2006 Performance Based Budget - Laserfiche WebLink

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year South Bend was named "Tree City USA" for our commitment to trees and the environment. We planted 464 trees last year, and aver 28,000 flowers. We have several destination parks in the system. Potawatomi Zoo is a gem. It is a regional attraction that continues to be ranked in the top twenty kid friendly zoos in the U.S. Last year 192,000 kids and adults visited the Zoo. They came to ride the new Zoo Train and to see the new DeBrazza's Monkey Habitat or the African ground Hornbill Exhibit. They came to see Crunch - a 200 year old, 165 pound giant alligator snapping turtle. They came for special events like Zoo Boo and Zuletide. They came to see Li1i, our newest baby red panda. They came to see the new habitat murals painted by local artists, and to sae our most famous local artist Sammy the Chimp. His artwork was featured on the Letterman Show. Dave guessed that it had been painted by a human! They came to have fun together as families, to learn about and respect the environment and wildlife. Our thanks to the Zoological Society, which has been such a terrific partner in zoo improvements. Of course, the zno doesn't have a monopoly on cute animals. Our Animal Care and Control division not only responds to calls about critters, but also has some wonderful cats and dogs available for adoption. We can't count all the children and families who use our neighborhood playgrounds, but these spaces too are vital to a healthy city. Our summer playground program and the Leeper Park tennis program keep kids active and having flan, learning new skills in a supervised setting. We work to continuously upgrade the play equipment at these parks. New soccer goals and bleachers were added to Pulaski Park. New play equiprxaent was installed at Parkovash and Soria parks. Park crews also installed a large playground assembly at LaSalle Park, and began the prep work for a water spray pad to be comipleted this spring. We expect to add. these spray areas to many parks around the city as a fun way to help youngsters stay cool. Through a great partnership with the NNRO and South Bend Heritage Foundation, a new Sprayground was put in at Coyuillard Park. On the far Westside at Belleville Park hundreds of volunteers participated in Rotary's centennial project, construction of Friendship Station. Like Kids Kingdom before it, A-39