In review of the city organization we have made determination that it is in our best interest to make some adjustments to operations.  We are going to adjust the approach we use to planning, programming and maintaining our parks in the City of Shakopee to ensure that we are leveraging our staff strengths appropriately.

While we are all a team on the staff, each department and each staff has different strengths. 

• Planners - typically have urban planning, architecture or other types of degrees and experience in looking at the big picture. 
•  
• Recreation supervisors - typically have recreation management degrees and experience in providing programming. 
•  
• Engineers - typically have engineering degrees and experience in design and construction of infrastructure.
•  
• Public Works technicians - typically have experience in maintaining infrastructure.

Because of this expertise, the planning department will be on point to develop the big picture plan for development and re-development of parks and trails in the City of Shakopee. The Parks and Rec department will be responsible for ensuring that programming in all of our parks and parks and rec facilities is appropriate for demand and available resources. And our engineering/public works department will be responsible for ensuring quality construction and maintenance of our parks and trails infrastructure.

What does this mean for the PRAB? The biggest change that you will see is that you will interact with more staff from different departments at your meetings.  You will still be served by the parks and recreation director as the primary staff liason to this committee. The parks and recreation director can still be your first point of contact.  However, you are also welcome to reach out to the planning and development director or city engineer/public works director if you think it is appropriate.