Johnson City Parks and Recreation
A Walk in the Park Your Parks and Recreation Connection
Special points of interest: ~ Winged Deer State’s Complex of the Year! ~ Administration Highlights ~ Athletic Division Highlights ~ Park Services Division Highlights ~ Recreation Services Highlights - Kudos Corner ~ Calendar of Events
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Winged Deer State’s Complex of the Year! USA Softball of Tennessee week named Johnson City’s Winged Deer Park the state’s 2018 Complex of the Year last month, citing the Parks and Recreation Department’s long-established relationship with the organization and the city’s decision to expand its athletic fields. Mayor Jenny Brock accepted the award in Chattanooga at the annual USA Softball of Tennessee Hall of Fame Banquet. “There were several great nominations this year, and we ultimately chose Winged Deer Park due to the longtime partnership with USA Softball, the number of events held there and the commitment from Johnson City to expand their offerings,” said Tina Gale, State Complex of the Year Committee chair. Winged Deer Park opened in April 1991 and boasts five championship-caliber fields. The state-of-the-art complex has a four-field, wagon wheel design with an additional fifth field added a few years later to better accommodate league and tournament play. The city recently purchased an additional 36 acres adjacent to the park and plans to add additional diamond and rectangular fields in the near future. “This will enhance the city’s league and tournament offerings,” said James Ellis Johnson City Parks and Recreation director. “The relationship between the city and USA Softball began during Howard Johnson’s tenure as the first park director, and it continues today some 50 years later. We have hosted hundreds of invitational, state and regional tournaments in addition to 16 USA Softball National Tournaments. “The National events held here include all four age groups of the girl’s slow-pitch divisions, the girl’s 10U fast-pitch nationals on three occasions, girl’s 18U fast-pitch twice, the Men’s Major Open Slow-pitch Nationals three times, the Men’s Super-Slowpitch Division twice and the men’s Major Church National. These events have pumped millions of dollars into the local community and the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the hotels and other businesses have fully supported these efforts.”
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Administration Highlights ~
Tannery Knobs - Trail inspection should be complete by early January, by Trail Solutions. Staff training is scheduled for early January. Jim Hughes is working with Progressive Bike Ramps to complete the inspection of the pump as quickly as possible.
Winged Deer park was recognized as the 2018 Complex of the Year by USA Softball of Tennessee.
Security cameras - James Ellis attended a webinar along with representative from the Police Department with reference to providing video coverage of designated areas in the park system.
Carver Splash Pad - Discussion is underway regarding the potential hiring of a design firm to design and manage the project.
Athletics Division Highlights ~
Youth basketball has 704 participants which includes 15 girl’s teams and 53 boy’s teams.
Adult basketball has 6 men’s open teams and 8 church teams participating.
Park Services Division Highlights ~
A Walk in the Park
Civitan Park - 21,000 sq. ft. of big roll sod had been installed.
Winged Deer Park - Top seeding of goal mouths and aerification began Dec. 10.
Members of the Park Services Division provided support for the annual Turkey Trot and downtown Christmas parade.
Rotary Park - Counter has been removed and stored for winter months.
Renovations of the Main Street office are underway.
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Recreation Services Division ~
Aquatics - Staff hosted in-service training for the lifeguard staff at Freedom Hall Pool. Topics covered included proper cleaning standards and lifeguard expectations, a full review of lifeguard operations manual and a lifeguard competency swim test.
Carver Recreation Center - Interviews for the part-time recreation worker position have been conducted.
Memorial Park Community Center - Hosted the city employee luncheon with over 300 participants Dec. 7. The Homeschool Preschool end of season party took place on Dec. 6 with 35 in attendance. Who Stole Christmas event was held Dec. 7 with 60 in attendance. The annual Flash Sale for the Daddy Daughter Dance was held Dec. 7 with 155 tickets sold. Rockin’ with Rudolph was held Dec. 8 with 100 attending the event. Santa’s Mailbox has collected 100 letters to Santa and staff is working on responses. The Candy Cane Crew Chase was held Dec. 19 with youth seeking candy canes with flashlights and then decorating them for a fun evening of crafting. The custodial staff, along with volunteers, decorated the center for Christmas, attended a Train the Trainer session, obtained quotes for billiard tables and held a Sunday workday to clean the floors in the billiards room, conduct touch up painting throughout the center, cleaned floors in the recreation end and conducted detail cleaning at Keystone Community Center.
Nature - Attended the Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership Outdoor Task Force quarterly meeting. Jacobs Nature Park - A meeting was held to discuss permitting, material, construction, location and potential building schedule of the outdoor classroom. The permit is good through March 2019. Currently waiting on the manufacture of special order support beams. Inmate help will then be secured and with the dry weather. The March deadline should be reachable to prevent permit renewal. Presented a nature program to Fairmont Elementary 3rd graders with 108 participants.
Senior Services - The annual Christmas dance was held Dec. 8 with 200 in attendance. The Christmas Box Program delivered 250 boxes filled with food and household supplies to needy elderly Dec. 13.
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Golf Division ~
Johnson City Parks & Recreation 4137 Bristol Highway 4137 Bristol Hwy. Johnson City, Tennessee 37601 Johnson City, TN 37601 Phone: 423-283-5815 Phone: 423-283-5815 Fax: 423-283-5829 Fax: 423-283-5829 Email: jcparksinfo@johnsontn.org
Pine Oaks - Irrigation lines have been drained and heaters have been installed in the irrigation pump houses. Winter covering has been placed over the Learning Center greens.
On Nov. 29, a meeting was held with the Kermit Tipton Scholarship Committee to discuss bringing the annual tournament to Pine Oaks in May 2019.
The first meeting for the 2019 Spring Fore was held Dec. 6.
Bill Fuller attended the Carolinas Turf Grass Conference.
Upcoming Events January 1 - Closed - Happy New Year!
February 2 - Memorial Park Community Center - Jump Start Seed Swap & Pollinator Day
January 7 - Memorial Park Community Center - After-School program begins
February 4 - Adult softball registration begins.
January 7-25 - Memorial Park Community Center - Registration opens for Daddy Daughter Dance online and in-house at MPCC.
February 8 - Memorial Park Community Center Pool - Family Sweetheart Swim
January 10 - Memorial Park Community Center - Teen Game Night begins every other Thursday
February 9 - Memorial Park Community Center - Daddy Daughter Dance
January 11 - Memorial Park Community Center - Glow Stick Swim
February 15 - Senior Services - Friday Night Dance - The PF Flyers
January 18 - Senior Services - Friday Night Dance - Jerry Pierce and February 23 - Carver Recreation Center - Black History program the Nightlife Band January 21 - Carver Recreation Center - Martin Luther King Story Time
March 1 - Senior Services - Friday Night Dance - The Shooter Band
January 21 - Carver Recreation Center - Martin Luther King blood drive
March 9 - Memorial Park Community Center - Wacky MPCC Mini Golf Challenge
January 21 - Carver Recreation Center - Martin Luther King dinner
March 15 - Senior Services - Friday Night Dance - Retroville Band
January 24 - Memorial Park Community Center - Fitness Expo January 28 - Youth soccer registration begins.