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Home My WebLink AboutStategic Plan 2023-20271 Letter from the Executive Director 2 Mission & Vision Statements 3 Guiding Principles 4 National Gold Medal Winner 5 Planning Process 6 Overview of Strategic Priorities 8 TABLE OFCONTENTS Cultivate Exceptional, Inclusive & Safe Experiences 9 Enhance and Maintain World Class Natural & Built Environments 11 Increase Opportunities for Community & Economic Development 13 Create a Culture of Organizational Excellence 14 2 PLANNING FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE. Originally starting my professional career as a small business owner in a struggling downtown South Bend, I felt compelled to pour myself into being part of the city’s revival. Little did I know that this would become my life’s work. Over 20 years later, it seems this is true. It’s an honor to work alongside hundreds of colleagues who are committed to this same inclusive, influential, and innovative work. As a team, we pride ourselves on listening to the community, using strong data, and pulling in benchmarks to help inform plans like the one you’ll see in the following pages. All of this is in pursuit of improving upon our impact drivers and doing our part to make a more liveable and loveable South Bend. Aaron Perri Executive Director SENIOR STAFF: Deputy Director Jordan Gathers Chief Parks OfficerJohn Martinez Chief Development OfficerEmily Sims Chief Community Officer Maurice Scott General Manager of Venues Andrew Schreiber Director of FinanceLaura Althoff Director of Finance - VenuesMichelle Smith Director of Community Programming Cynthia Taylor Director of Golf Tony Stearns Director of Recreational ExperiencesMacey Hanna Director of Operations - Century Center Scott Herczeg Director of Booking & Event Services Jane Moore MAYOR: James Mueller BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS: Mark Neal, PresidentConsuella Hopkins, Vice President Sam CentellasGeorgianne Walker CIVIC CENTER BOARD OF MANAGERS: Aaron Perri, PresidentMichael Neises, Vice President Randy Kelly, Secretary Linda DoshiGreg Downes AJ PatelJill Scicchitano 3 OUR MISSION Venues Parks & Arts inspires a more livable South Bend for all, connecting us to emotionally engaging experiences and to one another. OUR VISION Every resident of South Bend is positively engaged at least once every year. OUR PRIMARY FOCUS AREAS Arts & Culture RecreationPublic Placemaking WHO WE ARE 4 DEPARTMENTAL IMPACT DRIVERS Social Equity Erasing societal divides and ensuring the ability to thrive for all, regardless of income level, race, gender, ability, orientation or age. Neighborhood & Economic Impact Creating strong and safe neighborhoods and providing significant return on investment. Health & Wellness Enhancing the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of individuals. Ecological Stewardship Responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conversation and sustainability practices. CITY OF SOUTH BEND CORE VALUES Excellence For each major area of service delivery, establish South Bend as the best in the state and/or in the top 25% nationally, measuring and reporting progress. Empowerment Establish a work environment that enables employees to contribute richly to the administration and the community, taking pride and ownership in our work. Inclusion Ensure the City administration, as an employer and as a purchaser, reflects the community it serves and includes diverse voices in our decision making. Innovation Deliver better services more efficiently by introducing creative approaches to government operations, questioning habits and using evidence to continually improve. Accountability Put residents first always, offering services at the greatest value to the taxpayer with clear and transparent indications of how the government is using public resources. WHAT GUIDES US 5 WE ARE THE 2022 NATIONAL GOLD MEDAL AWARD WINNER for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management from the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration 6 STRATEGIC PLANNING MODEL INFORMING DOCUMENTS: Natural Resources Management PlanRecreation Plan VPA Master PlanRiverfront Parks & Trails PlanCOSB 2025 Plan City of South Bend 2022 Community Survey2022 VPA Leadership Strategy & Planning NRPA Strategic PlanPrevious Strategic Plan STAKEHOLDERS: Patrons & Users VisitorsResidents Businesses Advocacy Groups Accrediting & Regulatory AgenciesElected Officials Boards & Staff TRENDS & BENCHMARKS: City / CountyState / Regional National CONTEXT FOR INTERNAL & EXTERNAL PLANNING MISSION & VISION IMPACT DRIVERS STRATEGICPRIORITIES OBJECTIVES INITIATIVES 7 THE BRIGHT FUTURE OF VENUES PARKS & ARTS STARTS WITH A GOOD PLAN 8 OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES CULTIVATE EXCEPTIONAL, INCLUSIVE & SAFE EXPERIENCES INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENHANCE & MAINTAIN WORLD CLASS NATURAL & BUILT ENVIRONMENTS CREATE A CULTURE OF ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE 1. 2. 3. 4. 9 CULTIVATE EXCEPTIONAL, INCLUSIVE & SAFE EXPERIENCES OBJECTIVE 1. Curate Partnerships Across the Landscape, Particularly to Expand Reach Initiatives: Formalize Meaningful & Sustainable PartnershipsUtilize Partnerships Where Service Gaps ExistLean on Partnerships to Leverage Expertise / Specialty Services OBJECTIVE 2. Target Programmatic Reach Expansion Areas to Respond to Needs of Community Initiatives: Teens and Pre-Teens Special Accommodations (Sensory, Limited Mobility, Etc.)Active SeniorsYoung ProfessionalsPassive Community Use / “Discoverable” Engagement Opportunities OBJECTIVE 3. Embrace Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion as a Core Competency Initiatives: Implement Equity in Arts Program Intentional Cross Cultural Marketing Campaigns / MaterialsEnsure Staff Reflects Diversity of CommunityMore Robust Scholarship ProgramTraining & Education for Employees 10 OBJECTIVE 4. Help Create a Safer Community Initiatives: Expand Night & Weekend Programming for TeensEmploy Night & Weekend Staffing in Parks & Parking GaragesFully Integrate POET (Park Outreach & Engagement Team) & Ambassador ProgramsInstall Child Tracking System at Community Centers On-Going Staff Training for Emergency / Hazard Response Bring All Major Parks & Venues Online with Real Time Crime Center OBJECTIVE 5. Build a Spirit of Customer Service & Communication Initiatives:From On-Boarding to Routine, Increase Process InstructionAdd New Customer Service Trainings for All Staff Upgraded Social Media Responses & Integration, Keeping up with Trends Comprehensive Event Calendar & Project Tracking Reviews Require Plan Templates & Evaluations for All Venues & Programs by 1.1.24 CULTIVATE EXCEPTIONAL, INCLUSIVE & SAFE EXPERIENCES 11 ENHANCE & MAINTAIN WORLD CLASS NATURAL & BUILT ENVIRONMENTS OBJECTIVE 1. Facilities & Venues Initiatives: Introduce Comprehensive Facility Management SoftwareMove to Partner with Specialized Equipment Maintenance Increase Resources to Maintain Growing Technological AssetsIntegrate Custodial Training and Management Maintain 24/7 Service at Parking Garages, Upgrade Experience OBJECTIVE 2. Outdoor Spaces Initiatives:Fully Integrate Natural Resources Management Plan into OperationsAttain 30% tree-canopy coverage by 2030Adopt Wildlife Co-existence plan Focus attention on 1st Class Riverwalk Experience / “Own the River”Enhance Four Season Exterior Décor at Major Parks & VenuesFully Retool & Launch Parks Health Dashboard Formalize Night/Weekend Staffing for Maintenance & Cleanliness OBJECTIVE 3. Comprehensive Initiatives: Create Portal to Report & Track Needs / Opportunities Reinstate On-Site Experience AuditsIntroduce Indoor & Outdoor “Instagrammable” SpotsFinish Introducing Free Wi-Fi to all Major Public SpacesEnhance Brand Identity Standards at Parks & Venues 12 ENHANCE & MAINTAIN WORLD CLASS NATURAL & BUILT ENVIRONMENTS OBJECTIVE 4. Complete the Following Large Capital Projects and Scale Resources to Make them Sustainable MAJOR REDEVELOPMENTS Century Center Four Winds Field Kennedy Park MLK Jr. Dream Center & Park Morris 100 Phases II & III Potawatomi Park Seitz Park TRAILS Coal Line Trail (Phases II & III) Downtown - ND Trail East Bank - Leeper Pedestrian Bridge Seitz - Howard Trail West Bank Trail NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS Coquillard Park LaSalle Park South East Park Sorin Park Walker Field 35th Street Wetland Southside Park (location TBD) ATHLETIC COURTS Boehm Park Leeper Park 13 INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE 1. Increase of Targeted Cultural & Recreational Opportunities Initiatives:Morris Presents… Self-Promoted ShowsE-SportsBoomer Public Art & River LightsNew/Expanded Offerings OBJECTIVE 2. Expand Economic Drivers & Analysis Initiatives:Fully Deploy Youth Employment Program Institute New Parking Rates Set and Attain Cost Recovery Targets for All ProgramsIntroduce New Ticket Sales Strategies, Increase Annual Sales by 10%Exceed Direct Hotel Room Night Contributions by 15% YOYExpand Capacity for Grant Research & Writing Build Customer Profiles to Enhance Analysis & Reach Integrate Bloomerang into Daily Fundraising Operations OBJECTIVE 3. Optimize Operations & Promotions Initiatives:Move to a Cashless System Across all Facilities & ProgramsExpand VPA Marketing Efforts of Partner/Promoter Events & ActivitiesImprove Big Picture Storytelling & Engagement (Coffee Table Book) Expand Geographic Reach of Messaging Earned Media Strategy & MeasurementsIntroduce Varied/Creative Outlets of CommunicationTrack & Report Social Media Sentiments, Reach, & Engagement 14 CREATE A CULTURE OF ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE OBJECTIVE 1. Leverage Outside Expertise and Resources Initiatives: Form a Community Recreation Advisory Committee Organize a Public Arts Council Stronger Push for Volunteers/Interns - Integrated into Day-to-day OperationsUtilize Off-site Visits for BenchmarkingFormalize Program Evaluations OBJECTIVE 2. Expand Use of Technology Initiatives:Digital Storage of All Documentation, Archives, Plans, and InformationDeploy CAPRA Software, Train & Integrate Additional OwnersIntroduce and Adapt to New Technologies in Daily OperationsUse Advanced Tools in Surveying and Data Collection OBJECTIVE 3. Build Capacity for Connectivity & Growth Initiatives:Pursue Continuing Education Opportunities & Professional Certifications Create More Opportunities for Employee Connections & Engagement Mandate Management & Leadership Training for all SupervisorsMaintain CAPRA Accreditation and Systematize Throughout Department Morris Performing Arts Center South Bend City Cemetery 219 S. St. Louis Blvd. South Bend, IN 46617Phone: 574-299-4765 sbvpa.org