Johnson City Parks and Recreation Special points of interest: ~ Halloween Alive And Well in 2021! ~ Administration Highlights ~ Athletic Division Highlights ~ Park Services Division Highlights ~ Golf Division Highlights ~ Recreation Services Division Highlights
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Halloween Alive and Well at JC Parks! Johnson City Parks and Recreation’s traditional Halloween events returned at the end of October thanks to careful and creative planning, which allowed kids and community members to celebrate robustly with a few restrictions. Super Spooky Saturday was held at Memorial Park Community Center on Oct. 23, and the turnout was exceptional with 164 kids ages 2-12 piling onto the outdoor amphitheater for the costume contest. Attendance showed Super Spooky Saturday remains an extremely popular event for all ages offering marshmallow roasting, games, arts and crafts, a pumpkin patch, inflatables. These activities were held outdoors this year to properly social distance revelers. The Return to Redrum Asylum haunted walk also was a success. Though it was held indoors, entrance and exit strategies were tweaked a bit so crowding could be lessened. “We were unable to host this event last year and knew folks were excited to get outside and enjoy family, friends and fun,” said Kelly Finney, MPCC supervisor. “The event was a huge success with lots of teamwork form all employees of MPCC and so many wonderful volunteers, including Jimmy Pierce who sets up our haunted house.” Finney estimated about 1,000 attended the Saturday event and about 150 turned out for The Oct. 28 Pups & Trucks Trunk or Treat, also held at MPCC. Pups & Trucks allowed children to touch and explore emergency and other vehicles while dressed in costume. A fun Doggie Costume Contest was added to the mix this year. Carver Recreation Center also held its annual Halloween Festival on Oct. 30 complete with carnival games, inflatables and treats.
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Administration Highlights ~
Mask mandate for city facilities has been removed. Sanitation stations and masks are still available at all locations. Mask wearing can be recommended. Masks must be worn on bus trips. Team members have been participating in ERP training. The department still has a few open positions to be filled including a part time office assistant, Health Educator and custodian at MPCC, full time MEO I, recreation worker and promotions and events coordinator. Park Services - Winter projects are being submitted by staff.
Kiwanis Park - BCBS Healthy Place dedication is set to take place in December. Keystone and Langston Centre - The bid for black out blinds is scheduled to go out the week of Nov. 22.
Athletic Highlights ~
Youth basketball registration is underway with 632 registered. Games begin Nov. 29. Currently seeking gym attendants.
Park Services Highlights ~
Preparations are under way for the annual Turkey Trot road race set for Thanksgiving day. Winterization has been completed and athletic fields have been closed for winter maintenance. Winter project list is being populated. Buffalo Mountain - Gate installation took place the week of Nov. 22.
Golf Highlights ~
The Nov. 8 winter Pro Am had 115 participating, which was the last tournament of the season. Shotgun play on Nov. 15 had 90 players. Annual memberships are currently on sale. A Parent/Child event netted 14 teams. Fall fertilization and seeding has been completed and winter maintenance is underway.
A Walk in the Park Your Parks and Recreation Connection
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Recreation Services Highlights ~
Carver Recreation Center - Team members are busy cleaning the center and preparing for the annual community Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas happenings for the center. The splash pad has been winterized, the new restrooms are in operation and the community garden is being completed.
Langston Centre - Planning for 2022 programs and activities are in progress.
Memorial Park Community Center - Girls Night Out was held on Nov. 19 with 25 attending. The center has been decked out with Christmas cheer and the team is preparing for holiday programs. Start Smart Basketball had 20 participants.
Nature - Due to the steady planting of a large variety of natives, removal of invasives, no mowing and other best management practices, Jacob’s Nature Park at Sinking Creek continues to set records. JNP has attracted many local birders, and the park’s bird numbers frequently beat other birding locations in total species counts. Total species reported during the Sept. 29-30 bird count was 59.
Senior Services Highlights ~
The Paddles Up Pickleball Tournament held on Oct. 29 and 30 had 70 participants. Senior and Recreation Services are working together to construct a Christmas float for the upcoming Dec. 4 Christmas parade.
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Administrative Office - Winged Deer Park - 4137 Bristol Highway - Johnson City, TN Phone: 423-283-5815 Fax: 423-283-5829 Email: jcparksinfo@johnsoncitytn.org - Website: www.johnsoncitytn.org Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter and Instagram
Upcoming Events November 24 - National Cake Day - Cake Walk Fun! Memorial Park Community Center
December 17 - Children’s Christmas Party - Carver Recreation Center
November 25 - Happy Thanksgiving!
January 1 - First Day Sunrise Hike - Buffalo Mountain Park
November 25 - Turkey Trot
January 1 - First Day Hike Nature Hike - Willow Springs Park
November 29 - Youth Basketball Games Begin
January 5 - Afteschool Institute Begins - Langston Centre
December 1 - 18 - Santa’s Mailbox - Memorial Park Community Center Recreation Lobby
January 13 - Therapeutic Recreation Winter Wonderland Craft Night - Memorial Park Community Center
December 3 - Christmas Cookies Day - Memorial Park Community Center
January 15 - Hot Chocolate Hike - Winged Deer Park
December 3 - Daddy Daughter Dance Flash Sale Memorial Park Community Center
January 15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast— Memorial Park Community Center
December 4– Christmas Parade
January 17 - Martin Luther King Jr. Story Time - Carver Recreation Center
December 4 - Adult Basketball Games Begin
January 17 - Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner - Carver Recreation Center
December 10 - Holly Jolly Rudolph Party - Memorial Park Community Center
January 21 - Indoor Movie Night - Memorial Park Community Center
December 11 - Fountain of Life Bible Church Christmas Event - Memorial Park Community Center
January 25 - Family BINGO Night - Memorial Park Community Center
December 14 - Department Christmas Party - Memorial Park Community Center
January 27 - Park Advisory Board Meeting - Winged Deer Park
December 16 - Therapeutic Recreation Holiday Party Memorial Park Community Center