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Parks & Rec Department may slash jobs and programs to make up budget deficit.
Just as many families are thinking about heading out to local parks, many Chesterfield County employees with the county's Parks & Recreation Department are thinking about what they're going to do if they lose their jobs. As many as 30 could be laid off by June 30th to meet budget cuts. The department is also looking to cut programs.
At the Ropes Program off Jessup road in Chesterfield County, students from the Chesterfield Technical Center were taking advantage of the "Ropes Challenge" program.
"One, two, three, go!"
As one student jumped from the top of a 25 ft. pole trying to grab a trapeze-like swing, others below were holding onto ropes strapped to the student's harness. "Oh! He made it!", one of them yelled.
The students from the Chesterfield Technical Center are learning about trust and leadership. The "Ropes Program" is overseen by employees and volunteers. It's one of over 550 programs in the Chesterfield County Parks & Recreation's Outdoors section. An instructor below yells encouragement to the nervous student about to take the next jump. "As soon as you got off the ladder, you'd already done more than you'd ever thought you'd do!"
The Parks & Rec Department needs to close a $1.6 million budget gap for FY 2010. Budget cuts have to come from somewhere, but there's a grassroots effort to not only save this program, but others that could face the budget axe when the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors votes on April 14th.
Elli Morris is one of the volunteers out here today. She's also a volunteer kayaking instructor for the Department's water-adventure programs. She's against closing the outdoor programs completely. "Sharing the burden is a far more reasonable approach", she says. "Getting rid of these programs is really a travesty because they're unique. They impact an incredible variety of people, from youth all the way up to seniors."
Parks & Rec Director Mike Golden says he's trying to save programs, but he has to cut somewhere. "We're looking, in a case out here, can we raise additional revenues, can we find a part-time staffing way to keep this going and some of the other programs? So it's not closed yet."
Student Thomas Jordan says the Ropes Program has helped him in many ways. "It's a good program. Not only like to help you take on your fears if you're scared of heights, but it also helps you make decisions based on real stuff in real life."
"It's taken so long to build all this up" says Morris. "Outdoor programs have been around for 30 years. They can't just completely get rid of it."
Golden says the county will save over $500-thousand by closing the outdoors section and laying off 30 people. The county could also close 11 adult softball fields, close the Rockwood Park Nature Center, and eliminate it's popular water adventure courses at Dutch Gap.
Just as many families are thinking about heading out to local parks, many Chesterfield County employees with the county's Parks & Recreation Department are thinking about what they're going to do if they lose their jobs. As many as 30 could be laid off by June 30th to meet budget cuts. The department is also looking to cut programs.
At the Ropes Program off Jessup road in Chesterfield County, students from the Chesterfield Technical Center were taking advantage of the "Ropes Challenge" program.
"One, two, three, go!"
As one student jumped from the top of a 25 ft. pole trying to grab a trapeze-like swing, others below were holding onto ropes strapped to the student's harness. "Oh! He made it!", one of them yelled.
The students from the Chesterfield Technical Center are learning about trust and leadership. The "Ropes Program" is overseen by employees and volunteers. It's one of over 550 programs in the Chesterfield County Parks & Recreation's Outdoors section. An instructor below yells encouragement to the nervous student about to take the next jump. "As soon as you got off the ladder, you'd already done more than you'd ever thought you'd do!"
The Parks & Rec Department needs to close a $1.6 million budget gap for FY 2010. Budget cuts have to come from somewhere, but there's a grassroots effort to not only save this program, but others that could face the budget axe when the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors votes on April 14th.
Elli Morris is one of the volunteers out here today. She's also a volunteer kayaking instructor for the Department's water-adventure programs. She's against closing the outdoor programs completely. "Sharing the burden is a far more reasonable approach", she says. "Getting rid of these programs is really a travesty because they're unique. They impact an incredible variety of people, from youth all the way up to seniors."
Parks & Rec Director Mike Golden says he's trying to save programs, but he has to cut somewhere. "We're looking, in a case out here, can we raise additional revenues, can we find a part-time staffing way to keep this going and some of the other programs? So it's not closed yet."
Student Thomas Jordan says the Ropes Program has helped him in many ways. "It's a good program. Not only like to help you take on your fears if you're scared of heights, but it also helps you make decisions based on real stuff in real life."
"It's taken so long to build all this up" says Morris. "Outdoor programs have been around for 30 years. They can't just completely get rid of it."
Golden says the county will save over $500-thousand by closing the outdoors section and laying off 30 people. The county could also close 11 adult softball fields, close the Rockwood Park Nature Center, and eliminate it's popular water adventure courses at Dutch Gap.
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