July is Parks and Rec Month Presentation

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT

ANNUAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS AND PARTICIPANT HOURS

ADULT SPORTS

Participants: 5,200 (Gym)

Participant Hours: 22,150 (Gym)

Participants: 450 (Fields)

Participant Hours: 4,100 (Fields)

AQUATICS

Participants: 66,015

(Burgess)

Participants: 5,600

(Belle Haven)

A.R.C.


Participant Hours: 80,000

B.H.A.S.

Participants: 810


B.H.C.D.C.



FACILITIES


GYMNASTICS



M.C.C.



O.H.C.C.

Participants: 1,100

SPECIAL EVENTS

Participants: 1,100


YOUTH SPORTS



TOTAL PARTICIPANTS: 334,616

TOTAL PARTICIPANT HOURS: 830,788

“healthier & happier”

LISA VANDE VOORDE’S CLASSES “My name is Cindy Roble, a very happy resident of Menlo Park! I

have been receiving copies of the Community Centers Activity

guide for years, but never participated in a class before I

enrolled my 50's, I realized I needed exercise to counterbalance

osteoporosis. All praise to Lisa who has helped me and all

people in her classes to be healthier and happier for knowing

her! I now tell all my clients and friends "Menlo Park has the

Beverly Hills of Community Centers, and it is very reasonably priced!" Thank You Lisa, and

Menlo Park for making this City a blissful place to live!”

- Cindy Roble

“joyous movement”

PALOMANIAN FOLK DANCE CLASS “I had polio at the age of 12 and have experienced continuing physical

problems with my spine, arm, and legs since. Last year my physiatrist

prescribed folk dancing for me and I complied, having enjoyed folk

dancing in the past but not really done it for nearly 14 years. I am so

grateful for his prescription and that this fantastic group exists right here in my

town. Now my week is centered around going to the class on Tuesdays. I danced

professionally and also taught belly dancing and dance exercise back in the day, and was rather

depressed at my recent severe decrease in physical ability due to post polio and aging. This safe

and friendly style of dance has stimulated my mind, stretched my physical abilities, engaged my

brain, and wiped away the depression. I have so much appreciation seeing people from teenagers

to 90 year olds out there in the lines with everyone else, catching on to steps, getting exercise in

probably the most enjoyable and safest way possible. Learning the steps boosts memory no matter

how young or old one is. The feeling of community of individuals and couples who love music and

dance has engendered in me a peace and anticipation; every week I look forward to my "fix" of

joyous movement. Thank you, Menlo Park, for providing us with a perfect exercise paired with

extraordinary teachers and gorgeous and varied music.”

- Sharon Bickford

“grateful & proud”

MENLO PARK CHORUS “I joined the Menlo Park Chorus (MPC) in January 2013. I have

always loved to sing, but have never really had the courage to

audition or sing in public in any way till I discovered MPC. I had

been taking private voice lessons for a couple of months and

happened to do a search on the Menlo Park web page to see if

there were any singing classes, when I came across MPC. I thought

it would be a great way to actually get a chance to perform, and I

was right! April, the director, and the rest of the members of the Chorus were

very welcoming. It's been a great learning experience getting a chance to sing with fellow community

members of all ages in a safe and comfortable environment. The public performance that I

participated in at the end of the semester was the first time I had sung on stage since the fourth

grade! It was thrilling. I also enjoy the fact that MPC gives back to the community, singing at local

Veteran's Hospital facilities every semester. Since joining MPC, just over a year ago, I have been able

to come out of my shell more, hosting Karaoke nights with friends, and even being asked to sing at a

friend's wedding! I am grateful and proud to be a part of MPC.”

- Giuseppe Vaccaro

“strength, stamina,

& flexibility”

ARRILLAGA FAMILY GYMNASIUM “About 15 of us, all over 60, get together and play basketball a

few times a week. We play as hard as the young guys do,

running full court most of the time. We have a great

opportunity to play in a great facility that is clean,

accommodating, plenty of parking and has a friendly staff.

Many of us have had injuries and health issues over the

years so it’s great to come out and rebuild

strength, stamina and flexibility in a fun environment.

It truly is the best $2.00 you can spend.”

- Will Smith

second home

&

vital service

SENIOR CENTER Esther came to our Center over 5 years ago as a community volunteer

assisting with the 2nd Harvest Brown Bag program at the Center on Thursdays,

and then with the dining hall operations. She was chosen as the Volunteer of

the Year because of her dedication to the program and the seniors. When her

son was killed in a neighborhood shooting, the staff managed to connect her

with an organization who hired her as a Title 5 worker, helping at the Senior

Center. Not only did this provide her with more regular hours away from her

home, where she had a hard time being due to the recent loss of her son, but it also helped with

replenishing their dwindling savings. Now, Esther comes to the Center as a patron but she also

continues to be very active as a Title 5 employee. She calls the Center her second home, and

enjoys spending time here daily with friends and staff who have supported her all along.

Aura started attending the Center just over 3 years ago. Very active, energetic, and with a big smile,

she soon found many friends at the Center. Her daughter worked in Menlo Park at the time, and used

the Center as a daycare for her mom. Diagnosed with dementia, Aura continues to come to the

Center daily and is watched over by her friends at all times. Encouraging her

to eat lunch as a main meal for the day, to take part in exercise classes,

peer counseling, and arts. Aura is a common example of the seniors we get

at the Center who depend not only on the vital services we provide, but they

also rely on the local community to care for them when their family members

are at work.

stability & support

BELLE HAVEN CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER

At Belle Haven Child Development Center (BHCDC) we have a

performance measure around supporting a strong sense of

community. A great example of how we have achieved this

performance measure is a family that has been in our program

since 2009. This mom first came to our program when her first son

was 3 years old. This mom had been through many difficult events

throughout her young life and BHCDC provided the stability that

she needed. The teachers established an excellent relationship

with this mom which was a huge contributor to her success and

participation at BHCDC. The program helped this mom find the resources in

the community to assist her with all of her needs, which included better housing and food. She was

also very concerned about her child’s needs and his behavior in the program. The BHCDC program

and teachers assisted this child to help progress his development. His behavior improved

substantially and he was well prepared for kindergarten when he left the program.

Then in 2012 this mom brought in her second son into our program when he was also 3 years old.

Again BHCDC provided this family with the stability and support on daily basis. . The program

also helped this mom keep her current job and then she was able to find a better paying job while

this child was in the program. Her second son also was well prepared for kindergarten when he

graduated from the program just this past June.

This family shows how BHCDC supports a strong sense of community by consistently having families

bring their children to our program year after year and child after next child. BHCDC continues to

have a superior reputation for quality childcare as shown by the history of family members who

bring the next generation of young child through our program.

“bonding time”

“best buddies”

ONETTA HARRIS COMMUNITY CENTER “I like to play basketball and go into the gym. I like to be

here because it is fun and Avery and Sandra are my

best buddies. I like to be around all the people that

come up to OHCC. I have met lots of friends here and

always have someone to play with.”

- Keyjuanne Mgee (Age 10)

“I have been coming to take classes, mostly the fitness ones since 2009.

I started out by taking Zumba Classes and it is my favorite class

because I love to dance and stay active. I have also been taking

Kickboxing and Boot camp. Since I started, I have had more

energy, feel less stressed, am more relaxed and feel good

about my body image. I have encouraged my daughter to

come to fitness classes for mom and daughter bonding time.

My daughter has lost about 20 pounds since she started

participating here at OHCC. The teachers are very good and

they really motivate us. The classes here have also been a great

way to socialize and meet new people”.

-Sonia Salinas

“realize his potential”

MENLO PARK GYMNASTICS “As soon as my baby could walk, he jumped. Up and down staircases. I

decided to enroll him in the Mommy-and-me class at Burgess as an

alternative to a padded cell. He loved the classes and called the gym

“jump-jump”. Each of his teachers were great and he learned what most

kids do in these classes – waiting patiently for others, following rules, self-

control and he loved the joy of freedom of movement. Back then, my

husband and I worked long hours as trainees in residency so the

convenience and affordability of the city program couldn’t be beat. As

time went on, my son progressed in his skill level and the greatest joy on

his 6th birthday was that he could join the level 1 boys class. With coaches

Matt and Yousef, Noah learned self discipline, trust and that the only way to move forward is through hard

work. Though they no longer work at the gym, these two men remain as very important figures in his life and

the boys who have been with him since level 1 are like brothers. Now as a successful competitive gymnast and

on the verge of young adulthood, Noah is thriving in an environment which has supported him since he was a

baby, in a small safe community where he can manage his schoolwork and time and walk to practice. His coach

plays an important role in helping him realize his potential, work through his fears and serve as a positive

role model in life as well as in the gym. All of these virtues can occur through any gymnastics training program

but given that gymnastics training is rigorous and time-consuming, to have all of this in my very back yard is

really a dream come true.

I hope the program can continue to support and maintain a happy and satisfied staff of qualified and

experienced teachers and coaches so that others may benefit as my son has.”

- Louise Furukawa

“extended family &

so many memories”

.

MENLO CHILDREN’S CENTER “MCC was more than a daycare and more than an afterschool

program for my three boys. MCC was an extended family that helped

me raise my kids. Teacher Ronnie was a favorite for my strong willed

middle child and Teacher Kelly was the gentle hand my shy

youngest needed. Enrique and Fidel are the two leaders that my

kids would run to look for every new year! I never worried about

my kids while they were at MCC and could leave them in a place

they were excited to go. Fantastic program, inventive curriculum, caring and

trustworthy staff, I can't recommend it enough.”

- Kalia Napoleon

“Growing up, I attended the “Rec”, which was Menlo Parks’ after school program

at the time. It was located at Burgess, one of the many fine parks we have.

Not only did I enjoy going there throughout my elementary school years,

I also benefitted from the yearly summer camps. I enjoyed the camps so

much and made so many memories that while looking for employment

I sought out Menlo Children’s Center. I have been working at MCC since

high school and am happy to be able to give back to the community I

received so much from but most of all to give back to the kids

I enjoy working with so much. “

- David Abbott, former student and current MCC leader

“gratitude”

MENLO ATHERTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

“I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the City

of Menlo Park for its assistance in making the Menlo-Atherton

Performing Arts Center available to community presenters at

affordable rates. With the support of the City,

Music@Menlo has been able to significantly increase the

community enjoyment of our free concerts, including our Prelude

Performances and our Koret Young Performers Concerts, which had

previously taken place at significantly smaller venues. These concerts

provide a wonderful opportunity for community members to experience classical music

performances at the highest level at no cost, and also are a chance for local families to

introduce their young children to classical music.”

– Edward Sweeney (executive Director for Music @ Menlo)

“healthier & happier”

“joyous movement”

“grateful & proud”

“strength, stamina & flexibility”

“second home” & “vital service”

“stability & support”

“best buddies” & “bonding time”

“realized his potential”

“extended family” & “so many memories”

July is Parks and Rec Month Presentation

Government & Nonprofit

Transcript of July is Parks and Rec Month Presentation