Middle Rec is a Wreck

To the Editor: 
If you want to measure the job performance of Mayor Michael Clark, you need only look as far as Middle Township Recreation. Recreation was the theme of Clark’s first campaign. He promoted his degree in Recreation Management. Yet, in my experience, with my children in the recreation programs, things have only become worse for our kids and our sports since Clark took oversight of the rec from Tim Donohue in 2015. It seems Clark wants the title and not the responsibility, and is only interested in making friends, not creating accountability.
Two years ago, I had an issue with the soccer program and contacted then-Mayor Donohue. The next day, I received a call from the recreation leader at the Goshen Complex. My issues were dealt with quickly and professionally. The spirit seemed to be changing at the rec and things were moving in the right direction.
Fast forward to fall 2015. As a parent of two children who have made their way through the recreation department, I have had many interactions with various employees, coaches, children and fellow parents over the years. To be fair there will always be trials and tribulations. But, last year we headed backward and this year it has only gotten worse.
In the past two seasons, I witnessed too many failures in the soccer program for it to be a coincidence. To start with, the field maintenance is at an all-time low, with damaged fields, missing or unclear lines, and closures. The equipment is not compliant and sometimes unsafe. Teams didn’t have coaches. There were no team pictures. The scheduling was often non-existent and some practices, as well as games, never happened. It was as if they forgot the season was coming. There is a complete lack of organization and management. Many of the same employees are still there. I don’t blame them. There seems to be a total lack of focus and leadership. No one is in charge.
Time after time, the trash is not removed. The trash cans are filthy. Broken or damaged benches and equipment are ignored. The beds need mulching, yet a huge pile of mulch never moves over the summer. The split rail fence is a mess. Yet a pile of brand new split rails sits behind the garage collecting dust. The trees on Memory Lane are a disgrace.
There is poor and contradicting communication. When complaints were made or questions were asked, they would be ignored. When I reached out to Clark, I got a smile and a “thank you for your comments.” But I got no response to my questions and no action taken.
I don’t think it requires a degree in recreation to make sure our employees are doing their jobs and that programs are being properly managed. But if you have that degree and the mess we see now is the result, then maybe it’s time to go back to school. When a politician only shows up for photo ops and not to do the work, it is an insult to the many parents who sponsor, coach and support these programs as volunteers. It is an embarrassment to hear the comments and snide remarks from visiting coaches and teams, who dread playing on our fields and chuckle at the disorganization of our events.
We get lip service from the mayor about ‘Panther Pride,’ but it takes real leadership, intelligence and hard work to make the rec something to be proud of. Clark is either unwilling or unable to do that hard work. It’s time for a change in leadership.