By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wkv.org
If you wonder how much of a resource of health and public welfare the City of Wyoming’s parks have served during the pandemic, consider this: reservations at the parks was at 30,000 hours, a 77 percent increase over 2020.
This was part of the 2021 annual Community Impact Report released last week by the City of Wyoming Community Services Department’s Parks and Recreation.
“Today, access to recreation resources have never been more sought after or needed for public health and welfare,” said Rebecca Rynbrandt, director of community services for the City of Wyoming. “This report provides the public with the transparency needed to affirm we are investing tax dollars wisely, meeting, and in many ways exceeding, resident expectations in providing parks and recreation services during the pandemic.”
The community impact report highlights the ways parks and recreation programs from the past year promoted community health and wellness, child development, economic development, and provided many avenues to build unity and community strength.
Rynbrandt noted during the Dec. 13 city council work session that in 2020-2021 year, the department offered 251 programs. During the epicenter of the pandemic in 2020, it offered 158 programs.
“Of course we saw a significant increase in use of our parks and recreation resources and facilities because that is what [people] were encouraged to do, get outside in order to play,” Rynbrandt said.
Another example of increase parks and recreation was the softball program which had a record year of 1,200 participants during the spring and summer.
Rynbrandt said staff worked to adapt by offering virtual programs and working with outdoor programming. When programs were able to return inside, staff ensured that the required social distancing, mask requirements, etc, were met.
Many programs this past year were modified to ensure public safety during the pandemic and exemplified the ways that parks and recreation services are essential to community resiliency and sustainability. Once such an example of adaptability was the Rec at Home kits with families stopping by Wyoming’s city hall to pick up the kits.
“For those of you who may have been here we had people coming to the back door and picking up so that we were able to adapt and provide that family a positive time alternative they could do with their families in the presence of their home or they could go outside in a public park,” Rynbrandt said.
Parks and recreation is critical to child development, Rynbrandt said. TEAM, 12, which is funded through the U.S. Department of Education’s 21st Community Learning Centers grant, provides summer and after school programs for students in Godwin, Godfrey-Lee and Wyoming public schools. The program served about 900 children this year, which was down from pre-pandemic, which would average between 1,200 to 1,400 students per year.
Despite the limitations due to the pandemic, the program had 121 children on wait lists, according to Rynbrandt.
“[TEAM 21] is one of the most important programs where we impact the mental, physical, social, and scholastic health of our community’s children, Rynbrandt said.
The city also has an impact on the senior population. Through its partnership with the Meals on Wheels program, the city was able to provide 7,488 meals for socially isolated older adults. Rynbrand noted that this was a drive through program at the senior center.
Vaccine clinics and tree plantings were other activities provided through the Wyoming Department of Parks and Recreation.
As for the financial overview, about 52 percent of the Parks and Recreation budget goes directly into park facilities and maintenance, six percent is in the senior center, eight percent into recreation, and about 20 percent into TEAM 21, which is through the grant program.
The city features 23 parks and recreation facilities, including the Wyoming Senior Center, located throughout the city’s 700 acres of parkland.
To view the annual Community Impact Report, visit https://www.wyomingmi.gov/About-Wyoming/City-Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Annual-Report.
For more information about Parks and Recreation programs and events please contact the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation team by calling 616-530-3164, emailing parks_info@wyomingmi.gov, or visiting www.wyomingmi.gov
