Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department Looks to Expand Aquatics Program, Maintain Affordable Recreation in $26 Million Budget

The Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department is recommending a budget of $26.389 million for Fiscal Year 2024, 11.5% higher than last year’s budget of $23.669 million.

Lola Osborne, Acting Director of the Department told the City’s Public Safety Committee Wednesday that the bulk of the budget goes to personnel costs which is $16.176 million, which is a 14.5 % increase from last Fiscal Year.

Services and Supplies will get an allocation of $6.170 million, while Internal Service Charge will get $4.043 million. 

The recommended budget adds 13 new full-time-equivalent employees for the year-round Aquatics Program at Robinson Park Pool, which will begin in September 2023. 

“It is a pilot program and we will measure the success of this program so we can look at potentially doing the same at Villa Parke,” said Osborne.

A total of 3,503 youth enrolled in youth sports in Fiscal Year 2023, which is a 32 % increase from last year’s 2,375.

After-school program participants increased by 7 %, from 614 participants in Fiscal Year 2022 to 658 in Fiscal Year 2023. Tiny Tots participants increased by 42 % from 30 to 52 in Fiscal Year 2023.

Teen Center Program participants however declined by 46 %.

“The reason for the decrease in participants is unfortunately due to the weather. We had quite a rainy season this year,” said Osborne. 

Among the notable accomplishments of the department in Fiscal Year 2023 are the establishment of the Free Homeless Prevention & Legal Clinic, the hosting of ArtNight activities and wide variety cultural, community events, and the renovation of the turf at Villa Parke, Washington and Victory parks.

For Fiscal Year 2024, the department’s priorities include maintaining affordable recreation programming for residents from tiny tots through older adults and creating innovative programs for older adults that meet the needs of Pasadena’s diverse senior population. 

Also among the priorities is to collaborate with the Police Department’s park safety specialists for a presence at parks, recreation and community centers.

“We’re expecting in July that we will have offices available at Jackie Robinson Community Center and Villa Parke for our police officers to actually be at the Centers,” said Osborne.

The Department will also continue trail repair damaged by the winter storm in the Arroyo Seco in Fiscal Year 2024.