8.1 PRSR 02-10-2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 City of Elk River Recreation Program Plan INTRODUCTION The Elk River Parks and Recreation Program Plan provides the long-term framework for creating, planning, and implementing the innovative and inspiring programs demanded by the high expectations of our Elk River community. The long-term goals are guided and determined by the current adopted (June 2015) Parks and Recreation Master Plan and basic underpinning of the concepts of play, recreation, and leisure, the needs and other opportunities within our community, department philosophy and goals, and true experiences desired for our customers. The purpose of this plan is to ensure the department is providing mission-driven and guest-focused recreation programming, which will enhance the quality of life for all who live, work, and visit the City of Elk River. WHY- RECREATION? The recreation program offered to the public by the Parks and Recreation Department makes every effort to be balanced, customer-driven and conceptually sound. To the outside observer, it may look like just an assortment of fun activities and random events that are haphazardly put together to fill a month’s calendar. However, in reality, the programs offered represent planning, program lifecycles strength, outreach to targeted groups and customer feedback. A deeper look will reveal that the quality recreation programs provided by the Parks and Recreation Department can and do help to develop the social, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of individuals, families, neighborhoods, groups, and our Elk River community. THE FOUNDATIONS OF PLAY, RECREATION AND LEISURE Recreational experiences are more than just a fun way to spend a few minutes or hours. A quality recreational experience will also provide opportunities for the participant to express the creativity, develop their sense of self-worth, and make choices that will enhance their over-all well being and quality of life. Programs do not, in themselves, create a recreation experience. Instead, they provide opportunities for the participant to interact with the social, physical and natural environments; thus allowing the participant to shape the recreation experience based on their own expectation, needs and interests. Recreation staff understand that quality recreation programs should be designed to promote a degree of freedom, choice, or voluntary engagement. They should have a stated purpose or objective, be wholesome, and encourage creative, spontaneous self-expression. Participants should not only feel a sense of delight while actively participating in the program but should carry that sense of well being with them into the future. It should give them a change for self-discovery and to develop individual skills such as leadership, the ability to share, and to be able to get along well with others.