Arts Center Attendance, Park Reservation Numbers Up in 2011

Statistically speaking, it’s fair to say 2011 was a good year for Lakeville parks and recreation facilities use.

Last year, the Lakeville Area Arts Center set an attendance record. And, the number of reservations for park facilities was up nearly 200 from 2010.

Parks and Recreation Supervisor Steve Michaud reported the figures during Tuesday’s Lakeville City Council meeting.

In giving his monthly report to council members, Michaud provided a glowing review not only of 2011 overall, but also of an active December, when thousands of visitors attended events at the arts center.

For the entire year, events at the art center attracted 43,902 people, which is slightly ahead of the 43,561 who turned out in 2010.

“If it wasn’t for the [city’s annual] art festival being rained out, we would have been in the 45,000 range,” Michaud told the council. “Our attendance continues to grow, as it has done year after year. I’m not sure if it will ever stop. We keep doing more programs and keep having great events.”

During December, more than 1,000 people purchased tickets to four concerts: Monroe Crossing, Sister Trio, Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra and Christmas to Remember. In addition, 2,400 tickets were sold for the 12 perfomances of

The demand for the “Junie B.” production was so great, said Michaud, that parks officials are going to develop a more efficient way to fill ticket requests.

Regarding facility use, 949 reservations were accepted last year, up from 764 in 2010.

Michaud gave part of the credit for gains in reservations to increased public awareness of the city’s park system.

“Some of our community parks are being used more,” he said. “And, I think more people stayed closer to home this past summer.”

While attendance and facility reservations figures were higher, revenue was not, Michaud said. Parks revenues totalled $313,567 in 2011, down from $341,589 the previous year.

Much of that difference, Michaud said, is because $20,000 collected for fireworks during Pan-O-Prog was included in 2010 revenue figures, but not last year's numbers.

“That money went directly to Pan-O-Prog last year,” Michaud said.

He added that the revenue figures were close to his estimates, meaning he was not surprised by the final total.