• Hired and onboarded seasonal aquatic coordinator. – After the department’s long-time pool coordinator announced their resignation shortly before the 2023 season, we were able to recruit, hire, and train a pool coordinator to oversee and manage the daily operations of Pirate’s Hollow Water Park.
• Improved relationships with community partners. – The recreation department has been in communication with several civic groups in efforts to resolve ongoing conflicts. We were able to work toward solutions that were agreeable by both parties and have plans to grow relationships long term.
• Identified efficient new revenue streams. – Automatic door locks were installed not only enhancing the security of the building, but also providing an opportunity to provide new rental space available to community members. Our renewed and improved relationships with several community members have also allowed us to provide new programming opportunities through Port Fitness and Port Washington Youth Baseball and Softball creating a new revenue source in the future.
• Developed plans to improve operations. - Developed a plan to collaborate Senior Center Programming with Recreation Center Guide to better communicate programming to all users and utilize online registration for all Senior Center and Recreation programming.
• Partnered with Lane4Foundation. – Developed a scholarship program for swim lessons for families who cannot afford swim lessons with the Lane4Foundation to help fund swim lessons at Pirate’s Hollow.

Parks

• Planted over 400 trees throughout the city within the parks and parkway areas and removed over 350 dead and dying trees.
• Clearance-pruned 60 percent of the street trees overhanging the sidewalk and roadway.
• Structural- pruned 15 percent of the street trees throughout the city. This is done mainly on our younger trees to develop strong central leaders and prevent major limb loss during storms.
• Properly maintained roughly 100 planting beds daily. This includes planting, weeding, mulching, and cutting back vegetation.
• Restored and painted approximately 75 picnic tables, by scraping, sanding, and replacing boards as needed.
• Continued to establish a nature preserve at Birchwood Hills. This included removing over 200 Ash trees, forestry mowing roughly three acres of invasive plant species, and stump grinding. Constructed over 1,000 feet of new trails including a 40-foot boardwalk in wetland areas and added over 200 new trees (one and one-half inch to three inches in diameter).
• Installed a new playground system at Bley Park with over 18 pieces of new play equipment. The installation was completed by staff saving approximately $30,000 in contracted expenses.
• Completely renovated the Kolbach Park shelter. Updates included new overhead doors, new ceiling, walls, flooring, bathrooms, and a new patio area. This work was done in-house, saving approximately $40,000 in contracted expenses.
• Restored and stained stairs leading from the north beach area to Upper Lake Park including sanding, replacing rotted lumber, and staining.
• Collaborated with engineering and managed new turf ballfield installation including new turf infield, and new fencing throughout the area.
• Managed the renovation of the bandshell including the preparation and painting of the entire building along with the restoration of all the brickwork.
• Successfully secured over $50,000 in land management grants collaborating with nonprofit organizations.
• Treated approximately 300 Ash trees in parks and parkways for protection from the Emerald Ash Borer.

Recreation

• Baseball program expansions and enhancements will be under consideration. – Marketing, registration, implementation of new t-ball, machine pitch, and player pitch baseball programs that were transferred from Port Washington Youth Baseball and Softball, Inc.
• Upper Lake Park usage planning will be under consideration. – Development of a long-term park development plan for Upper Lake Park will be under consideration.
• Creation of an Online Registration Process for Senior Center Programs and Memberships will be under consideration. – Entry of all Senior Center programming and membership opportunities into the RecDesk registration system. This would include training of the Senior Center Director and Administrative Assistant on RecDesk software so they can manage their participant registrations online.
• Continued review of Department Policies and Procedures. – Review all policies and procedures affecting public users of recreation department facilities and programs.
• Integration of Recreation Department Employee Scheduling into the city’s Paylocity timekeeping system. – This process would streamline employee scheduling and timekeeping management into an existing city platform and improve efficiency and internal communication.
• Assist in the re-establishment of a Water Safety Committee. – Assist in the re-establishment of the water safety committee to develop a long-term community plan for water safety education and programming which is important for all communities with locations adjacent to large bodies of water.

Parks

• Install a new playground system at Whitefish Park. This will be done in-house by Division staff.
• Install new basketball court at Windrush Park. This will occur in collaboration with the Streets Division.
• Renovation of the exterior of the concession stand including removal of rotting wood throughout the structure and replacing the trim and siding.
• Plant 350 trees in parks and parkways.
• Clearance-prune the remaining trees overhanging the right of way.
• Remove 300 dead and declining trees.

2023 Annual Report

2022 Annual Report

2021 Annual Report

2020 Annual Report

2019 Annual Report

2018 Annual Report