This story was updated on May 13.

Before working on next year’s budget for the Great Bend Recreation Commission, Executive Director Diann Henderson wants the board of directors to consider the goals for 2014-15. Playground equipment for the Great Bend Activity Center at 2715 18th St. may be one goal.
Monday’s board meeting included a goal setting workshop. A list of ranked list will be completed before the June meeting, when the board will start to work on next year’s budget.
One item Henderson would like to see move up on the list is creating a playground outside of the Activity Center. When the new facility opened in the fall of 2010, a master plan was created for landscaping and playground equipment. She would like the board to update the master plan for the playground, and to implement the plan.
“It’s something I want to bring back to the forefront,” Henderson said. “We have put money away for the last three years for our outdoor park improvements.” The latest version of the plan has two separate play areas — one for children 5-12 years old and one for preschoolers. Henderson also recommended umbrellas over the benches already in place, and showed board members some musical chimes created for parks.
Back in 2010, basic landscaping work began, including adding sod and installing a sprinkler system. Henderson noted Monday that the is an ongoing problem with people driving over the grass and breaking sprinkler heads.
In action items Monday, the board changed the date of the Oct. 13 meeting to noon on Oct. 10. This will allow Henderson and program directors Garet Fitzpatrick and Chris Umphres to attend the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Congress, Oct. 14-16 at Charlotte, N.C. Henderson noted the budget includes money for staff to attend because of the training opportunities.
The board also spent 25 minutes in executive session on Monday, to discuss a personnel matter.

Activities
Program directors gave their monthly reports on activities, and Henderson reported that for the month of April, GBRC offered 1,156 hours of supervised activities. There were 5,375 enrollments and 20,932 participants, of which, 9,566 were spectators.
People with special needs enjoyed a spring dance in April, which 88 people attended. Bowling was offered five times and total attendance at bowling was 193. There were also craft classes and an easy cooking class.
For senior citizens, Fit For Life and three levels of Tai Chi classes are highly attended. In April, 33 people took the Defensive Driving class and 24 attended a program on Project ARCH (Access Received Closer to Home), which allows veterans to receive some health care at St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center. This week, Brandi Gruber, director of cardio-pulmonary services at St. Rose, will present a program on sleep disorders at 1 p.m. Friday at the  Senior Center. Megan Hammake is director of GBRC senior and special populations programs.
Leisure programs include free Stop ‘N Learn Programs and after-school programs. Program Director Garet Fitzpatrick said school programs have wrapped up, as has the Walk Kansas fitness activity. There will be a Walk Kansas celebration at 5:15 p.m. Thursday at the southeast shelter at Vet’s Lake. This program is open to the public, and tai chi instructor Dee Krier will share a short presentation. Healthy refreshments and door prizes will also be part of the celebration.
Sports Director Chris Umphres said indoor soccer has ended and it’s time for baseball and softball. In addition to summer leagues, Great Bend will host the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Class 1A and Class 2A State Softball and Baseball tournaments, May 29-31, and the GBRC-NBC Hap Dumont Baseball Tournament, May 31 and June 1.