HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 Annual Report - PARC (Parks, Arts, Recreation & Culture) Committee r
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2012 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE �..�
PARKS, ARTS, RECREATION AND CULTURE (PARC)'COMMITTEE
Date: December 10, 2012
To: The South Bend Common Council
The Office of the City Clerk
From: Council Member Gavin Ferlic, PARC Committee Chairperson
Introduction:
Pursuant to § 2-10 (i) of the South Bend Municipal Code, I am pleased to file this 2012Annual Report of
the PARC Committee, which highlights some of the activities of this calendar year, and makes some
recommendations for consideration to enhance the many recreational and cultural opportunities offered in
the City of South Bend.
PARC Committee Membership:
This year's Committee members included:
6th District Council Member Oliver Davis,Vice-Chairperson
3rd District Council Member Valerie Schey, Member
1st District Council Member Tim Scott, Member
Council Member at Large Gavin Ferlic, Chairperson
Elizabeth Ferlic, Citizen Member
John Mazurkiewicz, Citizen Member
Duties and Responsibilities:
As noted in the South Bend Municipal Code, the PARC Committee is charged with the following duties:
"Oversees the various activities of the Century Center,College Football Hall of Fame, Coveleski Regional
Stadium,Morris Performing Arts Center, Studebaker National Museum, South Bend Regional Museum of
Art,Potawatomi Zoo, and the many recreational and leisure activities offered by the Department of Parks
and Recreation".
PARC Committee Meetings:
The PARC Committee has met five (5) times to date this year. Some of the topics discussed and
reviewed by the Committee included:
• Appropriation requests for improvements at Belleville and Howard Parks from Fund#227
• Discussion of Global Spectrum's Contract to Manage Century Center
2012 Annual Report of the PARC Committee
December 10,2012
Page 2
It should also be noted that at our Organizational Meeting of the PARC Committee, we highlighted
several other topics and activities which have been pursued informally through one-on-one contacts.
Topics under discussion include:
—p Feasibility of developing Dog Park(s) and Running Park(s)
—� Future Uses for the College Football Hall of Fame facility
—> Partnering with Rotary,the Cove to promote new activities
—4 Partnering more with the University of Notre Dame and Indiana University South
Bend to better coordinate and promote the posting and exchange of information
—+ Pursue ongoing updates on the proposed Miracle Park proposed to be an all-accessible
Park facility for individuals with disabilities
—* Pursue re-invigorating the opportunities for uses at Pinhook Park
—+ Identifying potential funding sources and additional entities who may be interested in
partnering with the City on Park Projects
The PARC Committee and its members have seen progress in the following areas as a result of informal
contacts as well as a formal PARC Committee meeting where we toured many South Bend Parks
facilities:
• Discussions of potential improvements at Pinhook Park
• Discussion of a potential partnership with the First Tee Program (a "new to the area" non profit
organization) and Studebaker Golf Course
• Informal meetings with members of the Kennedy Park Neighborhood Association regarding
potential improvements to Kennedy Park
• Informal meetings with the Morris Center and student governments from local colleges and
universities in an effort to enhance contemporary programming in the city
• Discussions with Rotary on a potential partnership for improvements in Howard Park
• Informal meetings regarding increasing mentoring in our community and utilizing partnerships
with the Parks Department's youth centers to achieve this goal
2012 Annual Report of the PARC Committee
December 10,2012
Page 3
In the new year, continued discussions which briefly began this year, on the feasibility of utilizing Park
bonds as a funding mechanism should take place in order to enhance and maintain the excellent park and
recreation programs offered to our residents and visitors to our city. Thank you.
Respectfully submitted,
Council Member Gavin Ferlic
PARC Committee Chairperson
cc: Mayor Pete Buttigieg
Phil St. Clair, Park Superintendent
Filed in Clerk's Of icy-:
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CITY CLERK,SOUTH BEND,IN