VANCOUVER-CLARK PARKS & RECREATION Comprehensive Parks, Recreation, & Open Space Plan
Medford Parks and Recreation Department Quarterly Report
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A spectacular warm, sunny day punctuated the grand opening of Park Block 1 at The Commons -- the latest accom- plishment in Medford’s downtown urban renewal efforts. City officials, community stakehold- ers and the members of the public gathered at the City’s newest park for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 29. Mayor Gary Wheeler, City Council President Al Densmore and Medford Urban Renewal Agency Board chair- man Dick Gordon spoke about the im- portance of the project and expressed appreciation to the many partners and contributors who made the park happen. Blue skies, a jump house and a brand-new play structure pleased ap- proximately 150 attendees. Located directly across from the Lithia headquarters and the Middleford parking struc- ture between Bartlett and 6th street, the park is the first of a two-block plan for urban parks in The Commons. Development of the parks is a key element of the public/private partnership between the City of Medford, Medford Urban Renewal Agency and Lithia Motors. Park Block 1 features a play structure, a water feature, his- toric finials and creative pear- and-leaf landscape designs. Upon completion of the second park block, the urban develop- ment will provide a centrally located venue for community events. Creating Healthy Lives, Happy People and a Strong Community Common(s) Purpose Medford Parks and Recreation Department Quarterly Report January-March 2013 Parks and Recreation Finials preserved from the demolished Littrell Building that stood on The Commons project site are now Park Block garden ornaments.
Transcript of Medford Parks and Recreation Department Quarterly Report
Aspectacularwarm,sunnydaypunctuatedthegrand
openingofParkBlock1atTheCommons--thelatestaccom-plishmentinMedford’sdowntownurbanrenewalefforts. Cityofficials,communitystakehold-ersandthemembersofthepublicgatheredattheCity’snewestparkfortheofficialribbon-cuttingceremonyonMarch29. MayorGaryWheeler,CityCouncilPresidentAlDensmoreandMedfordUrbanRenewalAgencyBoardchair-manDickGordonspokeabouttheim-portanceoftheprojectandexpressedappreciationtothemanypartnersandcontributorswhomadetheparkhappen. Blueskies,ajumphouseandabrand-newplaystructurepleasedap-proximately150attendees.
LocateddirectlyacrossfromtheLithiaheadquartersandtheMiddlefordparkingstruc-turebetweenBartlettand6thstreet,theparkisthefirstofatwo-blockplanforurbanparksinTheCommons.Developmentoftheparksisakeyelementofthepublic/privatepartnershipbetweentheCityofMedford,MedfordUrbanRenewalAgencyandLithiaMotors.ParkBlock1featuresaplaystructure,awaterfeature,his-toricfinialsandcreativepear-and-leaflandscapedesigns.Uponcompletionofthesecondparkblock,theurbandevelop-mentwillprovideacentrallylocatedvenueforcommunityevents.
Creating Healthy Lives, Happy People and a Strong Community
Common(s) Purpose
Medford Parks and Recreation Department
Quarterly ReportJanuary-March 2013
Parks and Recreation
Finials preserved from the demolished Littrell Building that stood on The Commons project site are now Park Block garden ornaments.
•Greg McKownwaspromotedtoparksandfacilitiesmanagementsuperintendentonapermanentbasisonJan.28,fillingthepositionvacatedbyDobeyElliott.Thefourth-yearCityemployeepreviouslyservedasfacilitiesmanagementsupervisor,earningareputationforefficientmanagementofprojectsthatwerecompletedontimeandfrequentlyunderbudget.
•AnationwidesearchresultedinthehiringofAdam Airoldiascityarborist,whobeganhisservicetotheDepartmentonMarch1.TheBellingham,Wash.nativespentseveralyearsasapri-vate-sectorarborist,mostrecentlyinEverson,Wash.Hereceivedun-dergraduateandgraduatedegreesinforestryfromMichiganTechno-logicalUniversity.
Staff Notes
Medford Parks & Recreation Quarterly Report • January-March 2013
Creating Healthy Lives, Happy People and a Strong Community
TheMedfordParksandRecreationDepartmentandtheRogueValley
GrowersandCraftersMarketfinalizedafive-yearcontractforoperationofaSaturdayMarketatParkBlock1indowntownMedfordstartingMay11. TheschedulingagreementisthefirstinvolvingTheCommonsparkblocks,whicharemanagedandmain-tainedbytheCityofMedford. “We’reextremelypleasedtoworkwiththeGrowersandCraftersgroupinplacingtheirSaturdayoperationatafantas-ticnewvenue,”ParksandRecreationDirec-torBrianSjothunsaid.“OurgoalistoscheduleandcoordinateeventsandactivitiesthatenhancethevibrancyofdowntownMedford.” Establishedin1987byahandfulofMedford-basedfarmersandarti-sans,themarketwasanearlypartici-
pantintherenaissanceofgrowersmarketsinAmerica.WiththesupportofRogueValleyresidentsandvisitorstothearea,themarkethasgrowntohostfouropen-airmarketsperweekandhasover150membersfromJackson,JosephineandSiskiyoucoun-
tiesofferingfreshproduce,plants,flowers,specialtyfoods,cheese,meat,pastriesandhandcraftedgoods.
“TheMarketcomplements
thedynamicpulseoftherevitaliza-tionhappeningindowntown,”marketgeneralmanagerLoriHopkinson
said.“Weareexcitedtobeinanurbansettingamongthepedestrianfriendlydowntowncoreandwelookforwardtoforminghealthyrelation-shipswithsurroundingrestaurants,theaterandartvenuesandourlocalbusinesscommunity.”
Saturday Market to Operate at Park Block 1
AsponsorshipagreementwithLithiaMotorsisproviding$26,350incashforabove-standardparkamenitiesandunderwritingforfreecommunity
recreationprogramsandeventsheldatTheCommonsParkBlocksforcalendaryear2013. The Department and Lithia crafted a sponsorship agreement that provides funding for park amenities and programming not included in The Commons development agreement between the City of Medford, Medford Urban Renewal Agency and Lithia. The agreement provides funding for decorative street tree lighting, recreation programs and events at the park blocks coordinated by the Parks and Recreation Department as well as in-kind support services and materials from Lithia Advertis-ing Department to assist the City in promoting programs and events held at the park blocks. The free recreation programs and events include:
• A lunchtime concert series.• Drop-in enrichment and fitness programs.• Weekly summertime deployment of the Park & Play mobile recreation unit.• A major community festival (Civic Block Party).• The annual Winter Lights Festival tree decorations and lighting.
The complete list of drop-in programs is available at playmedford.com.
Lithia Sponsorship Provides Free Rec Programs
30 May 2013
and another thinG . . .
The Medford Parks and Recreation Department and the Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market have agreed to a five-year contract for operation of a Saturday Market at “The Gardens” park block in downtown Medford starting May 11.
The scheduling agreement is the first involving The Com-mons park blocks, which are managed and maintained by the City of Medford. “The Gardens” is the southernmost of two park blocks located between Fourth and Sixth streets along Bartlett, adjacent to the Lithia Motors headquarters and the Middleford parking structure.
“We’re extremely pleased to work with the Growers and Crafters group in placing their Saturday operation at a fantastic new venue,” Parks and Recreation Director Brian Sjothun said. “Our goal is to schedule and coordinate events and activities that enhance the vibrancy of downtown Medford.”
-ers and artisans, the market was an early participant in the renaissance of growers markets in America. With the support of Rogue Valley residents and visitors to the area, the market
has grown to host four open-air markets per week and has over
offering fresh produce, plants, flowers, specialty foods, cheese, meat, pastries and handcrafted goods.
“The Commons was designed to be a community gathering space and has a lot of amenities to help the market grow, including free parking, onsite restrooms, a play structure for kids, shade trees and plenty of seating,” market general manager Lori Hopkinson said. “The Market complements the dynamic pulse of the revital-ization happening in downtown. We are excited to be in an urban setting among the pedestrian friendly downtown core and we look forward to forming healthy relationships with surrounding restau-rants, theater and art venues and our local business community.”
RVGCM also operates a Saturday Market in downtown Ashland, May through the first Saturday in November, and weekday markets on Thursdays at the Medford Armory and on Tuesdays at the Ashland National Guard Armory, from mid-March through late November.
Each Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market accepts credit, debit and SNAP cards, as well as Senior Farm Direct Nutrition Pro-gram Coupons and WIC Fruit and Vegetable Vouchers. For more details about the market, visit www.rvgrowersmarket.com.
Saturday Market Slated For ‘Gardens’ Park BlockMedford Parks and Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market agree to 5-year contract
by Rich RosenthalCommunity contributor
A young girl looks through some flowers at the Fry Family Farm in Medford.Photo by Lori Hopkinson
A look at the Commons where the Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market will be held on Saturday’s beginning in May.Photo by Lori Hopkinson
MedfordParks&RecreationQuarterlyReportisproducedbyRichRosenthalwithassistancefromBevPowerandSueMcKenna.
Creating Healthy Lives, Happy People and a Strong Community
TheBeatleswerestillperformingoutdoorconcertswhenthemunicipalcourtroominCityHallwas
constructedin1965.Theoriginalcontractorswouldbepleasedtoknowtheirhandiworkoperatedwithoutsignificantmodificationfor48years. InFebruary2013,an$80,000capitalimprovementprojectresultedinamuch-neededfacelifttothefacilitythathadadistinctive“retro”ambience. S&BJamesConstructionreceiveda$70,156contracttorevamplightfixturesandrehabili-tateessentialcourtroomfeatures,quipmentandfurniture,includingthejudge’sbench. Projecttasksincluded:•Asbestosabatementandflooringreplacement.
•Replacementofthejudge’sbenchandcourtroomfixturesmeetingADArequirementsandmodern
safetymeasures.•Replacementofpub-licseating.•Sound-proofingwallpartitionsbetweenthecourtroomandadja-centrooms.•Installationofbullet-resistantbarriers.Facilitiesmainte-nancetechniciansfaciliatedmanyoftheupgradesandinstal-lationshelpingreducetheoverallprojectcostby$7,500,keepingtheprojectwithintheap-
provedbudgetallocation.
Undauntedbyraindrops,theincrementaldevelopmentofOr-egonHillsParkPhase1steadilyprogressedduringthewinter
months. Underthewatchfuleyeofparkplanner/designerPeteYoung,severalkeyamenitieswerecompleted,includingthetreehouse-style“DiscoveryPlatform”(below)aswellasthecreationofsandtables--amajorartisticelementinthepark’suniqueNaturalPlayAreathatfeaturesafas-cinatingwatertrickleway. LocatedonthecornerofEastMcAndrewsRoadandCha-blisinadenselypopulatedneigh-borhoodlackingparkland,Or-egonHillsParkisslatedforaJune2013grandopening.
More Oregon Hills Park Amenties Installed
Judging Improvement: Municipal Courtroom Receives Facelift
Parks & Recreation Quarterly Factoid
696.4Thenumberofround-tripmilesdrivenbySanFranciscoGiantsofficialstodis-playtheir2010and2012WorldSeriestrophiesatU.S.CellularCommunityParkonMarch26,muchtothedelightofhundreds,includingtheCityManager.
Medford Parks & Recreation Quarterly Report • January-March 2013
Creating Healthy Lives, Happy People and a Strong Community
Medford Parks & Recreation Quarterly Report • January-March 2013
Forthethirdconsecutiveyear,tournamentsandeventsatU.S.CellularCommunityParkgeneratedeconomic
impactinexcessof$8.8millionforMedford’seconomyduring2012,accordingtoresearchconductedbytheMed-fordParksandRecreationDepartment. Forty-fivesportingandspecialeventsatthe11-field,132-acreparkduringthecalendaryearproducedanes-timated$8.85millioninlocalsales.The589teamsfromoutsidetheRogueValleythatvisitedMedfordspentover$3.9million,whichdoesnotfactorina“rippleeffect.” “Economicimpactisthe‘returnoninvest-ment’fortaxpayers,andcitizensshouldbeproudofthisworld-classfacility,”ParksandRecreationDirectorBrianSjothunsaid.“Invest-mentinstate-of-the-artfacilitiesisgoodforparkpatronsandthecommunityasawhole.” Ifonejobiscreatedforevery$43,422ineconomicimpact–Medford’smedianincome–USCCPtheoreticallycreated110jobsbasedonthedirectspendingofvisitors.
SinceitsMay2008grandopening,the$30millionmunici-palfacilityhasgeneratedover$37millioninestimatedlo-calsalesstemmingfrom18,000gamesandover788,000sports-relatedparticipantsandspectators. ParksandRecreationstaffcompiledtheeconomicimpactfiguresusingempiricaldata-collectionandanalyti-calmethodsoutlinedbyTexasA&MprofessorDr.JohnL.
Cromptoninhis1999book“MeasuringtheEconomicImpact.” U.S.CellularCommunityParkisamunicipalparkownedmanagedandmaintained
bytheCityofMedford.TheCityofMedfordandU.S.Cel-lularenteredasix-yearfacilitynamingrightsagreementin2008.
USCCP Economic Impact Surpasses $37 Million Since 2008
SincehisDecember2012birth,“Rex”,theParksandRec-reationDepartmentmascot,hasbeenabusytiger.
Therecreation-lovingsocialitecoaxedparticipantsintoJacksonPool(topright)attheannualPolarPlungefundraiserinFebruary.RexwasaluminaryatMother-SonBowlingNightatLavaLanes(below)andhedroppedinontheKids’GarageSale(bottomright)andyouthindoorsoc-cergamesattheSantoCommunityCenter. Rexalsoissuedthefirstofsixhighlycovetedtradingcards(right).
Where’s Rex?
