From The Director’s Desk

The problem with writing this portion of the brochure is that it is written during one month, printed and produced the next month and covers the 3-4 months after that, so up to six months could pass from the original writing to the end of the brochure "coverage period." As I author this, the economy is in the tank, there's no little-to-no gasoline locally to put in our own tanks and our parks need some rain as we enter the first several days of the fall season.

How does the economy affect our parks? We have noticed a slight upturn in general visitation and use of our parks. More people seem to be eschewing longer trips and staying closer to home. Our traditional programs have seen increased participation numbers and self-directed recreational uses have increased as well. On the flip side, we have been under a county wide budgetary freeze that affects personnel, vacant positions and training and we are operating about 11% shy of staffing capacity - a reduction-in-force that limits both routine and general maintenance items. In light of what is happening within the national business community as a whole, an 11% "deficit" does not loom as a glaring omission, but affects us nonetheless. Gas prices, presently over $4/gallon, have negatively impacted our budget as hardly anyone predicted their meteoric rise at this time last year. Additionally, the general costs of the goods and services necessary to operate our agency have risen just the same. "When it will stop?" is the question we'd all like answered. As we prepare next year's budget, we plan for the current trends to carry through 2009.

What does this mean for your parks? The truth is hard to decipher. Each member of the staff is a very service-oriented individual. We'd like to say that we will solve your every problem, meet your every request and service every park or facility need. The reality is that our "can-do" attitudes cannot always be matched with "job-well-done" results every time. The simple economics of the present time sometimes do not allow us to fulfill every need. Money is tight and some jobs, large in scale or the simply routine ones, must wait until supportive financing or budgeting is in place to see them through. Priorities may shift, new needs crop up every day and wishes continue to mount, but the dollar driven engine lacks the necessary horsepower to keep up in these sluggish economic times. All we can ask for is your patience and understanding.

On a different, more upbeat note, it is hard to believe that the Recreation Center in Woodstock will be 14 years old in December. Barnett Park, Dwight Terry Park at Pine Bluff and Sequoyah Park are all over 11 years old now. Hobgood Park will turn 19 early in 2009. The elder "statesman" - Kenney Askew Park - is drawing closer to its 40th year. And just as remarkably on the opposite scale, the Cherokee Tennis Center at JJ Biello Park will be 5 years old next summer. Wow!

Thanks to all of you who are supporters, advocates and participants in YOUR agency's programming, parks and facilities. Happy Holidays and best wishes for a safe and prosperous 2009!

Keith Hammond, Director