Charlottesville marks Parks and Recreation month with new director, proclamation, and public input meetings

Charlottesville has a new director of Parks and Recreation and the city has decided to hire from within.

“Having served as the interim Director for some time, I understand the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,” a new release sent out Tuesday quotes Riaan Anthony. “This transition to a permanent leadership position will provide stability and allow us to continue progressing towards our goals and objectives.”

Anthony has worked for the city’s parks and recreation department for nine years after serving in similar positions in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

His elevation to the top position comes as the nation celebrates Parks and Recreation Month. City Council had on their July 1, 2024 agenda a proclamation honoring the occasion as read by Councilor Natalie Oschrin. 

“Parks and recreation are integral parts of communities throughout the country, promoting health and wellness, improving the physical and mental health of people who live near parks, promoting time spent in nature, which positively impacts mental health by increasing cognitive performance and well-being, and alleviating illnesses such as depression, attention deficit disorders, and Alzheimer’s,” Oschrin said.  

The Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department offers over 200 programs and has over 2,000 registered participants this summer in swim lessons, dance programs, day camps, and athletic leagues. 

One of those leagues is the Tonsler League for basketball, which Council recently allocated an additional $10,000 from the city’s Vibrant Communities Fund. (read the staff report)

That’s on top of the $250,000 from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development in Fiscal Year 2025 allocated to the City of Charlottesville in the recently adopted Virginia budget. That’s because of an amendment request from Delegate Katrina Callsen. 

“This amendment provides $300,000 in fiscal year 2025 for the Tonsler League in the City of Charlottesville, which is a nonprofit that sponsors a summer basketball league and community engagement activities, such as the ‘Circle of Brotherhood’ developed in response to gun violence, and giveaways, such as bikes for youth and turkeys during Thanksgiving,” reads the request.

Upcoming events and input sessions

Last week’s proclamation for the Parks and Recreation takes on a promotional tone for other upcoming events. 

“Special events in July include Sounds of Summer on July 13 at Tonsler Park featuring The Tara Mills Band, bluegrass and a free meal off the grill from 6 to 8 p.m.  and the Sunday Sundown events on July 21 from 12 to 2 p.m. at Washington Park featuring free and meals and free access to the pools,” Oschrin continued. 

Anthony accepted the proclamation and took the opportunity to remind Council and anyone listening that a public process for community input is still underway. The city has hired PROS Consulting to do the work as I reported last November. 

“We are still in the midst of our master plan and just upcoming events for public input, we have Monday July 15 at 6:30 p.m. for Court Square and Market Square,” Anthony said. 

That coincides with the City Council meeting scheduled for that night. This is for a “framework” for Court Square and Market Street parks.

“A park framework plan is a strategic document that guides the development, management, and enhancement of a park or a system of parks,” said Afton Schneider, the city’s director of communications and public engagement. “It serves as a blueprint for the future, outlining goals, priorities, and specific actions to improve and maintain park spaces.” (read the materials)

The other events are:

• July 18 at 6 p.m. – public input session for a framework plan for Benjamin Tonsler Park
• July 23 at 6 p.m. – public input session for a framework plan for Booker T. Washington Park to be held at Carver Recreation Center
• August 20 with time to be determined – a presentation on the over all needs assessment for the rest of the park system

To learn more about the process, visit the city’s website.

Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. In fact, this particular installment is from the July 8, 2024 edition of the newsletter. To ensure this research can be sustained, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or contributing monthly through Patreon.