Marinette REC Center Use Up Over Last YearIssue Date: March 28, 2022 At the Monday, March 21 City of Marinette Parks and Recreation Committee meeting, Executive Director of Recreation and Events, Gavin Scray announced the playground equipment for Higley Field has been ordered.
Scray gave an update saying the Playground equipment has been ordered and now the waiting game begins with anticipation of delivery in late summer or early fall. Mayor Steve Genisot said, "We now need to know how this all fits in with the other components as far as phase one. We need the parking lot and pathway to get to the play area. The funding needs to be looked at. There is $125,000 available from an estate which can be earmarked for the playground or for the splash pad". Scray stated it was anticipated to be approximately $150,000 for the parking lot and pathway.
Alderperson At Large Dorothy Kowalski stressed, "We need to bring this to finance to see where the money would be coming from. We need to deal with what we have because we are still looking at having a splash pad". Alderman Rick Polzin then made a motion to forward to finance to find $150,000 to fund the pathway and parking lot. "If we put equipment in, we have to be able to get to it. That is a necessary step", Polzin said.
In his Recreation Department report, Scray provided a list of upcoming events including: The Home and Garden show this weekend on Saturday, March 26; Danglefest Hockey Tournament from Friday, April 1 through Sunday, April 3. April 9 will be the Egg Roll and also War In The Woods Promotions Inc., an MMA Event. On Friday, April 22 through Sunday, April 24 there will be a Men's League Hockey Tournament and rounding it off so far will be the Spring Pickleball Tournament on Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1.
Adrienne Lacey, Recreation Superintendent added, "Enrollment for Summer Day Camp is more than half full already". Polzin asked Shawn Katzbeck Director of Marketing and Tourism, "How does this years attendance compare to last years"? Katzbeck replied, "Attendance for the Fishing, Boating Outdoor Show was up about 1-1/2 times more than last years show". Katzbeck added the event had a huge turnout and he received a lot of positive feedback from both Vendors and the Event Marketing team.
The Spring Craft Show was also a huge success with 44 Vendors. Many vendors sold out of products and the net revenue was $1,467.
The Welcome Center is getting ready for the Project Easter Basket event with direction from Judy Alwin. The focus will be on Children services such as: CASA and the Homeless Shelter.
Other upcoming events for May will include: Senior Prom, Food Truck Friday and May-Hem on Main all Cabella's Master Walleye Circuit will be June 3 and 4; Summer Craft Show will be on June 11 and a Farmers Market in June.
City of Marinette Superintendent, Department Public Works (DPW) Director Patrick Carlson, then provided his Monthly Parks Report stating that snow plowing of parking lots and sidewalks are completed along with maintenance is done in all parks and boat landings. Two ice eaters for the Menekaunee Harbor Docks were replaced and the DPW will continue to sand and fix park picnic tables at the city garage. Wood chips for Bayshore Walkway is completed along wth the newly constructed creek bridge.
The REC Center is still in the process of advertising for the Recreation Program Coordinator position. Lifeguards are also needed for the summer season as well as seasonal positions are needed to be filled.
Jennifer Schiller of A Place For Max who appeared at the last Parks and Recreation meeting in February was the only one to present their interest in the Duer Gym. Other non profit groups were interested but didn't appear in person to present to Council. Some are waiting for the process of getting board approval from their group.
Schiller has a son with autism and A Place For Max was created with the question weighing on her mind of who will take care of my child when I am gone? Their mission is to provide a safe, loving community/ environment where those with developmental disabilities can interact, learn, grow, feel included and feel like they are making a difference. Their plan is to also to build a community for adults with developmental disabilities.
Adults with developmental disabilities want to be included in activities and have the same opportunities that average adults do, but need a little help to get them there. A Place For Max wants to be able to help these adults set goals and achieve them, teach them there is more to life, want to educate the general public to teach them tolerance and patience for adults with development disabilities through school programs such as Circle of Friends that pairs high school children with children who have developmental disabilities in their school.
Schiller said, "We feel the Duer Gym would be an asset for our group as well as for the community". The upstairs would be office space, we would open up the gym to the nearby assisted living facilities for their adults to have a placed to get together and socialize, workout, do arts and crafts and behavioral classes, host events for Special Olympics, support group meetings for families of those with developmental disabilities. Schiller added, "We want people to see the gym as a safe place to go, a place where they can be themselves and feel supported".
Schiller stated the group would work with ADRC and Lakeland for their clients to have access to the opportunities. With many grants available, this would open up many great opportunities to receive those grants.
Their goal would be in the first six months to make all necessary repairs to bring the building out of disrepair, using donations and grant money. Year one would consist of arranging fundraising events at the gym and continue to apply for grants. Year five would be continuation of fundraising events, have multiple programs in place for utilizing the gym, working with local agencies and organizations, as well as continuing to build A Place For Max community for adults with developmental disabilities.
Schiller added, "We have members of the board with a lot of connections in the area with handymen, donation opportunities, along with a Special Education Teacher, Psychologist, Architect with his specialty of turning houses or buildings into these type of centers. We also have former Stephenson National Bank President Mary Staudenmeir on board with donations on hand to help as needed and is ready to donate.
No action was taken and the committee will have all the criteria in place to make the final decision at the April Parks and Rec meeting as to which group will be chosen to move forward with.
There was a brief discussion on the status of City Park Campground including a comment from Kowalski questioning, "Do we wait again for a decision or do we keep the campground closed until we make a decision"? Genisot replied, "At minimum, my recommendation would be to keep open for trailers but not tents. Carlson is working on getting staffing for the park". Scray added, "We have been taking reservations and will continue to take reservations". The discussion was tabled to bring to the April agenda.
Items for the April Committee meeting include ordinance change for anti-vaping in the parks, campground review, decision on Duer Gym and further discussion on the Higley Park project.
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