[0:00] - Good afternoon, Bloomington Park and Recreation. [0:02] This is Marge, may I help you? [0:04] (upbeat music) I was hired in April of 1984. [0:08] My plan was to just work a few years, part-time, [0:12] while my sons were doing their college careers. [0:16] And here I am 40 years later, still here. [0:19] (Marge laughs) My name is Marge Miller, [0:22] and I am a Part-Time Office Assistant [0:25] at Bloomington Park and Recreation. [0:27] I'm Front Counter Help, Customer Service, Public Contact, [0:32] I do reservations for the Bush Lake [0:33] and Moir Park Picnic Shelters. [0:38] Yes, we do have availability. [0:40] Selling pool passes for people that prefer [0:44] to come into the city to get their passes, [0:47] in the summertime for the Bloomington Family Aquatic Center. [0:50] In the 80s and 90s, [0:52] we had all paper registrations, nothing online, [0:56] so we've come a long way. [0:58] In 1985, there was the demolition [1:01] of the Metropolitan (stadium crashing) [1:02] Sports Stadium. [1:03] Park and Recreation staff went over onto Old Cedar [1:06] and stood and watched the beginning of the demolition. [1:10] That, of course, paved the way for the Mall of America. [1:14] We, as a staff, were invited to take a number [1:18] of tours in the working and construction time at the mall, [1:22] so that was very exciting. [1:25] Another memory that I had is the excitement [1:27] of moving from the old City Hall Building [1:30] on Old Shakopee Road [1:32] to this beautiful building. [1:34] And I know it's been 20 years plus, [1:37] but that was very exciting. [1:39] There's so many people that I know through the community [1:42] and also that I've just gotten to know [1:44] through Park and Recreation, [1:46] returning summer after summer. [1:49] I'm a Bloomington resident, [1:50] have been since college and moved up here. [1:54] We've been very fortunate [1:55] to have all this available to our kids. [1:58] 100%, the customer service is what I love. [2:02] It just feels so good when we have our residents [2:05] come into the Counter with questions, [2:08] and we're able to have them go away with a smile. [2:13] I've been very lucky to work with a fantastic [2:17] Park and Recreation team over the years. [2:20] In today's world, Park and Recreation [2:22] has our three exciting projects going on. [2:25] Our Nine Mile Creek Restoration, [2:28] our to be new, Community Health and Wellness Center, [2:32] and Bloomington Ice Gardens renovation. [2:35] So it's just always activity. [2:37] It's always exciting. [2:38] It's been a fantastic 40 year run. [2:41] (upbeat music)