09-14-1976 PTRC Meeting Minutes and Agenda

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• SSU 1.976 PARK AND RECREATION DEPT. SU-1,01ER PROGRAM By Steve Whittaker Six Arden hills Parks were designated for summer play,-,,round act Lvities. These parks includee; Valentine, Floral, Ingersor., Freeway and Sampson and Lake johanna 0 Elementary School . A staff consisting of six playground supervisors (3 male and 3 female) z1ovg with a program director, was hired for the :six week program. Playground supervisors worked in pairs to run tiny tot (pre-school) programs in the mornings irom 9:30 - 12:00 noor. and school-age programs in the afternoons from 1:00 -- 4.00 p.m. Eact. pair of staff was. assigned to two playgrounds. One- half day was spent aL each playground Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Thus, two :'Lull mornings and 2 full afternoons, of activities were conducted for tiny tots and school-age children respectively at each of the six parks. The park activities included a wide variety of quiet and active games, large and small craft projects, special events days such as wheels day or pet day; and the familiar team games of softball-, kickball and basketball. Park supervisors also got maximum use of slides, swings and apparatus when these 'k:acilities were avail- able. • "Water dayE" were probably the biggest hit at each of the playg77ounds. Two sheets of thick plastic were laid on existing inclines while nearby fi;.-e hydrants provided the water for water slider.. These "slip-n-slides" were inexpensive, relatively safe and extremely fun activities with which the youth Just couldn't get enough. Thursdays were reserved for specie.) adventure trips with Arden Mills youth. These trips included a trip to see the Twins, two days of rollz;- skating, a bicentennial playday at Perry Park, innertubing down the Apple ';River and a day at Valleyfair. These six all day trips were very well attended by our youth and also helped to bring other Arden Hills youth in contact with our park program who were net considered park regulars. It is my observation that the high quality of our playground supervisors and the all around summer playground program pro-Lrided a healthy enviromaent for a large number of Arden Hills youth to grow es individuals. Park supervisors provided and conducted activities that were invigorating, developmental, educational and that led and will lead to positive. physical,, social and emotional development.