Administration

Staff in the Administration Division consists of the Director, a Parks & Recreation Manager, Senior Secretary II, Secretary, Facility Supervisor, one full time and two part-time Rec. Specialists and two full time custodians. This Division operates the Big Dipper Ice Arena and outdoor rinks. The Big Dipper is open seven days a week, approximately 15 hours per day. The Division also sponsors, and/or assists with the production of a number of community special events. This division is the policy and procedures arm of the Department. It coordinates and focuses the efforts of the other three divisions and manages the contract for the John A. Carlson Community Activity Center. It also functions as the central point for budgeting, accounts receivable/payable, timesheet computations, office supplies, and is the primary communications point with the public. This division also has the primary responsibility of convening, hosting and supporting the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission, Senior Advisory Commission and the John A. Carlson Community Activity Center Advisory Board.

Pioneer Park

Pioneer Park is a 44-acre historic theme park consisting of recreational and educational opportunities. The primary function of Pioneer Park is to preserve and enhance the historical and recreational atmosphere of the park for the benefit of the community, visitors, merchants, and resident users. In addition to maintaining the park, it manages over thirty concession and resident user contracts as well as acting as host/coordinator for a number of community based special events. Permanent staffing at the park consists of the Park Manager, a Senior Secretary, three Parks Caretaker, and two seasonal Grounds Keepers.

Birch Hill

Birch Hill Recreation Area is a Nordic skiing complex comprised of a state of the art ski center and 32 km of groomed trails. Birch Hill attracts Nordic skiers worldwide to the Fairbanks area. 

Aquatics

The Aquatic Division is responsible for the operation and programming of activities at three facilities.  Permanent staffing consists of a Program Manager, three facility supervisors, four full-time lifeguards and twelve part-time lifeguards.  The Mary Siah Recreation Center is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. yearly and Sundays 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Sept. – May).   Hamme Pool is open 6:00 a.m. 8:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m and Sundays 1 pm - 5:30 pm (Sept. - May).  The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District holds physical education classes, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Wescott Pool in North Pole is open 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays 1 pm - 5:30 pm (Sept. - May).  The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District also conducts physical education classes at Wescott Pool on Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. During the summer months, Hamme and Wescott Pools increase their programming to include four hours of morning swim lessons and two hours of afternoon open swim every weekday.  All three facilities offer swim lessons by American Red Cross certified instructors and also offer lifeguard training and water safety instructor classes.  Contract instructors also offer specialty classes such as; Middle Eastern Dance, Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, Scuba, Kayaking, springboard diving, and competitive swimming.  This Division is our largest revenue producer, and brought in over $330,000 this past year.  This Division also conducts the Borough’s Adaptive Recreation program for the physically and developmentally disabled, and the Senior program.  The Adaptive Recreation Staff consists of a Supervisor and four part-time Adaptive Rec. Specialists and one casual. This program is augmented by parent and student volunteers and provides a variety of programs. The Senior Division consists of one staff member, the Senior Activities Coordinator. The goal of the Senior section is to offer a variety of recreation programs for seniors throughout the Borough. 

Park Maintenance

The Parks Maintenance Division consists of the Parks Maintenance Shop, housed at the Big Dipper Ice Arena, and the Chena Lake Recreation Area section located near North Pole. Staffing consists of a Maintenance Superintendent, Maintenance Supervisor, a Chena Lake Manager, five permanent Parks Caretakers and one permanent caretaker/mechanic.  In addition, it has six seasonal permanent part-time Rangers in the summer, and seventeen seasonal Parks Laborers. Together, these sections are responsible for maintenance of all of our parks and ballfields and the preparation and daily maintenance of one indoor and five outdoor ice rinks. Additionally, they are responsible for snow removal from parking lots and driveways at Department buildings, the public sidewalks at in-town parks, and four other Borough facilities.