The Official Publication of the North Dakota Recreation and Park Association Summer 2020

FOCUS

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President’s Message

information, please contact Shannon Schutt, executive director. I also wanted to thank all current and past park board members for taking time to serve on your local board for the betterment of your community and to improve the quality of life for your citizens.

Finally, I want to thank NDRPA and the Board of Directors for their time and effort this past year. It has been a year of change both in our state and across the nation. Saying goodbye to the first executive director, Dana Schaar Jahner, and welcoming the new faces of Shannon Schutt, Katherine Pustejovsky and Kayla Pulvermacher, along with the COVID-19 pandemic and the unrest in our country, has made this a trying year. One of my goals as NDRPA President was to get back to meeting in person as much as possible. That is one goal that wasn’t met this year due to circumstances beyond our control!

With that being said, I want to thank everyone for their time and effort over this past year to collaborate and share information and ideas. I have always said, “What doesn’t kill you, will make you stronger.”

See you in September at the NDRPA State Conference and ND Trails Conference!

Kevin KlipfelNDRPA President

Greetings to North Dakota Recreation and Park Association members! I hope everyone enjoyed the 4th of July. I know many of our agencies had a July full of exciting events during National Parks and Recreation Month. Here in Bismarck, we celebrated our 35th year of July Celebration. This is a great time for everyone to look at the wonderful programs, facilities and events provided in your community. With that being said, thank you to those who submitted a nomination for one of the many awards that NDRPA has to offer. This takes time and effort, but it is great to be able to recognize all the deserving winners at the 2020 NDRPA State Conference and ND Trails Conference.

The 2020 NDRPA State Conference and ND Trails Conference will be held in Bismarck Sept. 15-17. The conference co-chairs, Ryan Geerdes and Ethan Eberle, along with the entire planning committee, encourages you to make sure this event is on your schedule. They are planning the first combined State Conference along with the ND Trails Conference, and we are excited about the possibilities this joint conference will offer. There are still openings for exhibitors, so if you are interested, please contact one of them.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has decided to offer the Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) Virtual Blended Course in place of all in-person CPSI courses for the remainder of 2020, at which time the offerings will be re-evaluated for 2021. NDRPA has scheduled this virtual blended course for Dec. 1. The deadline to register for this class is Aug. 18, with scholarships available to the first 28 individuals to apply. If you or someone in your agency is interested in registering for this course, please check the information on our website at www.ndrpa.com.

With the primary elections taking place in June, we have agencies with new board members serving their community. Remember that NDRPA provides both new and experienced park board commissioners and staff with the information necessary to effectively carry out their authorities, roles and responsibilities. The North Dakota Park Board Manual and webinar are also available on the NDRPA website (www.ndrpa.com/resources/park-board-manual/). For additional

2019 Babe Ruth World Series participants from MLB China and their host family, which included players from the Bismarck Capitals 15-Year Old Team. Back Row: Miller Guo (MLB China), Petey Guo (MLB China), and Kevin Klipfel; Front Row: Jackson Klipfel, Cathy Klipfel, and Carter Klipfel

ContentsPresident’s Message 3NDRPA News 5Mark Your Calendar 5New Summer Programs During COVID-19 6Registration Open for NDRPA State Conference and ND Trails Conference 8NCTGA Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament 102020 NDRPA State Conference and Trails Conference 12Park District News 14Training at Your Fingertips 18NDRPA Awards Highlight 20Human Resource Guide Available 21Commissioner’s Corner 23

advertisersMTI Distributing 2Rivard’s Turf & Forage 6Recreation Supply Company 8USTA Northern 9R.J. Thomas Manufacturing/Pilot Rock 10Cunningham Recreation/GameTime 11My Turn Playsystems 15Dakota Playground 16ND State Procurement Office 17The Tessman Company 17ND Insurance Reserve Fund 18Boom Concrete 19Acme Tools 19Grondahl Recreation Inc. 20Norby Golf Course Design 21My Turn Playsystems 22Associated Supply Company Inc. 23KLJ 24

Thank You to our FOCUS advertisers.We appreciate your business!

FOCUS is the official newsletter of the North Dakota Recreation & Park Association (NDRPA). It is distributed quarterly via mail to almost 900 parks and recreation professionals and posted on the NDRPA website. Submission of articles and photographs are encouraged in digital format to kpustejovsky@clearwatercommunications.net. Photographs should be high-resolution (300 dpi or greater). Advertising information is available online at www.ndrpa.com.

Next FOCUS deadline: October 15, 2020Cover photo: Amber Carr practicing her golf swing, Bismarck Parks and Recreation District

Board of direCtorsPresident Kevin KlipfelBismarck Parks and Recreation District400 E Front AveBismarck, ND 58504-5641kklipfel@bisparks.org

Past President Amy PedersonValley City Parks and RecreationPO Box 422Valley, City ND 58072-0422amyp@vcparks.com

President Elect Sam Larson-FrobigFargo Park District701 Main AveFargo, ND 58103slarson-frobig@fargoparks.com

Secretary/Treasurer Mike OrrGrand Forks Park DistrictPO Box 12429Grand Forks, ND 58208-2429morr@choicehf.com Public Policy Chair Cole HiglinMandan Park District2600 46th Ave SEMandan, ND 58554-4749chiglin@mandanparks.com

Education Chair Matt MackDickinson Parks and Recreation2004 Fairway StreetDickinson, North Dakota 58601mmack@dickinsonparks.org

Engagement Chair Katie EttishWest Fargo Park District601 26th Ave EWest Fargo, ND 58078katie@wfparks.org

staffExecutive Director Shannon SchuttPO Box 1091Bismarck, ND 58502701-355-4458sschutt@clearwatercommunications.net

foCUs design & editingJulee Farnsworth-Ritz andKatherine PustejovskyClearwater Communications

WeBsitewww.ndrpa.com

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ndrPa neWs

Keep Up with What’s New: Annual Meeting Notice

NDRPA will hold its annual business meeting during the Thursday breakfast at the NDRPA State Conference Sept. 17 in Bismarck. Agenda items include election of board members and review of association activities. An agenda and associated materials will be distributed to members via email the week prior to the meeting. All members are encouraged to attend.

ND Park Board Manual Available The North Dakota Park

Board Manual equips both new and experienced park board commissioners and staff with the information necessary to effectively carry out their authorities, roles and responsibilities. The manual also includes sample documents, such as a joint use agreement and board member job description. Order the park board manual online at www.ndrpa.com or call 701-355-4458.

Sept. 15-17 NDRPA State Conference and Trails Conference, Bismarck

Oct 15 FOCUS Deadline

Oct. 27-29 NRPA Annual Conference (Virtual)

Dec. 1 CPSI Virtual Blended Course – Instructor Session

MissionAdvancing parks, recreation and conservation for an enhanced quality of life in North Dakota.

Strategic Goals1. Member Services: Provide training, information

and networking for parks and recreation stakeholders.

2. Policy Advocacy: Represent parks and recreation interests on public policy issues.

3. Public Outreach: Promote the benefits of parks and recreation and the importance of conservation, health and wellness, and access.

NRPA Annual Conference Going VirtualAlthough the physical conference has been cancelled,

the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is committed to the professional growth and ongoing development of park and recreation professionals. Therefore, the 2020 NRPA Annual Conference: A Virtual Experience (NRPA Virtual) will take place Oct. 27–29. NRPA Virtual will bring everyone together as a park and recreation community and serve as a platform for networking and exchanging ideas in new and imaginative ways.

NRPA is taking the best of the in-person conference, including the education sessions, keynote speakers and exhibitors, and adding innovative and interactive formats to enhance the overall experience. Most importantly, they will be leveraging the unique opportunity the online format offers to foster collaboration and connection with park and recreation professionals around the country and potentially the world. Go to www.nrpa.org to learn more. Registration opens Aug. 3.

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Parks to Go The

COVID-19 pandemic has challenged many park districts to add specific guidelines to events and programs this year. In June, Fargo Park District (FPD) hosted two social distancing events, which were a part of the Parks to Go series.

The first-time event series was created for participants to do activities on-their-own and enjoy without being in contact with too many people. There were 160 circus-themed packs available for the June 11 event and 100 detective-themed packs for the June 25 scavenger hunt event. The Parks to Go Scavenger Hunt was sold out and half of the circus-themed packs were taken at the first

Parks to Go event. All activities were distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies lasted.

Two things FPD wanted to be sure of for these events were that the events didn’t interfere with any of their programming in the parks and that the parks the events were held at were easily accessible for people to drive up and leave quickly with social distancing practices in mind. They had a great response to the events, which encouraged them to create similar events throughout the summer.

Childcare in a CrisisThe value of community partnerships and

connections proved its worth during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bismarck. Two hospitals, CHI St. Alexius and Sanford Health, reached out for help in providing emergency childcare to children of healthcare employees and first responders.

Zoom meetings were set up and a flurry of actions were set in place. Priority was given to single parent households and families with both parents in lifeline care.

New Summer Programs During COVID-19

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Bismarck Public Schools provided a school site. Bismarck Parks and Recreation District (BPRD) and the Central Regional Educational Association quickly stepped up to work together, providing qualified staff for children in grades K-5. Safety protocols and screening practices were put in place. Registration systems and fee schedules were set up. Information about the service was shared with hospital personnel and emergency responders. Supplies and activities were set-up on site. Staff created a welcoming environment with educational and recreation programming in place.

The Lifeline Childcare Program opened on April 14 and wrapped up on May 22.

Like many agencies across North Dakota and the country, BPRD worked with the community to protect and support health and well-being initiatives during COVID-19.

New Phone App for Scavenger HuntsIn July, Fargo Park District (FPD) tested a scavenger hunt

phone app called GooseChase. It’s a subscription-based app that has a small fee. FPD had many participants sign-up for the GooseChase Scavenger Hunt that kicked off National Park and Recreation Month, and they plan to have more GooseChase events throughout the year.

The Value of Outdoor Recreation During COVID-19

Rumors of a virus moving in the direction of the United States in late February took a startling turn from assumptions to reality when North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum issued the first of several executive orders to close schools on March 16.

The domino effect of that closure hit home to parks and recreation professionals across the state when fitness centers, ice complexes and aquatic centers closed their doors.

Bismarck Parks and Recreation District (BPRD) closed eight facilities and its administrative office to keep customers, the community and staff safe.

However, BPRD made the decision not to close recreational trails, parks, playgrounds, or boat ramps and instead stressed individual responsibility so that residents could continue to take care of their physical and emotional health using outdoor recreation. Those places and spaces remained open to the public and choosing to use them would be a personal decision. Signs were placed throughout the BPRD system, encouraging what is now commonplace: stay home if you are ill, wash your hands, use sanitizing wipes, and social distance yourself from others. The community feedback on the ability to access

open spaces was positive. As April’s weather continued to warm up, golf

course driving ranges – and eventually the courses themselves – opened, with safety protocols, sanitized equipment and touchless payment systems in place. The nets went up at outdoor courts and tennis players welcomed the option to play. Private and semi-private outdoor lessons were offered and accepted with great enthusiasm. Baseball and softball players waited for, and got the go-ahead, to begin practices.

The value and impact of outdoor recreation opportunities was reinforced as Bismarck residents searched for ways to safely stay physically and emotionally well.

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North Dakota’s park and recreation professionals will join forces with trail users, advocates and managers from across the state under one roof. This year is unique as the NDRPA State Conference and the ND Trails Conference will be held jointly in Bismarck Sept. 15-17, encouraging conversation on “Navigating Our Future.” Attendees will hear educational sessions and network with peers from across the state.

Please review the full schedule in this issue of FOCUS. Registration is now open online at www.ndrpa.com. Don’t miss this chance to gather, learn and celebrate.

AccommodationsA block of rooms has been reserved at the Best Western

Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck. The education sessions, awards banquet and exhibitor showcase will take place at the Ramkota. The room block deadline is Aug. 26. Call 701-258-7700 to make reservations.

NEW - Pre-Conference SessionsNew this year are options for pre-conference sessions.

One option is a hands-on session about maintaining ice and aquatics facilities. Attendees will visit the Capital Ice

Registration Open for NDRPA State Conference and ND Trails Conference

Complex and the BSC Aquatic & Wellness Center to learn from Bismarck Parks and Recreation District staff and share tips with each other. Transportation details will be provided to registrants.

The other pre-conference option is learning about accessibility for all. Sessions on “The Americans with Disabilities Act and Special Events,” and “ADA/ABA/ADAAG: Which One Applies?” will be presented.

Keynote SpeakersNational Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)

Executive Director Kristine Stratton had planned to attend the conference in person, but travel restrictions are keeping her at NRPA headquarters. Stratton will address the conference attendees via video at both the Opening Session and prior to the Awards Banquet.

Andrea Travnicek, the newly appointed director of the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, will be the opening keynote speaker. Travnicek, a Minot native, returned to North Dakota after three years of service in leadership positions at the U.S. Department of the Interior, including Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. She was also a senior policy advisor under former North Dakota Governors Hoeven and Dalrymple. Travnicek’s keynote session will provide overview of the North Dakota State Parks system, associated programs, and their relationships with communities and people.

Chris Nunes will be the keynote speaker on the closing day of the conference. Nunes will challenge attendees with his presentation, “Creating and Ensuring a Relevant Parks and Recreation Agency.” Nunes speaks across the country on business plans, creative programming, external funding, communication, and leadership. He has led park and recreation agencies in Maine, Colorado and Texas.

Let’s Be SocialThere are several opportunities to enjoy Bismarck and the

company of fellow professionals at the state conference. Tuesday’s Downtown History, Art & Spirits Walk features

sights and tastes of downtown Bismarck. Attendees will tour Camp Hancock, the former ND Governor’s Mansion, hear chilling tales of Murderer’s Gulch, and wander through an art gallery and an Art Alley. The walk includes a pause for refreshments and video games at CraftCade, and a final stop at Gideon’s Brewery to sample an ale brewed especially for conference attendees.

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The golf format will be a two-person scramble with two flights. The scramble will begin as a shotgun start at noon CT. Registration and lunch will begin at 11 a.m. Prizes will be

given out for first place in each of the flights, along with proximity prizes and door prizes. Bring a partner or come alone and be paired with an NCTGA member.

Register at www.nctga.net/Golf-Tournamentwww.nctga.net/Golf-Tournament

The North Central Turfgrass Association would like to extend an invitation to all members of the North Dakota Recreation and Park Association to participate in their annual scholarship golf tournament on Monday,

Sept. 14, at Prairie West Golf Course. Proceeds from the tournament go to support turfgrass student scholarships in North Dakota and surrounding states. The tournament coincides with the NDRPA conference

being held Sept. 15-17 in Bismarck. Join NDTGA for a fun-filled day of golf, networking, great food, and prizes.

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NDRPA STATE CONFERENCE & ND TRAILS CONFERENCE

NAVIGATING OUR FUTURESEPTEMBER 15-17 � BISMARCK, ND

2020

BC6 Builders • KLJ • Rivard’s Turf & Forage

THANK YOU To Our Sponsors

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TUESDAY

SEPTEMBER 15PRE-CONFERENCE

8:00am ICE & AQUATICS MAINTENANCE

ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL8:30am - The Americans with Disabilities Act & Special Events10:00am - ADA/ABA/ADAAG: Which One Applies?

11:00am LUNCH - Riverwood Golf Course

12:00pm GOLF OUTING - Riverwood Golf Course

12:00pm DOWNTOWN BISMARCK HISTORY, ART & SPIRITS WALK

12:15pm TRAILS FIELD SESSION: Rough Rider Trail ATV Ride Hosted by Tony Hillig, NDPRD Limited to 15 people, helmet required

5:30pm SOCIAL & DINNER Sertoma Community Center, Sertoma Park

WEDNESDAY

SEPTEMBER 16RAMKOTA HOTEL

7:00am EXHIBITORS & SILENT AUCTION OPENS Breakfast & Past Presidents’ Breakfast

8:00am CONFERENCE WELCOME Video message from Kristine Stratton, CEO, NRPA Randy Bina, Executive Director, BPRD

8:15am KEYNOTE Andrea Travnicek, Ph.D., Director, NDPRD

10:00am BREAK WITH EXHIBITORS & SILENT AUCTION

10:30am BREAKOUT SESSIONS - Local Government U: Corey Olson, NDIRF - Attracting & Retaining Employees: Pat Bertagnolli - Managing Your Workload When Everything Is Important: Kim Larson & Molly Herrington - Trails: Title VI Compliance: Char Binstock & Pam Todd

11:30am LUNCH & SILENT AUCTION CLOSES

12:30pm ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS Directors, facilities, programs, human resources,

marketing, aquatics, operations, & trails

1:30pm BREAK WITH EXHIBITORS

2:00pm BREAKOUT SESSIONS - DealingwithDifficultPeople:TheresaPorter - ND Open Record & Meeting Law: SandraDePountis,NDAttorneyGeneral’sOffice - Leadership & Emotional Intelligence:

Fargo Park District - Trails: Ameri Corps State Funds/NCCC/Vista: Ryan Volk & Anna Yeagle

3:00pm TRAILS - ND Moves Active Transportation Plan: David Leingang, NDDOT

3:15pm FACILITY TOUR Capital Ice Complex, Bismarck Municipal Ball Park,

Cottonwood Park & more

4:15pm TRAILS - Bicycle Tourism & Main Street Initiative:

Saara Snow, Adventure Cycling

6:30pm SOCIAL

7:00pm AWARDS BANQUET Video message from Kristine Stratton, CEO, NRPA

THURSDAY

SEPTEMBER 17RAMKOTA HOTEL

7:30am BREAKFAST & NDRPA ANNUAL MEETING

8:30am CLOSING KEYNOTE Creating & Ensuring a Relevant Parks and

Recreation Agency: Chris Nunes

9:45am BREAKOUT SESSIONS - Change/Culture Management: Chris Nunes - Cybersecurity 2020: Vance Krebs, NDIRF - Active Shooter: Don Moseman, NDSC

11:00am BREAKOUT SESSIONS - Enterprise Mindset: Chris Nunes - Are You Crisis Ready?: Donnell Preskey Hushka &

Maxine Herr - GIS Asset Mapping: Gordon Lemmel &

Christine Dirk

12:00pm GRAB & GO OR GRAB & STAY LUNCH

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Arc Collector Expedites Post LWCF Inspections

Gordon Lemmel, North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department (NDPRD) parks planner, in coordination with Char Binstock, NDPRD grants coordinator, have developed a program using Arc Collector to create efficiency and streamline how the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant program completes five-year post site inspections.

Currently, the grant program is backlogged with past inspections that are to be complete every five years from the final inspection. “We need to figure out a way we can complete a maximum number of inspections with ease and efficiency to catch up,” said Binstock. Lemmel and Binstock started working together to create a program in Arc Collector using the original data in the LWCF GIS layer to complete site inspections. With a couple of test rounds and discussions on inspection protocols, the program is now working smoothly.

Joshua Loe, NDPRD seasonal grants assistant, is currently using the program and has completed several inspections in Bismarck, West Fargo, Mapleton, and Casselton. “Collector is a great program that was easy to learn and use. It is user friendly and helps to maximize my time in the field by reducing the amount of paperwork and scanning,” said Loe. The inspections will be stored in the LWCF GIS layer and printed in an Excel format to send as updates to the National Park Service (who oversees the LWCF program). “Now that we have an efficient process for post site inspections, we will just need to do some extensive traveling to each county in the state. Only one county is not impacted by LWCF,” said Binstock.

BPRD Launches New WebsiteBismarck Parks and Recreation District (BPRD)

launched a new website on July 15. The upgrades and

tweaks include design changes, calendar upgrades, improved park listings, the ability to add and delete special event widgets on the front page, and other functionality improvements. The “Jobs” icon moved to a header position on the front page of the website, since it is a highly visited webpage. Visitors can still register for a program, make a tee time, find a game schedule, and view all the park shelters. The upgrades were made to improve the BPRD experience and give the site a fresh coat of paint. As of June 30, the BPRD website had 98,689 users and 329,691 unique page view, or about an average of 1,821 visitors per day.

Naming of Block 9 PlazaOne of the more exciting projects Fargo Park District

(FPD) had been working on this summer was the official launch event of Block 9 Plaza. FPD began the curation, management and operation of the Block 9 Plaza this summer as the projected completion of construction approaches at the end of 2020.

In July, a naming ceremony was held for the plaza revealing its new name, Broadway Square, and featured in-person and virtual engagement activities.

The day of events included a live and virtual Q&A with project partners, a call to action prompting the public to share their visions for the space as part of a Community Engagement Project, a virtual happy hour for the partners to which all park board commissioners had been invited, and online giveaways throughout the entire day on the newly launched social media channels.

Broadway Square is a public-private partnership between the Block 9 Partners, made up of the Kilbourne Group, R.D. Offutt Company and City of Fargo. Broadway Square, funded by the Block 9 Partners and operated by the Fargo Park District, is intended to provide a dynamic community-centered destination space in Downtown Fargo.

Park distriCt neWs

NDPRD Seasonal Grants Assistant Joshua Loe conducting a five-year post inspection using Arc Collector.

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Continued on page 16

Recreational Trails Program ProjectsTurtle River State Park Trail Phase II

There was something missing at Turtle River State Park when park manager Larry Hagen submitted the Recreational Trails Program application back in 2018 to construct a trail through Turtle River State Park. “This trail was the missing link. We needed a trail to connect everything,” Hagen said. The Turtle River State Park trail idea was submitted, and now visitors can walk from the Visitor Center to the campground and to other parts of the park including many of Turtle River State Park’s bridges. “When this trail was established, I had a safe way to take my school groups from the classroom right outside into nature,” Park Interpreter Erika Kolbow explained. Not only is this trail great for school groups, but other user-groups such as bikers, hikers, cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and birders are enjoying the benefits of the trail. Walking through the park, you can see a wide variety of birds such as the Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco, Belted Kingfisher, Hermit Thrush, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Northern Flicker. In addition to these birds, Bald Eagles have

been seen in the beautiful woodland habitat. The trail is located alongside the Turtle River where visitors can walk through the habitat to end up at many various locations in the park. “We have seen an increase in users at this time. It has been exceptionally well-received and is a great COVID-19 release for sure,” Hagen said.

Crushed stone trail with bike tracks within the Orchard Glen Park.

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Park distriCt neWsContinued from page 15Urban Woods and Prairies Trail Development Project

In 2014, the Urban Woods and Prairies (UWP) Initiative was established to restore riparian habitat along the Red River to benefit urban wildlife and local community members in Fargo. Fargo Park District and Audubon Dakota worked together to obtain funding through the Recreational Trails Program to develop a trail system to enhance three nature parks, Forest River, Heritage Hills, and Orchard Glen, for the City of Fargo. With this partnership, three separate crushed stone surface trails were created for both hiking and biking. Audubon Dakota chose to use a crushed stone surfacing for the lasting durability and ease of accessibility. “This project was a heavy undertaking, but with the partnerships between the Fargo Park District, Audubon Dakota, and North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department we were able to create a beautiful and safe place for the public to recreate,” said Jodi Meisch of Audubon Dakota. These trails comb through heavy wooded areas, an apple orchard and alongside wetlands next to the Red River. Within

the Forest River Nature Park, school children come to walk the trails while learning about the environment and nature in this important bird area. There are more than 200 different species of bird migrating through or using it as habitat. “This trail is a great way to connect kids to nature,” Meisch said. “It is only six miles from the city of Fargo, making it very accessible for the schools and the community.”

Jodi Meisch of Audubon Dakota next to Forest River Nature Park sign.

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Through your North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund (NDIRF) membership, employees have unlimited access to over 1,500 professional training courses through LocalGovU, NDIRF’s online training center. These courses are offered at no cost to NDIRF members and range in topics from equipment and general safety to health and wellness, leadership development and more. There are applicable courses for every employee within your organization.

Though course lengths vary, many are one-hour long and feature narrated recordings and checkpoint quizzes to help learners affirm the new knowledge they have gained. To provide maximum flexibility, courses may also be paused, allowing learners to complete their training when it is convenient for them.

Plan your training

LocalGovU contains enhanced features for primary administrators to assign training, specify training due dates and send automated emails to employees that remind them to complete their training. It also gives

Training at Your Fingertips

administrators an easy-to-use tool for managing personnel in groups based on rank, shift and other custom options. LocalGovU also offers more options for running reports to monitor and track training compliance, reducing your organization’s liability exposure and creating a safer, more productive workplace.

Just how many members are already using LocalGovU?

NDIRF members completed 1,936 LocalGovU courses last year, which was a 128 percent increase from 2018. This increase could likely be contributed to our updated member training center LocalGovU, which rolled out in Sept. 2018. In addition to the enhanced administrative features it offers, LocalGovU has an expanded course list that continuously introduces new courses as well.

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The most popular courses in 2019 were Advanced Defensive Driving Techniques, Defensive Driving Basics, Developing Effective Communication Skills, and Anti-Harassment in the Workplace.

Get started with LocalGovU

Here is how:· Visit www.ndirf.com. · Click on the Training tab, then click on the Sign in

For Training button. · Enter your email address and password to log into

LocalGovU. If you are new to LocalGovU, click on the Create New Account link to set up your account. It usually takes 24-48 hours to verify your account, allowing you access into LocalGovU.

· Once you are logged in, click on the Course Catalog to check out the available courses.

· Select the course you would like to take, click Start Course, and you are on your way!

If you have any questions about LocalGovU, reach out to NDIRF Member Services Director Corey Olson at corey.olson@ndirf.com or 701-751-9107.

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2019 Partnership AwardThe NDRPA Partnership Award is presented to

an agency or organization that has developed a successful partnership to create a project or program that benefits the community, region, or state and increases awareness of the importance of parks, recreation and leisure services in quality of life.

Jamestown Parks and Recreation and Jamestown Public Schools (JPS) have a decade-long relationship of shared facility use and recreational programs; however, in January 2018, a new partnership formed surrounding the community challenge of early literacy intervention. JPS engaged the Two Rivers Activity Center (TRAC) Leadership Team in planning discussions regarding securing grant funds to advance literacy skills, including pre literacy, reading and writing for students from birth through grade 12. Amy Walters, TRAC facility manager, was invited and currently serves on the JPS Literacy Coalition, Birth to Age 5 sub-committee. In Aug. 2018, JPS was selected as one of the 15 sites across North Dakota to receive grant awards to support disadvantaged children in literacy skill improvement.

The partnership created unique opportunities for the education and recreation sectors to align to address a community challenge. The Striving Readers Grant allowed Two Rivers Activity Center OnTRAC Learning Center to implement Reading Corps in the 3-year-old preschool classroom. The program provided intense training for the preschool teachers as well as ongoing coaching and support as the program interventions were delivered to children. After the first year of implementation, outcomes indicated that all

NDRPA Awards Highlight

Jamestown Public SchoolsPictured from left to right: Dr. Robert

Lech and Dr. Heidi Heim-Larson

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Human Resource Guide Available

The HR Collaborative is very excited to announce the revised HR Reference Guide for Local Government has had a comprehensive review and is available on its website at www.hrndgov.org/hr-reference-guide/. The HR Collaborative plans to offer a webinar to review the major changes in policies later this summer.

As local governments face many new challenges and opportunities, human resource management is often at the center of discussion. The HR Collaborative has added a new COVID-19 resource section on HR issues related to local government at www.hrndgov.org/covid/.

The 6th Human Resource Conference for Local Governments, originally scheduled for April 2020, has been reschedule for June 2-3, 2021. The HR Collaborative is hoping to retain all planned presenters and will add new topics as they emerge. All registrants have been sent an email regarding registration options.

In place of the conference, the HR Collaborative for Local Government will be organizing a series of webinars over the next six months on a range of HR Topics. The first webinar offered on April 17 was the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act and was well attended. The session offered key information on Emergency Sick Leave and Family Medical Leave provisions in the bill. If you were unable to attend the webinar, it is available on the Collaborative website at www.hrndgov.org/.

Remember to register on the website to receive regular HR updates.

children in the classroom made significant gains in their pre-literacy skills throughout the school year. OnTRAC Learning Center expanded the program to two additional classrooms with the funding support of JPS and the Striving Readers Grant.

In addition to the Reading Corps program, JPS and OnTRAC Learning Center partnered to deliver Family Literacy Camps at TRAC. The Family Literacy Camps target families with children birth to five years old. The camps are held weekly at TRAC with the parents and children attending together. The camp begins with a shared story time led by an OnTRAC Learning Center teacher. After story time, parents and children separate to learn important concepts of early literacy. Parent education focuses on creating a literacy rich environment at home, reading with children, and recognizing and engaging children in literacy development opportunities. Children spend this time engaged in art/a project. Finally, families reunite to share a snack and what they learned. All families receive a book each week they attend. In addition, families that participate in the Family Literacy Camp receive free admission to TRAC for the day of the camp. This incentive has significantly impacted camp participation.

This partnership is a demonstration of two community organizations working together to better the community. It has provided JPS opportunities to reach a demographic, birth to age five, that they normally would not have access to, and TRAC to elevate its quality of preschool education.

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It wouldn’t be the state conference without a golf tournament. Get ready to play beautiful Riverwood Golf Course on Tuesday afternoon.

Another option for attendees on Tuesday afternoon is the trails field session, an ATV ride exploring Rough Rider Trail. Space is limited to 15 people and a helmet is required. Transportation will be provided for attendees and departs from Riverwood Golf Course.

Tuesday night’s social and dinner will take place at the Sertoma Community Center in Sertoma Park. Activities include mini-golf, yard games, taking several trips down the SuperSlide, or perhaps wandering through Dakota Zoo with other conference attendees and exhibitors.

Facility TourTake a tour of a few Bismarck Parks and Recreation

District facilities on Wednesday afternoon. Attendees will see some facilities that have been renovated and upgraded in the past few years, including the Capital Ice Complex, the Bismarck Municipal Ballpark, Cottonwood Park, and New Generations Park. There are other visits and stops in the planning stages.

An alternative to the facility tour are trails sessions:

“ND Moves Active Transportation Plan” presented by David Leingang from the ND Department of Transportation and “Bicycle Tourism and the Main Street Initiative” presented by Saara Snow from Adventure Cycling.

Scholarships Available for Small Park Boards NDRPA is pleased to announce five conference registration

scholarships are available to park board commissioners or staff from park districts that have part-time and/or up to one to two full-time, year-round staff. The scholarship is limited to two people per park board and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. If a park board submits more than two scholarship requests, additional requests will be placed on a waiting list to be awarded after Aug. 10. To request a scholarship, contact Katherine or Shannon at the NDRPA office at 701-355-4458 or send an email to ndrpaoffice@gmail.com.

Silent Auction Items Requested This year’s conference will include a silent auction to

raise funds for NDRPA scholarships. Each park district is encouraged to bring at least one auction item valued at $50 or more.

Registration Open for NDRPA State Conference and ND Trails ConferenceContinued from page 8

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“NDRPA always shares such great ideas from other parks and it’s nice to see what others are doing around the state,” she stated.

Some of Judkin’s favorite parks and recreation activities are taking her children to the pool and to the park to play on the playground equipment, as well as enjoying the outdoor park movie theatre.

In the past few years, she noted the park board has made many improvements: built a new pool, updated baseball fields, built a new maintenance shop, and, Judkin’s favorite project, built a beautiful new pavilion. The pavilion is used for many events such as weddings, birthdays, barbecues, and outdoor church services. The board also puts on a Christmas light show with radio music for the community, as well as partners with the local police department to host an annual “Cops vs Kids” hockey game on its ice rink. “Our community has absolutely loved it,” said Judkins.

CoMMissioner’s Corner

Nikki Judkins

Nikki Judkins has been on the Tioga Park Board for two years, with most of that time spent as the park board president. She was born and raised in Tioga and, though she left to pursue a degree in forensic science, she eventually found her way back to Tioga to raise her family. Judkins became a part of the park board to give back to the community and make a positive impact. “I’m a teacher at the elementary school and hearing everything that the kids love about the parks made me want to be a part of it and to possibly provide more for them to enjoy in the years to come,” she said.

“My goals include providing quality park facilities for all to enjoy and making sure the parks are a focal point of interest for people deciding on making Tioga their permanent home,” said Judkins. Other goals of the board and Judkins are implementing walking paths through the parks, installing more lighting throughout, as well as building a new park on the south end of town.

Some of the challenges the board faces include budgets and funds. “We’ve been pretty lucky as a board so far, but with this year’s economic changes, it could be much more challenging,” said Judkins. The Tioga Park Board has a full-time park manager and maintenance supervisor, as well as other part-time help to maintain its beautiful parks. “They do an excellent job,” Judkins said. She also expressed her appreciation for NDRPA.

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FOCUSPO Box 1091Bismarck, ND 58502

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

US POSTAGEPAID

BISMARCK, NDPERMIT 433

North Dakota Recreation & Park Association