The Harrison Parks Advisory Committee met on Tuesday, May 6, with several items under New Business.
One gentleman represented a mom who was concerned about three-year-olds playing T-Ball. Girls and boys begin at different times, but get the same amount of playing time. The mother was absent but has contacted the Parks staff and the Mayor’s office several times.
Executive Director Chuck Eddington said, “Our baseball and softball leagues are covered under the national organizations we use. We follow the national ages set for boys and girls under those guidelines. The birthday cutoff date for girls is January 1, and the birthday cutoff for boys is May 1. This maintains consistency and equal playing years for all our participants in league play.”
Also under new business was the concern of a lifeguard’s mom, when an abusive parent confronted the lifeguard after rescuing a child who jumped off the diving board, but couldn’t swim to the side. The lifeguard asked the child to play in the kiddie pool for her safety.
The advisory committee assured the lifeguard’s mom that steps had been taken to ensure the safety of lifeguards.
The committee wants to add an additional policy to protect staff and will work with the lifeguard’s mom to ensure she agrees with the changes.
It was also mentioned that School Resource Officers will be on duty this summer at Creekside. And when the new fire station is complete, more authority figures will be quickly accessible when they aren’t on a call.
Officials reviewed the security footage, and the altercation was not the fault of the lifeguard or supervisor. The staff responded correctly. The abusive mom has been banned from any Harrison Park facility for life.
Acting chairman at the meeting, Scott Tennyson, said, “We will implement some additional policies to protect our associates. We also need to protect our lifeguards who are doing their jobs.”
CFO Luke Feighert presented information during the general updates of the meeting. “We are looking into the staffing numbers at Creekside. There are some opportunities to be more efficient with staffing.”
Feighert said he was surprised to find the cost of utilities was under what they had initially planned.
The committee mentioned Libby Salmon’s retirement and Eddington’s plan for her replacement. An interim director has been secured for the summer.
Eddington said the pickleball courts should be surfaced soon, and after they’ve cured, they will be ready for the public to use.
There are currently 3,954 Creekside members. A three-month pass is being offered to new members for the summer.
The meeting adjourned at 12:59 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, at noon. It is held at City Hall in the Admin Board room and is open to the public.