Johnson City Parks and Recreation Special points of interest: ~ Daddy Daughter Dance Dazzles! ~ Administration Highlights ~ Athletic Division Highlights ~ Park Services Division Highlights ~ Golf Division Highlights ~ Recreation Services Division Highlights
A Walk in the Park Your Parks and Recreation Connection I s s u e :
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Daddy Daughter Dance Dazzles! The 2020 My Little Valentine Daddy Daughter Dance proved once again that it is one of the Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department’s most popular and fastest-growing events. A sold out crowd of 650 danced the night away on Saturday, Feb. 8 during this festive and increasingly popular annual event at Memorial Park Community Center. The event has become a community showcase. “Seven years ago, we became aware of a similar event and we began coming up with ideas,” said Kelly Finney, MPCC supervisor. “We were the first to start a Daddy Daughter Dance in this area, and the recreation staff did everything, because we never thought it would get this big.” Finney says the dance is a win-win for fathers and their daughters. “Year after year, I hear dads say more and more, I can’t miss this,’” she said. “This provides a great opportunity for one-on-one time – personal time. It helps create memories neither will forget.” Finney said she, as well as Parks and Recreation staff who work the event, learn something each year that can be incorporated into the next year’s event.
“Kelly and I have been involved to some degree since we held the first dance in 2014 with around 200 participants,” said Amanda Hollifield, Athletics manager and former MPCC operations manager. Hollifield said the positive experience had by dads, daughters and their families was spread largely by word of mouth the first few years. And though the event is marketed to schools, on social media and through television appearances, the Daddy Daughter Dance is simply an event people love coming to. “It sells itself, and that is a true testament to the Parks and Recreation team’s hard work over the past seven years,” she said. “It has truly become our signature event with new dads coming, but more importantly repeat dads that come.” Thanks to this year’s sponsors TVA Employees Credit Union and DoubleTree Hotel, and special thanks to the Johnson City Parks and Recreation staff and volunteers.