Chatham Borough & Chatham Township Recreation Field Usage & Program Development (1999– 2010)

1. Chatham Borough & Chatham Township Recreation Field Usage & Program Development (1999– 2010)

2. Recreation Field Usage & Program Development Background • No significant investment made in current fields in decades. • Heavy participation rates, fields were only getting worse, no resting • time/improvement time. • No new fields added into the program. • Expansion of programs. • Significant heavy growth of all girls programs. • Wait lists established to meet increasing enrollment demands due to lack • of field space.

3. Recreation Field Usage & Program Development (2005- 2010) January 2005 – Chatham Borough and Chatham Township decide to create a long term joint master plan for field usage and program development. January 2006 – The Chathams Recreation Field and Facility Usage Report Strategic Plan is submitted to Chatham Borough and Chatham Township. (Mason Report) May 2006 – The Chatham Recreation Activity and Field Report is submitted to the Chatham Borough Council and the Chatham Township Committee.

4. Chatham Field Usage and Facility Report (Mason Report January 2006) Key Issues & Goals • 1. Need for artificial turf and lighting on larger all purpose field areas to • expand playing time for participants of all ages and to extend playing • hours, particularly in fall and spring seasons. • Review of existing plans and consideration of new options for • other locations within the community to expand and develop new playing fields and facilities to meet future needs. • 3. Analysis of school enrollment projections, population data and • national field and facility ratio standards to determine Chatham Joint • Recreation needs, particularly in the heavily scheduled spring season. • 4. Development of a comprehensive, long-range park and recreation • master plan for improvement, maintenance and care of playing fields • and all other recreation facilities.

5. Chatham Field Usage and Facility Report (Mason Report January 2006) Main Objectives • Recommendations to develop strategies for more effective • usage of fields: • Goal: Establish a stronger Chatham Joint Recreation Advisory • Committee with equal representation from the Borough and the Township to develop and implement effective policies and procedures for Recreation Department operations. • Achievement: 2006 – Chatham Joint Recreation Committee is restructured. • Goal: Create Policies and Procedures Manual to define the roles of the • CJRAC and staff to outline effective operational plans. • Achievement: 2006 - Chatham Joint Recreation Committee By-Laws approved by Chatham Borough Council & Chatham Township Committee.

6. Chatham Field Usage and Facility Report (Mason Report January 2006) Main Objectives • Recommendations to develop strategies for more effective • usage of fields: (continued) • Goal: Establish one recreation office with all staff located in the • Township Municipal Building to efficiently staff the office during regular business hours. • Achievement: 2010 – Joint Recreation Director and Deputy Director • appointed.

7. Chatham Field Usage and Facility Report (Mason Report January 2006) Main Objectives • Recreation Scheduling System: • Goal: Purchase & implement an electronic scheduling system. • Status: – Under review by the Joint Recreation Director. • Goal: Purchase and implement an electronic registration system that • will accept credit cards. • Achievement: 2007– Community Pass which accepts credit cards is implemented. • Recreation Support Staff: • Goal: Hire a part time administrative assistant for the Joint Recreation • Program. • Achievement: 2010 – Restructured the program – Director & Deputy Director.

8. Chatham Field Usage and Facility Report (Mason Report January 2006) Main Objectives • Goal: Implement an internet based recreation scheduling program to • more effectively schedule activities and allow time for needed • field maintenance and improvements. • Achievement: 2010 – Currently fields are scheduled by the Deputy Recreation Director. Field maintenance and improvements are constantly under review by the Recreation Director, Deputy Director, Administrators and the Department of Public Works. • Communication with Board of Education: • Goal: Direct contact between the recreation staff & principals to • schedule additional gym hours and other activities. • Achievement: 2008 – Through direct contact with each school, gym time has increased at schools to accommodate increasing participant registrations.

9. Chatham Field Usage and Facility Report (Mason Report January 2006) Main Objectives • Agreements for Maintenance and Use of Fields: • Goal: An agreement with the Board of Education to allow Borough • and Township DPW maintenance staff to help prepare, line and • maintain school fields. • Achievement: 2008 – Joint field maintenance agreement for Board of Education property. (Chatham Borough & Chatham Township) • Achievement: 2009- Contributed funding from the Joint • Recreation Trust Fund for improvements to • the Junior Varsity Baseball Field at the High • School. • Achievement: 2010 – Installation of scoreboard at Middle School gym.

10. Chatham Field Usage and Facility Report (Mason Report January 2006) Main Objectives 5. Agreements for Maintenance and Use of Fields: (continued) • Goal: Corporate entities in the local community should be contacted to request use of their grounds or playing fields for youth sports programs. • Achievement: 2007 – Agreement to use Passaic County Park • on River Road for Baseball/ Softball/Soccer. • Achievement: 2008 – Rent space at Milburn Sports Academy for • baseball try-outs. (not enough space to accommodate increased enrollment at school facilities)

11. Chatham Field Usage and Facility Report (Mason Report January 2006) Main Objectives • Anticipated Field Construction and Anticipated Closings: • Goal: Establish field maintenance closing schedule. • Achievement: 2007 – Borough and Township develop field upgrade & closing plan. • Expansion and renovation of Existing Facilities: • Goal: Artificial turf field at the High School will provide potential additional playing time for recreation groups. • Achievement: 2007 – Joint Recreation Department and Board of Education share Cougar Field and the Middle School Field.

12. Chatham Field Usage and Facility Report (Mason Report January 2006) Main Objectives 7. Expansion and renovation of Existing Facilities: (continued) • Goal: The reconfiguration and renovation of Lum Field will provide • significantly more playing time. All weather turf and lighting • will extend play and fewer games will be lost to wet field • conditions. • Achievement: 2007 – Lum Field artificial turf installed. • Goal: Appoint a Memorial Park and Pool Committee. • Achievement: 2009 – Borough Council forms Memorial Park & Pool Committee. Pool survey sent to all residential households. • Achievement: 2009 – The Memorial Park Field Development plan is submitted to the Borough Council. • Achievement: 2010 – Pool renovation ballot question approved by • Borough Council.

13. Chatham Field Usage and Facility Report (Mason Report January 2006) Main Objectives 7. Expansion and renovation of Existing Facilities: (continued) • Goal: Shepard Kollock is an all-purpose field which could provide opportunities for field renovation and expansion. • Achievement: 2008 - Borough Council transfers Woodland Park • improvements funds to pay for improvements to Shepard Kollock Field. • Achievement: 2009 – Borough Council approves hiring an engineering • firm to design the Shepard Kollock facility. • Goal: Esternay Field is another location where all - weather turf and • lights might provide opportunities for play. Adequate parking • is not available. • Achievement: Future discussions necessary.

14. Chatham Field Usage and Facility Report (Mason Report January 2006) Main Objectives 7. Expansion and renovation of Existing Facilities: (continued) • Goal: Shunpike Field is another location where all-weather turf and • lights will provide more opportunities for play. Shunpike Field • provides an ideal complement to the proposed Lum Field • project. • Achievement: 2009 – Work on Shunpike artificial turf field initiated. • Land Acquisition and Master Planning: • Goal: Top priority for the CJRAC should be development of a comprehensive park and recreation master plan. • Achievement: 2006 – CJRC Develops the Chatham Recreation • Activity and Field Report.

15. Chatham Recreation Activity and Field Report (May, 2006) • Goals • Provide safe recreation space and facilities for our residents. • Provide recreation opportunities for our residents.

16. Chatham Recreation Activity and Field Report (May, 2006) Field Facility Additions/Losses Facilities Fields Added Fields Lost 1999 14 0 0 2005 14 0 0 2010 13* *1 *4 *Lost St Hubert’s permanently (4) fields *Added Middle School softball field

17. Chatham Recreation Activity and Field Report (May, 2006) Recreation Enrollment +23% (99 – 10 +76%) +42%

18. Chatham Recreation Activity and Field Report (May, 2006) (Updated August 23, 2010) +49% (+100% 99 – 10) +34% +16% (+57% 99 – 10) +36% +70% - 3% (+65% 99 – 10)

19. Student Population (2004 – 2015) Population 4298 4242 4186 4134 4028 3901 3721 3582 3489 3358 3256 (102) (131) (93) (139) (180) (127) (106) (52) (56) (56) +1.32 +1.34 +1.26% +2.63% +3.26% +4.84% +3.88% +2.67% +3.90% +3.13% 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 School Year

20. Future Goals • Continue to improve the existing fields. • Maximize existing field usage: In conjunction with field schedule and • maintenance plan. • Annual review of the Mason Report and the Field Activity & Field Usage • Report. • Annual review of program participation and field usage. • Continue positive relationship with the Board of Education to maximize • field usage and lower costs.