“Everyone Benefits” from the services provided by the Parks,
Recreation and Cultural Services Department (PRCS). The Department
focuses on maintaining quality parks and providing high quality
recreational programs to invite and retain business, generate retail
sales, improve property values, provide economic impact, and attract
citizens to the community.
The Department manages over 1,000 acres of parkland and
includes Lakeshore Park, ITC Community Sports Park, Ella Mae Power
Park, Rotary Park, Wildlife Woods Park, Brookfarm Park, Village Wood
Lake Park, Fuerst Park, and Landings Park.
The Recreation Division provides 1,300
recreation programs and events for citizens of all ages and serves
over 140,000 users annually. Recreation programs are offered based
upon the national accreditation guidelines, citizen survey data, and
partnerships. The Recreation Division includes cultural services,
(theatre productions, creative arts programs, dance, Novi Concert
Band, and Novi Choralaires), sports and fitness (soccer, softball,
lacrosse, flag football, basketball, yoga, Pilates, etc.), community
events (Memorial Day Parade, Ringing in the Holidays, Take a Child
Outside Week), and camps. The Novi Ice Arena and Meadowbrook Commons
are enterprise facilities managed by contracted services that are
overseen by the PRCS Department.
The Senior Services Division, housed at the Novi
Senior Center at Meadowbrook Commons, provides increased recreation
opportunities and support services for the “boomer” and “older
adult” population through special events, fitness/wellness programs,
socials, travel trips, support groups, meal, and transportation
services.
The Facility Reservation Division oversees
facility reservations for meetings, weddings, showers, special
events, and more in the Civic Center, Township Hall, Fuerst Park
Amphitheater, and park shelters.
Volunteers provide nearly 29,000 hours of service yearly to PRCS,
with approximately 12,000 of hours being completed in the area of
youth sports programs and nearly 9,000 hours in the area of Senior
Services and related programs. According to the Independent Sector,
the value of a volunteer hour in Michigan as of 2009 was $20.85. The
yearly benefit realized by the Parks Department through volunteerism
is estimated to be $604,650.
