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Home PageRockwood School District Will Operate Babler Organized Group Center
By Frank St. Clair, District Supervisor, North Hills District
A new cooperative management service agreement between the Rockwood School District and the Department of Natural Resources will reduce operating costs at Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park while still maintaining quality service to the public.
During the summer of 2001, the department’s Division of State Parks entered into a cooperative management service agreement with Rockwood School District for the management and operation of the public pool located at Babler State Park. This cooperative agreement greatly reduced the park’s daily management responsibility with no loss of service to the public. At the end of this agreement period, the division entered into a discussion on other cooperative ventures that might benefit both agencies. On April 19, 2002, Rockwood School District formally signed a cooperative agreement to operate the public pool, the old nature center, and the Organized Group Center, the Jacob L. Babler Outdoor Education Center. The contract is for an initial seven-month term with two one-year renewal options.
Rockwood School District is uniquely positioned to develop a management services agreement. Babler State Park is included within its coverage area (150 square miles in much of western St.Louis and northern Jefferson counties). Most of the required management components the park needs are already in place. They have a professional food service operation that serves daily meals to 21,000 students. They have an aquatics operation that has a professional staff of five and operates five public pools. Their community education program has developed partnerships with Meramec Community College, city of Wildwood and others. Their marketing program includes a Web site and monthly brochure mailed to 50,000 households. Most importantly, they are eager to explore cooperative efforts that will allow them to expand public service to their constituents.
There are several potential benefits to the state resulting from this agreement. In terms of net savings, we should approach $75,000 per year in expense and equipment, and personal services funding. Included in these savings are three permanent positions and several seasonal positions ($58,000 or four FTE). In terms of allocated funds, we will be able to reduce allocations from $283,000 to $75,000. The management span and complexity of operational issues is greatly reduced. The Organized Group Center serves 7,158 overnight guests and 1,341 day-use guests annually. Over 18,000 meals are served each year. Responsibility for these operations is now transferred to the school district.
The most exciting opportunity presented by this agreement lies in the future. The division now has the opportunity to divert FTEs and funds toward the pursuit of new initiatives while continuing to serve existing customers and basic core needs. Over the past few years, the division has struggled to integrate state park philosophy with urban core issues. Difficulties in acquiring funding and staff to develop new initiatives, build relationships and enhance programs has severely limited our ability to provide additional services to our urban/urban core constituents. Our difficulty in balancing core park needs with enhancement initiatives is very evident at Babler. It is hard to look at any core natural, cultural or recreational venue at Babler and not recognize the need for basic infrastructure improvements. This agreement will give us the financial freedom to pursue our basic core value at Babler and initiate a system that will provide services to our urban/urban core constituents. While firm decisions have not been made concerning specific redirection of funds, discussions are centering on additional personnel to focus upon operational issues and the addition of an "urban resource coordinator (working title). These initiatives will allow us to aggressively pursue recreational and educational outreach programs in the St. Louis area.
While acknowledging that they have a steep learning curve, Don Owens, community education director for the school district, indicated that they are very excited to be a cooperating partner. He also recognizes the potential for future cooperative efforts and indicated a desire to "explore future opportunities to enhance the services provided at Babler State Park."
This new venture will not be without its challenges; however, we believe that the benefit to the public outweighs these issues and hope that this agreement will become a model for future cooperative agreements throughout the state. For more information, please contact Jeff Robinson at 636-458-3813.
