Johnson City Parks and Recreation
A Walk in the Park Your Parks and Recreation Connection
Special points of interest: ~ Keystone Teen Game Room Opens! ~ Administration Highlights ~ Athletic Division Highlights ~ Park Services Division Highlights ~ Recreation Services Highlights - Kudos Corner ~ Calendar of Events
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Keystone Teen Game Room Opens! The Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department hosted an open house for Keystone Community Center’s new Teen Game Room on Jan. 10. Area teens tested their skills on the latest gaming systems Xbox One and PS4 Pro, played pool, ping pong, foosball, ate pizza and snacks and enjoyed the comfortable lounge area. Teens at the open house received T-shirts that read “Play at the Stone.” “The need is there for our teens to chill out and wind down,” said Mary Lee Baker, Memorial Park Community Center program coordinator. “They really like it. A lot of them come to MPCC for open gym and then come over to Keystone. We’re trying to keep up with the technology and video-gaming trends.” The Teen Game Room will be open from 3-9 p.m. on weekdays, and Baker already has added another offering. She said Johnson City Mayor Jenny Brock suggested a program for young girls. “When she suggested that, I initiated Girl Squad,” Baker said. The program begins Feb. 11, and will be available every Monday and Tuesday from 3 -5 p.m. as a type of “headquarters” for girls 13-17 who can “be their own bosses,” she said. “The girls will have fun writing in personal journals, making trendy crafts and other creations, taking selfies and action shots and sharing obsessions. You know, doing ‘girl stuff,’” Baker said.
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Administration Highlights ~
Pete Zannis Tennis Facility - Quotes for installation of brick pavers and columns have been forwarded to the city manager.
Wall of Fame - Material for outside wall has been purchased and is currently at the engravers.
Tannery Knobs - Awaiting final inspections by Trail Solutions. Received final letter of inspection from Progressive Bike Ramps on the pump track.
Winged Deer Park Athletic Fields - Cost estimates for natural vs synthetic turf and maintenance costs are being secured.
Carver - Estimated environmental review for the splash pad will be completed by February Submit estimated contract to commission in April.
Athletics Division Highlights ~
Recreation worker Rachel Patrick joined the staff on Jan. 7.
IT installed WiFi in the athletic tower.
Spring youth soccer registration began on Monday, Jan. 28
Park Services Division Highlights ~
A Walk in the Park
Willow Springs Dog Park - new water fountains installed.
Keefauver Farm—Installed new post on front porch.
Freedom Hall Pool - Installed ultra violet filtration system.
TVA Credit Union Ballpark - Purchase requisition has been submitted to enlist the services of Weems and Spoden Engineering to inspect and make recommendations on the structural support.
Civitan Park - Installed heat blanket over the new sod and applied 100 tons of topdressing sand and aerification.
Cleaned landscape beds and trim trees in all parks.
Conducted fence repairs in anticipation of the upcoming ball season.
Liberty Bell Tennis Center—rehung windscreens.
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Recreation Services Division ~
Memorial Park Community Center - Gymnasium floor has been refinished and the dining room flooring has been replaced. Staff training took place Jan. 3-7 for recreation, aquatics, maintenance and senior staff. Teen night was a success on Dec. 27 with 15 participants. Afterschool program began on Jan. 2 with the start of school semester. Average daily attendance using the teen room is 12. Teen room open house was held on Jan. 10 with 20 teens in attendance. New art classes are off to a great start with 23 registered in the program. Registration is underway for the annual Daddy Daughter Dance. Start Smart soccer is full with 20 participants and a waiting list. The Fitness Expo was held on Jan. 24 . Daddy Daughter Dance has 190 currently signed up.
Aquatics - New chlorinator was purchased for Freedom Hall Pool.
Senior Services - Outings included Milligan College concert with 29 participants, Billy Graham Christmas 53 participants and the Mitten Tree program with Girls, Inc. with 58 in attendance. Thirty volunteers participated in volunteer training this report period. Delay the Disease program for participants with Parkinson’s disease had six enrolled. A second class began Jan. 7. David Ashworth joined the Senior Services staff as hiking coordinator.
Nature - Pat Walding completed the removal of the invasive Bradford Pear trees at Winged Deer Park, which will give the arboretum trees a greater opportunity to thrive. Pat will be assisting with increasing the bluebell population in the wooded area of the park. In the Johnson City nature tradition, the First Day Hike was held Jan. 1 at Winged Deer Park.
Carver Recreation Center - Cameron Crawford joined the recreation staff this month.
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Golf Division ~
United Way 2019 Spring Fore Golf Tournament plans underway.
Kermit Tipton Scholarship Tournament plans underway.
Heavy leaf clean up in progress.
Johnson City Parks & Recreation 4137 Hwy. 4137Bristol Bristol Highway Johnson City,Tennessee TN 3760137601 Johnson City, Phone: Phone: 423-283-5815 423-283-5815 Fax: 423-283-5829 Fax: 423-283-5829 Email: jcparksinfo@johnsontn.org Website: www.johnsoncitytn.org
Upcoming Events January 24 - Memorial Park Community Center - Fitness Expo
February 28 - Youth Soccer Registration Concludes
January 28 - Youth soccer registration begins.
February 28 - Winged Deer Park - Park Advisory Board Meeting
February 2 - Memorial Park Community Center - Jump Start Seed Swap & Pollinator Day
March 1 - Senior Services - Friday Night Dance - The Shooter Band
February 4 - Adult softball registration begins.
March 9 - Memorial Park Community Center - Wacky MPCC Mini Golf Challenge
February 8 - Memorial Park Community Center Pool - Family Sweetheart Swim
March 14 - Carver - St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
February 9 - Memorial Park Community Center - Daddy Daughter Dance
March 15 - Senior Services - Friday Night Dance - Retroville Band
February 15 - Senior Services - Friday Night Dance - The PF Flyers
March 28 - Winged Deer Park - Park Advisory Board Meeting
February 23 - Carver Recreation Center - Black History program February 23 - Winged Deer Park - Softball/Umpires Meeting February 25 - Athletics - Girls Softball Registration Begins February 27 - Winged Deer Park - Youth Soccer Coaches Meeting