Park-Rec Department is "unlike other departments"

Decorah Parks & Recreation Department Director Andy Nimrod on Tuesday night told Decorah City Council members that his department is unique in one respect among city departments.

71 percent of the hours worked on behalf of the Park-Rec Department are provided either by part-time workers or volunteers, says Nimrod.

There are only six full-time Park-Rec employees in Decorah, says Nimrod.  By contrast, almost 600 people volunteered their time in 2014 on behalf of Park-Rec programs.  Those volunteers performed work ranging from coaching Park-Rec teams to helping to maintain the city's Butterfly Garden.

City of Decorah officials say they will organize a "Volunteer Recogntion Event" for later in 2015.