BY JAMES WERNICKE
Chair
Los Alamos Parks and Recreation Board
At the April Parks and Recreation Board (PRB) meeting, we finalized our 2024 Work Plan. This annual task, mandated by the County Council, requires us to provide a detailed outline of tasks, activities, timelines, and resources needed to achieve our shared goals. Section 8 of the County Code outlines each standing board’s purpose, duties, and responsibilities and serves as the primary guiding document for each board’s work plan. PRB is defined in Chapter VII. We also use other documents such as the Board & Commissions Handbook, Strategic Leadership Plan, and Open Meetings Act to guide our planning.
Our first step was to review last year’s activities. This helps us to better understand which community needs were addressed and which may require more attention in the coming year. Some of our notable action items included affirming the Integrated Master Plan and 2024 season pass fee reductions for the golf course due to construction. Some notable presentations included the North Mesa Shared-Use Gym, Restoration Feasibility Assessment, Los Alamos Arts Council, Baling Twine Recycling Program, Trail Management, Park Repurposing, DEIA, Bee City USA, Ice Rink Temporary Chiller, CSD Year-End Report, and Work Credit. Many of these showed significant community interest.
Next, we reviewed lessons learned last year. The emphasis was on better communication, which community members should appreciate as a step towards a more accountable government. The 2024 Work Plan also details many of our projects and assignments including assisting in the implementation of the Integrated Master Plan, CAPRA accreditation, reviewing public feedback for capital improvement projects and other plans, and identifying and ensuring the diverse and emerging recreational needs of the community are being met. Because Parks & Recreation touches many other community interests, we impact nearly every strategic priority and must work with many County departments, boards, and commissions to succeed. Each board member will also commit to attending at least one summer concert to be available to hear from members of the public about parks and recreation concerns.
A big change this year is the dissolution of several subcommittees due to the difficulty of complying with County codes and statutes surrounding them. Instead, we are pursuing working groups and task forces that require fewer bureaucratic hurdles. Perhaps you have an idea for a working group that could help improve some aspects of parks and recreation in our community? Let us know at prb@lacnm.us.
With all the recreation we are blessed with, it’s easy to see the positive impact our parks and recreation facilities have on the community as well as the positive impact our community has on them. This past weekend, the Los Alamos Arts Council hosted its annual Kite Festival at Overlook Park. It is supported by many volunteers who make it possible for all community members to make and fly kites and join in the celebration of warmer weather and each other’s company.
Our Open Space Manager, Eric Peterson, also organized a group of community volunteers to repair trail damage on School Canyon Rim Trail. I highly encourage you to check out this amazing trail behind Pueblo Complex which features several wetland perches and beautiful canyon overlooks. It might inspire you to participate in the next volunteer trail cleanup on May 11. Gopher remediation at the ball fields is showing progress with mounds decreasing weekly. Lastly, the summer concerts at Ashley Pond are coming up on Fridays May 24 – Aug 30. Hope to see you there!
Our next board meeting is on May 9. The agenda will include introductions to our new irrigation tech and arborist, updates on the White Rock Skatepark and permanent chiller for the ice rink, an overview of the FY25 budget and projects, and a discussion of subcommittees and working groups. You can also stay in the loop by visiting the Community Services Department website and Facebook page. Don’t forget to let us know how we can better advocate for you by emailing us at prb@lacnm.us and if you’re interested in joining the board, there will be four seats terming out at the end of the year.