Connection moves us because it moves you.
We are driven by a desire to enhance quality of life through an active community, exceptional quality, and fantastic service. It is our mission to spark connection with self, family, and community through meaningful park and recreation experiences. We want to be known for setting the standard for connection, service, and quality in parks and recreation.
Thank you for supporting the spark that connects Wylie and surrounding communities.
Annually, the City of Wylie Parks and Recreation Department sparks connections to self, family, and community for more than 2.5 million visitors including children, pre-teens, teens, adults, and seniors. This connection crosses social and economic barriers, supporting an enhanced quality of life, economy, and the overall well-being of Wylie and surrounding communities. Because a strong sense of community is important to our guests, Wylie Parks and Recreation provides opportunities that support social interaction, friendship, and teamwork. High-quality offerings, e.g. specialized summer camps, clean workout spaces, and close access to parks and green space rank high on guests' lists.
The facilities, places, equipment, and tangible assets are just tools we use to support the mission. We are in the business of helping our guests solve problems, e.g. improving health, building friendships, enhancing skills, and experiencing something new or different.
The community plays at 19 playgrounds, 24 soccer, baseball, and softball fields, and enjoys 17.8 miles of trail. Our athletic fields host 20,000 guests each year. Pavilions and other amenities accommodate birthday parties, family reunions, and more. Additionally, public art is a priority, and right-of-ways are manicured to visually link the community. Due to increased demand and need, Wylie has added 5 parks over the last 6 years.
At the heart of the community, Wylie Recreation Center supports the health and well-being of more than 405,000 guests, annually. Being the City’s first and only recreation center in Wylie, the concept of community recreation was new to Wylie, when Wylie Recreation Center opened in 2011.
Located in Wylie's Community Park, the Senior Recreation Center connects more than 90,000 guests to fun, friendship, and fitness, each year. The Wylie Parks and Recreation Department also supports the operations of two historic homes, including the Thomas and Mattie Brown House in Historic, Downtown Wylie.
Wylie Parks and Recreation is known for employing friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable parks and recreation staff that provide exceptional service. Wylie Parks and Recreation supports the community's job market by providing more than 100 jobs. 70% of the jobs in the department are classified as part-time and part-time seasonal positions. To stay on top of trends and support excellent quality and delivery of services, the parks and recreation staff participate in numerous professional development and certificate programs. Wylie Parks and Recreation has received a number of awards and recognition from a variety of professional organizations for outstanding staff, programs, and facilities.
Daily operations account for the majority of the department's resources: money, people, and energy. Daily operations encompass front-line tasks and duties that guests are most aware of. This includes everything from the staff that check-in guests at Wylie Recreation Center’s front desk to the greenery and staff that enhance the landscaping in the medians on highway 78.
The Activity Menu generates the vast majority of the activity registrations, pass sales, and reservation bookings. The catalog, averaging 40 pages each season, is distributed four times each year: winter, spring, summer, and fall. A special summer camp catalog is distributed at the same time as the spring catalog. The summer camp catalog includes more than 100 summer camp offerings.
Wylie Parks and Recreation's primary focus is on mission-driven, mostly no-charge and low-charge offerings that benefit the community. To help offset some of the expenses of the mission, the department generates some user-driven fees. User fees are charged on Rec Passes, registered activities like art classes and fitness programs, and facility reservations.
The majority of Parks operations are funded by property tax, through the General Fund, and a small amount of funding comes from sales tax revenue. The Parks budget amounts to 5.5% of the City's General Fund.
Funding of operations at Wylie Recreation Center, Senior Recreation Center, the Thomas and Mattie Brown House, and Stonehaven House, in addition to all of the programs offered to guests, comes from 2 sources: 1. sales tax revenue, which covers 70% of expenses and 2. user fees. Operating the Recreation Division has no impact on the General Fund or the tax rate.
Wylie Parks and Recreation programs are "the place to be" for a lot of people and the number of participants continues to grow. It is critical that we nurture what Wylie has already invested in and match the demand for park and recreation opportunities in our community.
Wylie Parks and Recreation is focused on the future and has an ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality of life.
It is our mission to spark a connection with self, family, and community through meaningful park and recreation experiences, and we want to be known for setting the standard for connection, service, and quality in parks and recreation.