twining Park is heavily used," Paul Klinzing said, "and starting in the spring, it's used every night of the week" by various schools, churches and organizations' sports teams.
Twining Park's tennis courts, last paved in 1986, will receive an overlay and sealed every three to five years until they can be replaced.
The park also has a need for more bathrooms. Currently the park has two sets of bathrooms at the North and South shelters.
Also, the bathrooms need some type of security at night, after a rash of vandalism last year at the parks when toilets and sinks were ripped out and fires set. Bathrooms at all parks are being locked by personnel after 11 p.m., but Paul Klinzing would like automated locking devices.
The south shelter is only in "usable shape," Paul Klinzing said.
Plans are on the drawing board to build more bathrooms and a larger shelter, but the unique, two-sided fireplace at the South Shelter will be preserved, he said.
Finally, the east large parking lot is scheduled to be completely redone, with underlay and pavement this year.
Soccer games at Honey Creek Park are so well-attended that more parking space is needed. The 30-car parking lot is full, and cars park along the driveway and on 4th Avenue West during weekend or high school games, Klinzing said.
Space is available to double the parking lot, at a cost of about $27,000. Klinzing believes his department and the street department could do most of the work.
The city has 23 lifeguards on staff at the public pool in Recreation Park. Eight lifeguards are on duty at any one time and are responsible for up to 900 people a day who visit the Olympic-sized pool, plunge pool and the wading pool.
Originally built in 1979, the pool was upgraded in 2000 at a cost of $375,000, of which $250,000 was raised through fundraisers and donations; the city picked up the remainder of the cost.
Maintenance at Sunset West is minimal, mainly because of the lack of bathroom facilities and ball diamonds, Klinzing said.
The parks department oversees 200 acres in 16 parks.
The last time the park commissioners had a parks tour was eight years ago, Klinzing said.
The city parks and recreation commission scheduled a tour of Honey Creek, Sunset West, Twining and Recreation parks Wednesday, guided by Paul Klinzing, parks supervisor, and Marjorie Klinzing, recreation director.
Three of the five city aldermen who joined the commissioners on the tour indicated they would give more thought to the needs of the department at budget time this fall.
Charles Schuringa said he would be likely to support almost any budget increase request from the department next year, while Paul Hannes said he would be thinking about giving his support also.
"(The Parks and Recreation Department) are so good at raising funds, it shouldn't cost the city much (for a budget increase)," said Jan Lefevre, the third alderman who indicated more thought to the department.
Compared to 2009, the department's 2010 parks budget increased by 1.73 percent, or $7,300, to $433,000. For recreation, the budget increased by 2.9 percent, about $5,900, to $208,623. But the celebrations and events portion of the budget took a big cut of 9.4 percent ($2,700), and the swimming pool took a 4.5 percent cut ($2,800). Forestry remained about the same with a 0.47 percent cut.
So what do Monroe parks need? Basically, maintenance - particularly for restrooms, ball diamonds and grass.
Age and increased use of some of Monroe's parks also create special problems. The department's five-year plan shows an increasing need of expanded or reconstructed parking lots, tennis courts and bathrooms.
"Twining Park is heavily used," Paul Klinzing said, "and starting in the spring, it's used every night of the week" by various schools, churches and organizations' sports teams.
Twining Park's tennis courts, last paved in 1986, will receive an overlay and sealed every three to five years until they can be replaced.
The park also has a need for more bathrooms. Currently the park has two sets of bathrooms at the North and South shelters.
Also, the bathrooms need some type of security at night, after a rash of vandalism last year at the parks when toilets and sinks were ripped out and fires set. Bathrooms at all parks are being locked by personnel after 11 p.m., but Paul Klinzing would like automated locking devices.
The south shelter is only in "usable shape," Paul Klinzing said.
Plans are on the drawing board to build more bathrooms and a larger shelter, but the unique, two-sided fireplace at the South Shelter will be preserved, he said.
Finally, the east large parking lot is scheduled to be completely redone, with underlay and pavement this year.
Soccer games at Honey Creek Park are so well-attended that more parking space is needed. The 30-car parking lot is full, and cars park along the driveway and on 4th Avenue West during weekend or high school games, Klinzing said.
Space is available to double the parking lot, at a cost of about $27,000. Klinzing believes his department and the street department could do most of the work.
The city has 23 lifeguards on staff at the public pool in Recreation Park. Eight lifeguards are on duty at any one time and are responsible for up to 900 people a day who visit the Olympic-sized pool, plunge pool and the wading pool.
Originally built in 1979, the pool was upgraded in 2000 at a cost of $375,000, of which $250,000 was raised through fundraisers and donations; the city picked up the remainder of the cost.
Maintenance at Sunset West is minimal, mainly because of the lack of bathroom facilities and ball diamonds, Klinzing said.
The parks department oversees 200 acres in 16 parks.
The last time the park commissioners had a parks tour was eight years ago, Klinzing said.