Message from Betty Jo Gaines
Director, Department of Recreation and Parks

Creating a city that serves as a model for the very best of American cities is the mutual vision of our government. All of us at the Department of Recreation and Parks are committed to helping our city achieve this lofty goal. Our efforts embrace the new direction of our government, which calls for a greater attention to customer service, and to improved accountability in the fiscal arena, and in the area of human resource management . The incorporation of these values are helping us to set the pace for the delivery of the best possible recreation programs and services throughout the District of Columbia. No longer is it necessary for any citizen to scramble to find challenging and wholesome pursuits close to home. And, the possibility exists, at all of our facilities, for citizens to get into the act of designing new programs that match the interests and needs of specific groups and neighborhoods. This represents one of the many ways we are improving community outreach and involvement.

We look forward to hearing from you. I have established a 24-hour hotline available to citizens seven days a week to foster a closer working relationship between the agency and the residents it serves. Feel free to voice your opinion or to register any concerns you might have on the "Park Watch" hotline. The number is (202) 671-7275. A prompt response is guaranteed. This management reform initiative, along with our renewed commitment to spending every dollar allocated to us in a prudent manner, is making a noticeable difference on the road to becoming an even better service delivery agency.

Betty Jo Gaines
Director