The Greenbelt City Council held a worksession on October 22 dedicated to the city manager’s quarterly update for the reporting period that began on July 1. This worksession was unusual, because after a brief synopsis of his report, the city manager gave over the remainder of the evening to a “deep dive” into the Recreation Department’s many contributions to the city. A majority of the Recreation Department’s leadership staff was on hand to summarize their programs and services.
Quarterly Update
City Manager Josué Salmerón began the worksession by highlighting city accomplishments and providing updates on current projects. The long list included: a successful search for a new city treasurer, the distribution and management of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants in advance of the final deadline of
December 2026, a voter engagement campaign, and Public Works’ roadway improvements and the pool deck structural remediation project at the Greenbelt Aquatic & Fitness Center (GAFC). Interested readers can peruse the complete report at: greenbeltmd.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3212/files/attachment/2382.
Rec Department Shines
Most of the worksession was devoted to an in-depth presentation by the Recreation Department, led by Recreation Director Greg Varda. Varda was joined by Andrew Phelan, assistant director for facilities and operations, and Anne Oudemans, assistant director for programs. Varda and Phelan outlined the improvements made to the soccer field at Schrom Hills Park and the ongoing improvement project at Braden Field. Together, these two projects involved the expenditure of $2M in ARPA funding. Other significant recent improvements include new picnic pavilions in Buddy Attick Park and shade structures at Greenbelt Station.
Personal Support
Carrie Hannigan, an administrative assistant at the Community Center, spoke about the importance of the Recreation Department’s “personal touch,” giving several examples: having a live human answer phone calls, providing speedy checkout for busy patrons trying to finish a registration during a lunch break or offering a patient helping hand to someone who needs assistance filling out a form.
Caroline Soter, administrative assistant at the Youth Center, advanced this theme by detailing the Recreation Department’s financial assistance programs and mentioning that she and her colleague Cathryn Pracht offer free notary services. LaToya Fisher, a program supervisor who oversees Learn to Earn and two recent graduates spoke briefly about their experiences in the program.
Facilities and Programs
Stephen Parks, GAFC supervisor, accompanied by Kathy Mitchell and Cynthia Brown, mentioned the recent acquisition of new exercise machines for the fitness wing and gave a brief account of the closure of the indoor pool, which reopened in September. Trevin Green, the Community Center supervisor, reported on the building’s new boilers and the high-visibility paint on exterior steps for the visually impaired. Green expressed his appreciation for the city’s support of Community Center programming and the work of his staff, including Adam Daelmans, the Community Center coordinator, who reviewed the myriad groups that the facility hosts – from Cub and Girl Scouts to music ensembles to Goddard groups that met there during the government shutdown.
Gratitude was a recurring motif, echoed by Frank Jones and Brian Butler, recreation coordinators at Springhill Lake Recreation Center, as they reviewed their programs including field trips, nutrition assistance, movement classes and intergenerational storytime events that connect seniors with kids. The Recreation Department’s multifaceted array of programs and services were described by Arts Supervisor Nicole DeWald and Visual Arts Coordinator Amanda Larsen, who sketched the various programs under their purview, including camps, arts instruction, youth performance, exhibitions and public art. Therapeutic Recreation Coordinator Priya Gardner Lemieux outlined how the department provides senior and inclusion programs, and Greenbelt Museum Director Megan Searing Young reported on ongoing fundraising as the Museum moves toward full utilization of its new space.
Recreation Coordinator Patrick Mullen brought the presentation to a close with an enthusiastic recounting of the work he and his fellow park rangers do to make Greenbelt’s parks accessible to the public. At the end of the worksession, Mayor Emmett Jordan noted that the Recreation Department’s programs are “shining stars” for the city.
