As we dive into our second newsletter of 2025, Grapevine Parks and Recreation is buzzing with excitement and gratitude for an amazing start to the year! January set the stage for a fantastic 2025, and we’re proud of the hard work and dedication our team has already shown in making our programs, events, and services exceptional
This month, we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible staff who make Grapevine Parks and Recreation a vibrant and welcoming part of our community Their passion and commitment keep Grapevine strong and thriving
Here’s to another month of creating connections, memories, and achievements across our parks, facilities, and programs
Let’s make 2025 unforgettable, together!
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Meet Dawn Parry
Dawn Parry, our Recreation Coordinator, has been part of the Grapevine community for years, bringing energy and dedication to everything she does
Married to Daniel for 30 years, she’s a proud mom to three daughters Hannah (with grandson Jamie), Rachel, and Sarah and pet mom to Rory, Daisy, and Mason
A former competitive swimmer and softball player, Dawn loves swimming, pickleball, and spending time with family and friends She’s a fan of Hallmark movies, Mexican food, and shopping at Target
Her favorite motto, “Be nice to everyone, you never know what others are going through,” guides her work
Dawn is excited to be part of Grapevine Parks and Recreation, helping create amazing experiences for the community.
We’re lucky to have her on our team!
Meet Hayden Garner
er, our Hospitality Supervisor, brings a utdoors and a positive attitude to the vision
ber of a close-knit family, Hayden enjoys e with his mom, dad, brother, sister, and ion, Lucy
me, you’ll find Hayden shooting, playing cheering on his favorite hockey team A fice and a Scheels enthusiast, Hayden home without his trusty hat
yden has 20/20 vision and a knack for e with his motto, “It’s always something.”
illed to be part of Grapevine Parks and ontributing to a community he’s proud to l.
We’re excited to have Hayden on our team!
THE APPLAUSE LINE
TEAM TO TEAM APPRECIATION
Huge shoutout to Jeff, James, Matthew, Hayden, Clay, Phuong Le, and Rey for their hard work in preparing the pad for the Meadowmere Education Pavilion! From digging what felt like an Olympic-sized swimming pool to getting it ready for the foundation, their dedication and countless hours over the past months made this project possible We truly appreciate their effort and commitment thank you for a job well done! - Morgan Denny
Thank you and congratulations to the CAPRA Crew for successfully sub our 5-year assessment! Together, we updated 151 standards to reflect our agency s current standing This incredible team Lara, Rachel, Kathy, Justin, Randy, Morgan, Blake, Andrea, Jennifer, Emily, Brooke, and Shannon made it all possible A special shoutout to Lara for navigating the final weeks of edits with me Great job, everyone! - Erin Burke
Megan, a huge thank you for your help in creating the summer bus schedule for Camps, Club, and Active Adults! Your willingness to talk through camp logistics and share your valuable insight has been such a big help I truly appreciate your support and collaboration! I appreciate you! - Mariah
A big thank you to Kathy and Jeff for their expertise and dedication while working with contractors on the Meadowmere Education Pavilion! Their diligence -even staying until dark some days- has helped keep the project on track and ready for this summer We appreciate all your hard work! - Morgan Denny
Shoutout to the Community Events team for successfully coordinating their first family dance! Brooke and Stephen went above and beyond with the activities and décor no pun intended! A special thank you to Hayden for assisting from start to finish. Amazing job, team! - Erin Burke
APPRECIATION FROM PATRONS
Love the REC and love the aquatics program. Kaylee is wonderful to work with and every instructor has been great for my son We weren't members at first but we had such fun coming to lessons we joined as full on members for everyone Keep up the great work!
Rebecca Smartis - Son Semi-Private Swim Lessons
CELEBRATING SUCCESS: EMPLOYEE PROMOTIONS
Jennifer Kashner
Jennifer Kashner is stepping into her new role as Recreation Manager with excitement and a vision for growth! With a passion for leadership and development, she’s eager to create policies and procedures that will support staff and strengthen department operations One of her key goals this year is to develop a new contractor handbook and expand the program evaluation process to enhance efficiency and effectiveness
Her journey back to Grapevine has been both exciting and rewarding Over the past year, she has embraced challenges and opportunities while staying committed to supporting her team Jennifer credits her success to the incredible support from her husband, Jared, who has encouraged her every step of the way, and to her outstanding team at The REC, whom she calls the best Coordinator and Supervisor team she’s ever worked with Join us in congratulating Jennifer on this new chapter as she continues to grow and lead in the Recreation Division!
Andrea Tredaway is excited to return to her roots in athletics as she steps into her new role as Athletics & Hospitality Manager. Starting as an Athletic Coordinator with GPARD, she enhanced leagues, streamlined processes, and gained valuable experience in both Athletics and Concessions. Now, she’s eager to support both divisions, creating positive opportunities for the community and department
Her goals include strengthening the thriving Athletics division and building a strong Hospitality team by finding the right coordinator to enhance the concessions experience She’s also excited to help bring major events, like the upcoming NCCAA Softball World Series, to Grapevine
Reflecting on her 10-year journey with Grapevine Parks and Rec, Andrea shares how her once-unfamiliar path turned into a true passion The impact on the community and her colleagues makes her work deeply rewarding Andrea is grateful for the support of her husband, family, and work family, who have encouraged her every step of the way. Join us in celebrating Andrea as she takes on this exciting new chapter!
Andrea Tredaway
SPREAD
Indoor Summer Camp Counselor
Assistant Indoor Camp Manager
Outdoor Summer Camp Counselor
Outdoor Camp Manager
Lifeguard
D I V I S I O N
S P O T L I G H T Lake parks
Spotlight: Lake Parks Division
The Lake Parks Division is at the heart of Grapevine’s outdoor recreation, maintaining lake parks, boat ramps, trails, and campgrounds while delivering exciting outdoor programs for residents and visitors alike From fly fishing and archery classes to major events like Prehistoric Park and PumpkinFest, this team ensures there’s always something for the community to enjoy
Managing key locations like Meadowmere Park, Lakeview Park, Oak Grove Park, The Vineyards Campground & Cabins, and city-managed boat ramps, the team of four, along with park hosts and contractors, keeps these spaces beautiful, functional, and ready for adventure. Their daily work includes park maintenance, ongoing improvements, and special projects, such as The Vineyards Campground renovations and the new Meadowmere Education Pavilion, which will soon host Dove Creek Day Camp.
Beyond lake operations, this tech-savvy crew plays a major role in supporting Community Events, using their expertise in lighting, effects, and sound production to bring creative ideas to life They even help fuel the team, with Lake Parks Foreman Jeff serving up meals for staff at major festivals like GrapeFest and Main Street Fest
The team's biggest achievement? Quickly reopening parks, boat ramps, and campgrounds after the summer 2024 flooding faster than ever before! Their vision remains clear: to enhance outdoor experiences, provide top-notch recreation, and be good stewards of the land they oversee. And when summer ends? They transform into Christmas elves, designing spectacular light shows, drone effects, and animations that help bring the Christmas Capital of Texas® to life!
It’s easy to see the Lake Parks team loves what they do!
02/10 Christopher B Smith
02/10 Sean M Butler
02/28 Hayden P Garner
Y E A R S O F S E R V I C E
02/18 Steven L Wolfard 11 years
02/19 Jennifer M. Kashner 10 years
U P C O M I N G E V E N T S
2/13 February Team Building at Main Even-Grapevine
2/14 Valentine’s Day
2/17 President’s Day
2/22 Happy to Help Saturday
"Where there is love, there is life." – Mahatma Gandhi
