Special Services 2024 Year in Review.pdf

ANNUAL

REPORT

Special Services Department

Another great year serving our community

Ellen Schnackel Director

Letter from the Director

2024 was another record breaking year for the Department of Special Services:

Over 6,500 campers participated in our diverse camp programs 51,151 rounds of golf were played at the Farmington Hills Golf Course with over 3.4 million practice balls hit at the Driving Range 9,825 tickets were sold for Farmington Hills Youth Theatre’s Performances 19,644 tickets were sold for Hawk Concerts 24,761 Day Passes were sold at The Hawk 97,892 Meals on Wheels delivered

We pride ourselves in offering excellent programs and services for all ages, interests and abilities. Our greatest resource is our 47 full time and over 500 part time employees. These dedicated individuals work tirelessly to provide our many outstanding programs and services as well as maintain our beautiful parks and facilities. We also depend on an army of generous volunteers who logged over 25,000 hours in 2024.

We’re looking forward to an amazing 2025 and hope to see you participating with us!

Ellen Schnackel Director

Ta bl e of

C on te nt s 2Recreation

4Summer Camps

5Ice Arena

6Parks

7Golf Club

8Cultural Arts

11Aquatics, Hawk Fitness & Passholders

12Rentals & Dog Park

2024 Annual Report

13Adults 50 & Better

Recreation 02

In 2024, the After School Youth Program (ASYP) experienced strong engagement with over 300 students registered and daily attendance ranging from 80 to 100 students. The program proudly represented four schools: East, Warner, Steam, and Power. Special Services was thrilled to have all staff members return for another successful school year. New this year, the ASYP Nature Club program was introduced, offering additional enrichment opportunities, while participation in tutoring sessions tripled.

After School Youth Program

Nature Center The Nature Center guided 115 school field trips -reaching over 5,000 students The Nature Center hosted 3 nationally recognized professional development workshops (Project Learning Tree, Growing up WILD and a Certified Interpretive Guide Training Class) NEW public nature programs including the Goodnight, Moon Pajama Party and Tales from the Cryptids SOLD OUT Added a NEW Young 5s nature program for ages 4-6 with 15 students enrolled, many of them Nature Preschool graduates Nature Preschool enrollment increased to 70 students (up 20) The 2nd annual Native Plant Sale raised just over $3,000 for the Nature Preschool

657 preschool sports participants in 2024 vs 633 in 2023 Record high youth soccer league registrations 131 participants in the volleyball program (215 including camps) 13 sports camps offered with a total of 1,108 registrations Added shades to the outdoor pickleball courts

Hawk Hustle 146 participants Pickleball remains very popular with over 1,000 registrants plus hundreds engaging in drop-in play 223 registrations (148 for leagues only and 350 including camps) in basketball program Introduced new team registration option and had 4 teams register for leagues 300 registrations for tennis program Over 50 kids participated in new cheer and gymnastics camp New volleyball skills clinic maxed out with 46 participants and 10 on the waitlist

Sports Programs

Archery had 2,528 participants in 2024 this went up from last year (1,969) 108 of those participants attended programs at the Hawk Archery Range 562 campers learned about archery and shoot at Riley Range in the summer of 2024 A total of 274 students from across Southeast Michigan, including Oakland, Wayne, and Washtenaw counties, competed in the Michigan High School Archery Tournament at The Hawk

Archery

Summer Camps 04

Total Campers - including extended care 6,507 Average number of campers per week almost 500 93% of families were overall satisfied with camp 93% of campers were overall satisfied with camp 90% of families agree that camp was a good value for cost based on quality of care

Unplugged Camps “Thank you for employing such a diverse & wonderful group of people to lead & help with camps. It's great to have children experience all the ways people can live, love, and thrive!”

C A M P E R P A R E N T

Ice Arena 05

Lawrence Tech Woman’s Hockey Program

Learn to Skate

Michigan High School Figure Skating Competitions FH Figure Skating Club Halloween Enchanted Skating Exhibition FH Figure Skating Club December Holiday Show FH Figure Skating Club Annual Spring Ice Show C.C.M./200 x 85 Fall Invite Hockey Tournament Play Hockey USA-Thanksgiving Holiday Tournament Big Bear-Big Chill Youth Hockey Tournament Big Bear-Last Dance Youth Hockey Tournament Stacy Barber Power Skating Camps USA Hockey Officials Development Camp TPH Summer Development Camps Michigan Hockey Advancement Evaluation Camps

Facility Improvements

Freestyle Skating

Little Caesars Farmington Hills Amateur Hockey Association

Collegiate Sports

Michigan Sports Enterprises Adult Hockey

High School Sports

Hosted Events 1150 plus participants…beginner to adult

75 plus annual memberships/active skaters

Icy Edges Synchronized Skating Team

17 Team Members 3 Competitions: Porter Classic, Mid-America Championships, Tri-State Championships

Continued partnership servicing 15 teams, over 250 players

Farmington United Varsity Hockey Farmington United Figure Skating Team

23 Programs, upwards of 500 participants including Hockey Hockey!, and Little Wings Initiation Programs

Fully renovated men’s and women’s public bathrooms…completed in August of 2024 Compressor 1 rebuilt

Parks 06

65 athletic fields and 23 courts maintained 650 acres of parkland maintained 155 acres mowed regularly

1.5 million sq. ft of snow removed each snowfall Updated/replaced 75 park signs and added winter seasonal signage Hosted 25 days of baseball/softball tournaments Trail restoration and changes at Woodland Hills Hosted 4 days of The Maccabi Games, an international sports competition that takes place every four years Reconstructed several park entrance gates New roof on the Spicer House along with interior improvements and updates Introduced a new robotic painter for athletic fields. This has greatly improved the quality and accuracy of our fields Updated North Shelter at Heritage Park with new concrete and a new roof Replaced sidewalks at William Grace Dog Park, Founders Sports Park, Heritage Park, and Pioneer Park New roof on concession stand/bathrooms at Pioneer Park and Founders Sports Park Update disc golf signage Opened up the fairways on the disc golf course with an extensive trimming and clearing of woody plants and trees Improved the infield mix on baseball fields 1-4 at Founders Sports Park

Implemented a comprehensive ecological management plan for several parks to help with invasive species Worked to add more native plantings New native pollinator garden at Heritage Park Native plant, grass and flower restoration at Heritage Park where invasive species had previously been removed native plant plugs along river at Heritage Park Planted native grasses at Woodland Hills Parks secured a grant, for the third year, from Oakland County Natural Resources for a 4-acre winter forestry mowing project at Woodland Hills Nature Park. A large mass of invasive Buckthorn was removed while leaving mature trees room to grow ½ acre of invasive Buckthorn was sprayed and hand cleared from areas at Heritage Park and planted with native plants, grass and flowers Partnered with the Nature Center to create monthly education species on invasive species

Parks Activity

Invasive Species

Golf 07

Rounds

League Play

Days Open

Outing Play

Holes in One

Range Balls Hit

51,151 - new course record

16,300 rounds

2,550 rounds

3,446,715

Cultural Arts 08

2024 Rotating Exhibits at City Hall: 6 exhibitions, 7 artists, 138 pieces of art!

PUBLIC ART PROGRAM, CITY HALL:

Nearly 94 pieces of work from 65 local artists were installed in December 2023 as part of the 2024-25 Public Art Program

PUBLIC ART PROGRAM, THE HAWK: 33

artists, 59 pieces of art installed in 2023-24

Student/Instructor Exhibits at The Hawk:

5 instructors and 6 students exhibited their work in the showcases across from the 2D and 3D Art Studios

2024 Art on the Grand: 109 artists, 40 youth artists (Kids Art Alley) 40,000+ in attendance

Michigan Makers Market at The Hawk: 57 artists, 2,000+ attendees

Nearly 500 youth were cast and performed in captivating shows including: Magic Tree House KIDS, Pirates Past Noon, Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka JR., The Prom, Disney’s Frozen Kids, Shrek the Musical Jr., and A Wonderful Life

Art on the Grand & Michigan Makers Market

Youth Theatre

Exhibits & Artist Talks

Concerts/Performances - Tickets sold: 19,644 Youth Theatre Performances - Tickets sold: 9,825 Free Concerts: 13 free performances scheduled at The Hawk and Heritage Park Amphitheatre, including Detroit Symphony Orchestra, U of M Chamber Music, Juneteenth Concert, Kickoff to Summer, and Stars in the Park concerts!

Estimated nearly 6,000 total attendees benefitted from free music Detroit Symphony Orchestra performed three concerts at The Hawk in 2024—two free and one ticketed. More than 1600 people attended the free performances Rock Around the Hawk – 10 events, estimated 1,000+ attendees and AWARD WINNING

PROGRAM

Concerts & Events

-Program Participant

"If it wasn't for Rock Around the Hawk and this class, I probably wouldn't have ever painted again. I took painting classes at MSU as a student years ago and my brushes have sat in storage ever since. I'm looking forward to having a little time to myself and getting back to being creative."

Summer Camps, 59 sessions offered

PARTICIPANTS:

Summer Camps: 1032 Arts Classes and Workshops: 1256 (28% increase from 2023) Performing Arts Classes and Workshops:

253 (46% increase from 2023) Youth Theatre Registrations: 479 Makerspace Classes and Workshops:

154 (120% increase from 2023) Makerspace Checkout Courses: 373 TOTAL: 3,547 (30% increase from 2023)

Makerspace Passholders 2024 Daily Passes: 75 Monthly Passes: 100 Annual Passes: 20

Visual & Performing Arts Classes, Workshops and Camps Participation

“I grew up going to Art on the Grand so it was so special to be a part of an art fair in my hometown.

I’ve always loved the community in Farmington Hills and how supportive the city is of art and artists. This was one of the best markets I’ve done so far and I appreciate the kindness and the hard work from all the staff who made it happen!”

– A R T I S T

Splash Pad

Monthly Users

Aquatics 11

105,000 + Estimated Splash Pad Users at Heritage Park

Lifeguards

Swim Lessons

4,025 Average Monthly Users (Hawk and Costick)

2,210 Swim Lesson Participants

458 Lifeguards Trained & Certified (+83% increase from 2023) 172 – New Lifeguards 281 - Recertification 5 – Lifeguard Instructors Hawk

Passholders average active passholders per month total day passes sold in 2024

5,241

24,761

Hawk Fitness total group fitness class attendance 12,899 fit pass members

Rentals

THE HAWK

COSTICK CENTER

JON GRANT CENTER

130 EVENTS

116 EVENTS

252 EVENTS

LONGACRE HOUSE

128 EVENTS

306 return passholders 141 new dogs (10 of these users are non-residents)

447 passholders for 2024

William Grace Dog Park

Adults 50 & Better 13

14,133 SMART BUS rides given

20,546 volunteer hours by our community

97,892 meals served

601 holiday packages delivered to homebound seniors

140242 17,953

MEMBERS RIDES MILES

BIKE CLUB

24 fitness classes offered weekly including gym exercise, line dance, yoga, pickleball, tai chi, ballroom dance, and Fit 5000. 21,166 adults 50+ attended in 2024

61 special events held including parties, Dine and Discovers, Friday Film, Open Mic Mondays, karaoke, picnics and ice cream socials. 3,597 Attended

Hosted the Total Wellness Fair with 41 vendors and 402 in attendance

VENDORS

ATTENDED

VETERANS

RESOURCE

FAIR

71,232 miles driven by volunteers delivering meals

CITY OF FARMINGTON HILLS

DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL SERVICES

29995 W. 12 MILE RD.

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334