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PKC - Item 3A - Monthly Department Update ROSEMEAD PARKS COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO: THE HONORABLE CHAIR AND PARKS COMMISSION FROM: TOM BOECKING, DIRECTOR OF PARKS & RECREATION DATE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 SUBJECT: MONTHLY DEPARTMENT UPDATE COVID-19 UPDATE Fall Programs – Due to the restrictions that are still in place, the Parks and Recreation Department has decided not to offer in person programs, classes and special events this fall. Nonetheless, an exception will be held for in-person classes and events given they are held outdoors and follow social distancing guidelines. The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted how we hold events and programs; however, we await additional guidance from the County of Los Angeles to release further guidelines that will allow our centers and programs to open to the public. AQUATICS Pool maintenance has been continued in anticipation of its opening. The aquatic staff have been coming in weekly to ensure the facilities’ upkeep and in preparation to operate once pools open. FACILITIES/PARKS Garvey Community Center- While the Garvey Community Center is still closed to the public, the Center has re-opened some services. MTA bus pass reloading has started again for Rosemead residents. The north hallway of the facility has been open for those who are waiting for meal distribution on Mondays and Wednesdays. Summer hours for meal distribution have been in effect since June for the Senior Lunch Program has started at 10:30 am instead of 11:30 am. Due to the warm summer weather, a change in the program start time and the allowance of participant waiting areas were added to accommodate those waiting to receive their meals. The Center continues to distribute 160 meals a day to those seniors in need. There has been no charge for meals during this unprecedented pandemic. The Garvey Community Center staff have planned some fun days to bring joy to the seniors during the meal distribution. There have been some special treats, decorations and music to celebrate baseball’s Opening Day, National Senior Citizen Day and an end of the summer luau. Parks Commission Meeting September 1, 2020 Page 2 of 3 2 Staff has also created a bi-weekly newsletter full of helpful information, puzzles, comics and recipes. More fun days and newsletters are planned throughout the rest of the year. The Garvey Community Center has continued the partnership with the LA Food Bank and have distributed 200 boxes of food to participating seniors each month. The next distribution day is scheduled for Monday, September 28. Rosemead Community Recreation Center – The Rosemead Community Recreation Center has been shut down to public use due the gathering restrictions. It is very unfortunate but has given staff the opportunity for some much-needed cleaning and organizing of the facility. SPECIAL EVENTS 9/11 Memorial Event – A special tribute will be held virtually to commemorate the men and women who lost their lives as well as honor the emergency responders who selflessly served during this tragic attack. The tribute will appear on the City’s social media platforms on September 11. Concerts in the Park: Virtual Series – A highly anticipated series of events, the summer concerts are resident favorites. To continue offering fun and groovy tunes, the concerts were modified to be held online as a virtual experience. A total of four concerts were held and featured the bands Disco Diva, on July 24, The Fresh Band, on July 31, The Detroit Nights, On August 14 and Steel Rod on August 21. Drive-In Movie – On July 31, the City of Rosemead hosted its first drive-in movie featuring Sonic the Hedgehog. The event was well received by the community and it was a huge success bringing in 75 vehicles for the showing. The screening began at 8:00 pm and those in attendance received a goodie bag filled with treats to enjoy during the movie. Rosemead was proud to bring in families for a special and unforgettable experience all while providing the peace of mind that the event was created in accordance to social distancing and safety guidelines. Farmers Market – The Farmers Market continues to operate each Monday and will end on September 28. The market has been modified to follow social distancing regulations. Stop by for some of your favorite fruits, vegetables or snacks. Fall Fiesta – Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 10! Given that the Drive-In Movie was received positively by the community, we will be celebrating Fall Fiesta with a drive-in screening of the beloved movie “Coco”. Additional details for the event to come soon. Trunk or Treat – One of the most attended events, the Trunk or Treat held on October 31 will be happening this year. With safety in mind, the Trunk or Treat has been modified as a Drive- Parks Commission Meeting September 1, 2020 Page 3 of 3 3 Thru event and will be held at the Jesse Gonzalez Sports Complex to accommodate a large attendance. YOUTH PROGRAMS Summer Camp in a Box – The all NEW Camp Rosemead in a Box was a huge hit! A total of 60 activity boxes sold out for the summer. Each box included two weeks of fun and exciting activities that can be done right from the living room! Each themed box included a camp shirt, arts & craft, games, physical fitness activities and weekly virtual excursions. Themes for the boxes were Color Crazy, Ahoy Matey’s, Shark Week, Under the Sea, Animal Planet and Mad Science week. Parks and Recreations staff is excited to plan for the Halloween and Thanksgiving boxes for the fall! Sports in a Bag – Keeping in mind physical fitness and engaging youth in sports, a new program was offered this summer called Sports in a Bag. This program was designed to involve parents and children in basketball and/or soccer through the learning of the fundamentals of each sport. Each bag included a Rosemead Youth Sports drawstring backpack along with the sports equipment and a participant manual. Each week, for a duration of 6 weeks, recreation staff recorded an instructional video to assist parents with teaching the various drills and skills. Parks and Recreations is excited to provide Football Sports in a Bag for the upcoming fall! GRANT UPDATE Proposition 68: Founder’s Park - The State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation notified staff that the proposed “Founder’s Park” was not selected as a funded project in this round of the Proposition 68 competitive grant program. The State received 478 applications which equaled a total of $2.3 billion in requests. The amount requested greatly exceeded the $254.9 million available in this round. A total of 90% of the applications did not receive funding with only 15 projects funded in Los Angeles County. Final Round of Proposition 68: Final Round – The State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation released the last and final round of competitive grants for Proposition 68. This final round will offer $395 million in grant money. Grant applications are due December 14, 2020. Staff is currently evaluating potential projects that might be eligible.