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Home My WebLink About _ 4.6(b)--Resolution to Declare July as Parks and Recreation Month CITY OF REDDING REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL Recommendation Adopt Resolution declaring July 2023 as Parks and Recreation Month in the City of Redding. Fiscal Impact There is no fiscal impact on the General Fund. Alternative Action The City Council (Council) could choose not to adopt the Resolution proclaiming July 2023 as Parks and Recreation Month or the Council could provide staff with alternate direction. Background The City of Redding’s (City) parks and recreation system enhances the quality of life for all residents. Through creative and relevant recreation programming, group activities, and natural play spaces, parks and recreation activities provide opportunities for people of all ages to come together and experience a sense of community. Since 1985, Americans have celebrated Parks and Recreation Month in J uly to promote the importance of parks and recreation in health and well-being, conservation and social equity, and to recognize the thousands of park and recreation employees and volunteers who maintain our nation’s parks. City staff, along with community volunteers, keep the parks clean and safe for visitors, organized youth activities, educational programming, and a myriad of valued community services. MEETING DATE: July 18, 2023 ITEM NO. 4.6(b) FROM: ***APPROVED BY*** kniemer@cityofredding.org btippin@cityofredding.org SUBJECT: 4.6(b)--Adopt Resolution to declare July as Parks and Recreation Month Kim Niemer, Community Services Director Report to Redding City Council July 13, 2023 Re: 4.6(b)--Resolution to Declare July as Parks and Recreation Month Page 2 The City of Redding prioritizes parks and recreation as an important community service. In 2022, Redding Recreation provided services to 8,925 registrants in approximately 803 program sessions. Almost two hundred scholarships were provided for youth to participate in recreational programming. The Redding Aquatic Center served 14,848 guests over the summer 2022 season. Volunteers contributed over 3,000 hours as coaches, event assistants, maintenance workers, and helpers as needed. The City’s parks system includes 56 developed parks and facilities encompassing over 597 developed acres. This system includes nearly 180 acres of natural area parks, 38-plus miles of City-owned trails, and 16 special-purpose facilities. Among these special-purpose facilities are the Redding Civic Auditorium, which hosts cultural and performing arts programs, conferences, and conventions, the Benton Dog Park, three boat ramp facilities that provide access to the Sacramento River, and almost 1,000 acres of natural open space. It takes the whole community to maintain the City’s parks system. In 2022, the Community Services Department partnered with hundreds of volunteers who donated thousands of hours to maintain and improve the City’s park facilities. One highlight from last year was the re-opening of the Nur Pon Open Space, a 29-acre area of sensitive oak woodlands and riparian habitat with a fish channel, bridges, and recreational trails located along the Sacramento River south of the Cypress Street bridge. Hundreds of City staff and volunteers came together to restore the open space to its natural state by removing thousands of pounds of garbage, improving the walking trail, and adding fencing to discourage illegal camping. Today, Nur Pon Open Space is a popular destination for walkers, anglers, photographers, and dogs. Other accomplishments included the opening of the expanded Caldwell Skate Park, major renovation of the California Soccer Park and new playgrounds at Ravenwood Park and Peppertree Park. Parks within the City of Redding serve many purposes. They are used as a venue for weddings, birthday parties, summer camps, concerts, and community events. They play host to races, sporting events, and tournaments and are frequented by walkers, runners, swimmers, cyclists, skateboarders, and those wishing to exercise their pets. Playgrounds allow the area youth to climb, swing, slide, and take joy in physical activity. Parks are the center of many experiences and memories – moments that park and recreation professionals bring to life. Local parks often provide the first experiences in nature or an introduction to a favorite hobby or physical activity. They are places to gather with friends and family, spaces to celebrate life’s special moments, areas of respite and healing, sites that connect citizens with essential community services, and so much more. This year’s Parks and Recreation Month theme is “Where Community Grows.” The City wants to use this month to highlight how the community is stronger, more vibrant, and resilient because of parks and recreation. The community is encouraged to follow along and share parks and recreation stories on social media using #WhereCommunityGrows and #ParkAndRecMonth23. Along with the National Recreation and Parks Association, the City invites community members to explore everything the local parks and recreation has to offer this July and throughout the year. Report to Redding City Council July 13, 2023 Re: 4.6(b)--Resolution to Declare July as Parks and Recreation Month Page 3 Environmental Review This is not a project defined under the California Environmental Quality Act, and no further action is required. Council Priority/City Manager Goals • Public Safety – “Work to improve all aspects of public safety to help people feel secure and safe where they live, work, and play in the City of Redding.” • Communication and Transparency – “Improve the quality of communication with the public and City employees to enhance knowledge and increase transparency to improve public trust.” • Government of the 21st Century – “Be relevant and proactive to the opportunities and challenges of today’s residents and workforce. Anticipate the future to make better decisions today.” Attachments ^Resolution RESOLUTION NO. 2023-____ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDDING DECLARING JULY 2023 AS PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH WHEREAS, parks and recreation programs are an integral part of communities throughout this country, including in the City of Redding; and WHEREAS, parks and recreation are vitally important to establishing and maintaining the quality of life in communities, ensuring the health of all citizens, and contributing to the economic and environmental well-being of a community and region; and WHEREAS, parks and recreation programs build healthy, active communities that aid in the prevention of chronic disease, provide therapeutic recreation services for those who are mentally or physically disabled, and also improve the mental and emotional health of all citizens; and WHEREAS, parks and recreation programs increase a community’s economic prosperity through increased property values, expansion of the local tax base, increased tourism, the attraction and retention of businesses, and crime reduction; and WHEREAS, parks and recreation areas are fundamental to the environmental well-being of the community; and WHEREAS, parks and natural recreation areas improve water quality, protect groundwater, prevent flooding, improve the quality of the air residents breathe, provide vegetative buffers to development, and produce habitat for wildlife; and WHEREAS, parks and natural recreation areas ensure the ecological beauty of the community and provide a place for children and adults to connect with nature and recreate outdoors; and WHEREAS, the U.S. House of Representatives has designated July as Parks and Recreation Month; and WHEREAS, the City of Redding recognizes the benefits derived from parks and recreation resources; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Redding hereby proclaims July 2023 as Parks and Recreation Month in the City of Redding. I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Redding on the 18th day of July, 2023, and was duly adopted at said meeting by the following vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS: ________________________________ MICHAEL DACQUISTO, Mayor ATTEST: ______________________________ SHARLENE TIPTON, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: _________________________________ BARRY E. DeWALT, City Attorney