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HomeMy Public PortalAboutFISCAL PLANNING 43 "--N, Fiscal Planning Good fiscal planning with public funds is the responsibility of a Parks &Recreation Board. In Greencastle, as with other communities in the State, the stress of demands and needs with budgets restraints can be felt. It is crucial that every dollar received is utilized to the maximum benefit of the residents of Greencastle. Proper fiscal planning would require scrutiny of each program, facility, operations and expense while attempting to increase revenue. Parks and recreation departments, over the past 25 years, have been experiencing a process towards charging more fees to generate additional revenue. Today, there are only a few major departments that do not have some type of revenue-producing activity within their program. If managed properly, these departments have produced more and better services. To achieve this, parks and recreation departments had to re-evaluate and possibly modify several of their traditional policies and practices. The Parks & Recreation Department, one of many departments within a community, plays a vital and supportive role. Parks do contribute to a community more than most realize. Parks are aesthetic, greenspace areas that contribute to the well-being of a community and its residents. The benefits are endless. They provide recreation opportunities for the young and old alike. Parks can help add the color and spark to a community, they tend to draw people and businesses to settle down and enjoy the area. Parks are for people and people make a community. While the needs and demands from other city departments are growing, as well as the needs and demands of the Parks & Recreation Department, the available funding is getting tighter. The Parks & Recreation Department is fortunate in that it is one of the few departments that can generate revenue to r help offset budget needs. The challenge for the Greencastle Parks & Recreation Department is how to meet the expanding needs as tax-based resources diminish, and fees, charges, concessions, and other revenue generating activities and programs become increasingly important. The question facing the Department is no longer whether revenue-producing programs and facilities should be developed, but to what degree such programs and facilities shall be developed. 1998 Budget Summary Trying to balance increased demands for recreation and facilities with available monies will be the challenge in 1998 for the Greencastle Parks & Recreation Department. There will be greater pressure to raise revenue and reduce expenditures in order to balance the budget. The 1998 budget is $334,638.00 which is a 11% increase from the 1997 budget. Personnel services, supplies, and all other areas have increases with capital outlays being the major increased area of the budget. In order to meet budget requirements, the Parks & Recreation Department will need to control expenses and raise income at the same time to meet the demands of the community. Possible suggestions include: 1. All existing programs should be evaluated to their effectiveness and cost. Make as many recreational programs self-supporting as possible. 2. Review all fees and rental schedules. 3. Increase solicitations for gifts, donations and volunteers. 4. Work to obtain grants for future projects. 410 kis 44 Existing Parks and Facilities An inventory of existing recreational areas and facilities is the starting point in identifying the needs and demands of the community. Recreational needs are compared to existing sites and facilities to identify potential areas for expansion, development or improvement. Robe-Ann Park This is the major park for the City of Greencastle. It is 28 acres located on the south side of Greencastle on State Rd 231. The park contains all the major sports facilities. There is a lighted softball diamond, 5 tennis courts, outdoor basketball court, horseshoe pits, a volleyball area, fitness trail, the aquatic center, and playgrounds. The park has three pavilions or shelters that are rented for family reunions and other meetings. There is a bandshell that is located in the park. This is the site of the Summer Concert Series that is sponsored by the Civic League and the Park Department. Jaycee Park Jaycee Park , which is located on Airport Rd., was developed for the city by the Jaycee organization and then leased back to the Jaycees. Currently, the Jaycees maintain the park and have built a meeting facility there, which they also rent to the public. They have hired a groundskeeper, who lives in a trailer on the property. The Park's main purpose is outdoor recreation. There is a small pond and marked trails through the woods. There is also a playground and picnic shelters. Further development of the park is under the control of the Jaycees. School Sites City Schools There are three elementary schools within the City of Greencastle. Each has an adequate to large size open area and playgrounds. At the present time all the facilities are open to the public but not programmed. Each facility has a gym and classrooms that could possibly be used for programming. Because of school programming, gym space is at a premium. For arts, crafts, or other non-active programming the classrooms would be very sufficient. The Middle and High School facilities are in excellent shape. The facilities consist of sports facilities, one shelter house in an on-grounds wooded area. Facilities are mainly used for school functions and are not readily available for community use. The school's swimming pool has been offered for various community aquatic programs. The community has been able to use the school facilities for single time uses during the school year, and for extended times during the summer. 45 ' DePauw University DePauw University is located within the city and has extensive sports facilities. An indoor facility contains a metric/yd. capability swimming pool, a multi-use gym, practice courts, dance room, 2 weight rooms and classrooms. Outdoor facilities consist of sports/practice fields and a campus square area with a small pond. Use of these facilities by the public requires an annual membership fee. During the summer, week-long youth sports camps are available at a fee. A university astronomy observatory offers programs open to the public for free at various times of the year. The newest facility is an Exercise Trail. Other Recreation Areas and Facilities Big Walnut Sports Park This park is operated by a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is the development of eighty acres of land for a sports park for the county. The facility includes 5 soccer fields, 3 girl's softball diamonds (1 lighted), a Babe Ruth diamond, 2 sand volleyball courts and 2 Little League Baseball diamonds. The facility also includes a maintenance barn, a concession stand with a restroom, and three picnic shelters. The park is planning to add two adult softball diamonds and a walking path. The Park Board and People's Pathways are hoping that sometime there will be a walking,jogging, biking path that connects with their site. Additional Surrounding Greencastle and in Putnam County are several recreation opportunities for the public to enjoy. Roachdale and Cloverdale both have small parks for the community. Located nearby Putnam County are Lieber State Recreation Area, Shades State Park, Turkey Run State Park, McCormick's Creek State Park, Hall Wood Nature Perserve, Fern Cliffs Nature Perserve, Cataract State Recreation Area, Heritage Lake and Van Bibber Lake. 46 /„.. GREENCASTLE PARKS & RECREATION INVENTORY Publicly Owned Facilities Robe-Ann Park Control: Municipal Classification: Park and General Recreation Service Area: City Size: 28 acres Activities: Playground Areas 3 Aquatic Center 1 (50 meters, zero depth, 151' slide, 1 and 3 meter diving boards, kids pool) Softball Diamond 1 (lighted) Horseshoe Courts 2 Picnic Shelters 3 (electricity) Band Shell Tennis Courts 5 (lighted) Historical Buildings 2 Fitness Areas 3 Restrooms Jaycee Park n Control: Municipal, but currently leased to Jaycees Organization Classification: Natural Area Service Area: County Size: 25 acres Activities: Small Lake Club Building Wooded Area with trails Shelter House 2 School Recreation Facilities Jones Elementary Control: Public School System Classification: Play Area Service Area: Neighborhood Size: 5 acres Activities: Apparatus Area 1 acre Open Play Area .5 acre Open Space Acres 1 Basketball Goals 6 (not lighted) Softball Diamonds 1 (not lighted) 47 Tzouanakis Elementary Control: Public School System Classification: Play Area Service Area: Neighborhood Size: 12 acres Activities: Apparatus Area 1.5 acres Open Play Area 1.5 acres Open Space Area 4 acres Basketball Goals 4 (not lighted) Softball Fields 2 (not lighted) Ridpath Elementary Control: Public School system Classification: Play Area Service Area: Neighborhood Size: 5 acres Activities: Apparatus Area .5 acre Open Play Area 1 acre Open Space Area 1 acre Basketball Goals 2 (not lighted) Softball Fields 2 (not lighted) Greencastle Middle School Control: Public School System Classification: General Recreation Service Area: City Size: Activities: Volleyball Courts 2 (indoor) Basketball Courts 2 Football Fields 1 (not lighted) Open Space Craft Room 1 Greencastle High School Control: Public School System Classification: General Recreation Service Area: City Size: 10 acres Activities: Baseball Fields 1 (lighted) Open Areas Football Fields 1 (lighted) Swimming Pool Softball Fields 1 (lighted) Gymnasium Tennis Courts 6 400 m. Track 1 48 DePauw University Private-Facilities available to public for membership fee Control: DePauw University Classification: General Recreation Service Area: City Facilities: 400m Track Indoor Facilities: Tennis Courts Pool Field Hockey Field 1 Basketball Courts 2 Baseball Field 1 (lighted) Weight Room Softball Field 1 Multi-Purpose Room Exercise Trail Other Recreation Facilities Big Walnut Sports Park Non-Profit Control: BWSP Board of Directors Classification: General Recreation Service Area: City/County Activities: Soccer Fields 5 Volleyball Courts 2 Baseball Fields 3 (1 lighted) Concession Stand Softball Fields 3 Football Field Shelters 3 Facilities Used by : Girls Fast Pitch Softball League Greencastle Babe Ruth League Greencastle Youth Soccer League Greencastle Women's Softball League Girls Slow Pitch Softball League Greencastle Youth Baseball League Greencastle Youth Football League Old Hickory Golf Club Control: Private-Facilities availible at a daily fee Classification: Golf Course Service Area: City/County Activities: 18 holes, Par 72 5,600 yards Pro Shop Restaurant/Lounge Windy Hill Country Club Control-Private (members only) Classification: General Recreation Activities: 9 holes, Par 36, 5,765 yards Pool Pro Shop ,�. Clubhouse/Dining 49 State Parks Turkey Run State Park: 2,300 acres; sandstone forges, campsites, inn, cabins, pool,picnic shelters, playground, fishing, canoe rental, naturalist, nature preserve, horse and bike rentals, tennis, hiking, restored 1841 house, covered bridge. 40 miles northwest of Greencastle. McCormick's Creek State Park: 1,800 acres; canyons, ravines, camping, inn, pool, court games, cabins, playground, nature center, nature preserve, naturalist, hiking, horse and bike rental. 30 miles southeast of Greencastle. Shades State Park: 3,000 acres; virgin forest, natural springs, primitive deep ravines, campsites, canoe rental, sandstone cliffs, picnic shelters, playground, fishing, hiking, nature preserve, airstrip. 30 miles northwest of Greencastle. Lieber State Recreation Area: 8,000 acres; 1,500 acre lake; campsites, beach, picnic shelters, playground, fishing, foraging, trapping. 20 miles south of Greencastle. Owen-Putnam State Forest: 6,200 acres; privitive campsites, hiking, bridle trails, hunting, fishing, foraging, trapping. 30 miles southeast of Greencastle.