Wrapping up 2008 with a bow...

Hi all!

It's been a while since I've updated the ol' blog. My apologies for those of you following along, but like most Moms out there, the holiday season has put me behind on all of my 'normal' pursuits, like writing this blog.

Excuses aside, I have been thinking a lot lately about how Columbus Parks and Rec has fared in 2008. I won't lie to you - it's been a rough year around these parts, not just for parks but for many folks in our community. First, you have the June 7 flood that impacted thousands of people and hundreds of acres of parks and miles of People Trails. Recovery from the flood is slow, but it's happening. On the heels of the flood, the economy goes south, gas prices go up, and generally the feeling of 'what's next?' pervades.

As a Department, we've pulled together to get through the flood, the repairs that followed, the budget cuts that followed those repairs, and now are bracing ourselves for what is sure to be a challenging 2009. Parks & Rec has been very fortunate to add some great people to our staff who have brought in some great ideas on how we might be able to do some things differently, do it better, and save some money in the process. I keep feeling like 2009 will be a lot easier to swallow once we're actually all LIVING in it, in the sense that once we know we CAN make do with less, it will be easier to take. It's almost like we (and by we I mean all of us in the community) are standing at the edge of a cliff getting ready to take the leap and not sure if we're jumping into shallow or deep water. My hope is that the pool below us is deep enough to cushion the fall, but shallow enough that we can stand up and take a break from treading water when we need to!

I think the parks folks are up to the challenge. Sure, things are going to be different next year. The pool may not be open as much as it has been in years past, but we'll get an hour of free swimming 7 days a week! The grass may not be mowed as often in your favorite park, but maybe you'll discover some wildflowers hidden among the new growth. In short, there may be a silver lining to all this after all. Knowing that we are all in this together makes it a little more bearable as we leap into 2009.

So, from all of us at Parks & Rec, have a GREAT Holiday! Enjoy the time you can spend together with loved ones and look forward to all the fun you can have at the great parks and facilities in our community.

**For those of you interested in what's going on over the Christmas Break, visit www.columbusparksandrec.com for the latest and greatest. We'll be holding a few Flip and Dip sessions at Columbus Gymnastics Center/FFY and extra public skating sessions at Hamilton Center, so don't miss out on the fun!**

***Do you want to lend your support to parks AND write it off on your taxes? If so, visit www.columbusparksandrec.com, click on the Park Foundation logo (green logo) at the top of the page, and follow the directions to donate to the Columbus Park Foundation. Your donation is tax deductible AND helps to provide parks and programs in our community. What a great gift to give yourself and the community this holiday season!***