Johnson City Parks and Recreation
A Walk in the Park Your Parks and Recreation Connection
Special points of interest: ~ Youth Volleyball League Thriving -
I s s u e
~ Park Services Division Highlights ~ Golf Division Highlights ~ Recreation Services Division Highlights
M a r c h
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Youth Volleyball League Thriving
Administration Highlights
~ Athletic Division Highlights
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This year’s endeavor to bring youth volleyball back into the community spotlight is paying dividends, thanks to a coordinated and collaborative effort anchored by Parks and Recreation’s Athletics Division. “I think the key has been our partnership with Johnson City Schools, our staff’s hard work, the coaches, Science Hill High School’s athletic director and the community,” said Joe Ebarb Athletics manager. Registration began in January for the girl’s 8-12 league – a league which currently fields 134 participants and 10 teams. Games began at the end of February and are being played at Memorial Park Community Center. Tournament play begins April 2. “That’s a start,” he said about this year’s numbers. “A boy’s league will be added next year. And if we keep the children first and keep our priorities straight, I see 300-500 participants in the next 3-5 years. We started from scratch. “Anytime you start a new program you must build relationships with schools, parents, coaches, and getting the word out with marketing. It’s a community effort, and attendance has been great.” Athletics’ staff Andrea Zanotti, athletic coordinator and Hunter Watson and Darnell Jones, recreation generalists, have taken all the calls, approved referees, formed rosters, developed schedules and much more. They also have been hard at it with a basketball, soccer, tennis, softball and other youth and adult sports. “They’ve done an excellent job,” Ebarb said. “When they’re doing their jobs like that, it makes mine easy.” A recent visit to watch some games at MPCC produced some fun photos. Parents and friends packed the house to watch teams with names such as, Sugar & Spike and Volley Parton. The cost for youth volleyball participants is $25, $30 for nonresidents. So what do the youngsters or their parents get for that price? “They get something positive in their lives,” Ebarb said. “They gain leadership skills. The girls will talk about it at school. They’ll turn to a friend a say, ‘Hey, we’ve got a game tonight!’” .
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Administration Highlights ~
The Master Plan committee is continuing to meet and will visit the recreation facilities after their next meeting on Monday, March 21.
A committee has been appointed to develop a new hire training manual for employees in the department.
Pavilion rentals begin April 1.
Staff is continuing training and using the Oracle Systems with the city for requisitions, invoices, budgets and soon payroll will be implemented.
Athletic Highlights ~
1,224 registered for boys and girls soccer (ages 3-16), of which 400 are 3-5 year olds. Practices underway - play begins in April.
Girls 5-12 machine pitch and fastpitch softball registration ends March 26.
Adult softball practices underway. Registration continues through April 1.
Youth basketball wrapped up Feb. 26.
Park Services Highlights ~
Staff has been prepping Winged Deer Park’s ballfields.
The boardwalk on Winged Deer Park’s lakefront has been closed until contractors complete repairs on the bridge on Hwy. 11E.
A new trail crossing has been constructed at the Winged Deer Park Mountain Bike Course connecting the newly completed .5-mile Kidd Dreamline Trail to the existing system.
Supervisors being trained for launch of Cartegraph software.
Golf Highlights ~
Annual golf passes remain on sale.
A Walk in the Park Your Parks and Recreation Connection
Issue 3
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Recreation Services Highlights ~ MPCC
Hosted first-ever St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Scavenger Hunt at Johnson City parks on March 17 with 45 participants. First place team, Wings of Fire, pictured at right. Therapeutic Recreation hosted a March Madness basketball clinic and Superstar Cheer.
Hosted Johnson City and Washington County spring break camps. Weekly preschool and children’s activities continue to grow.
Tumblers and Tiaras class started March 16, and open pickleball and Karate classes are underway.
Champions in Motions cheer class had over 50 participants, and 30 participants attended a ladies self-defense class.
“To catch the reader's attention, place an interesting sentence or quote from the story here.”
Carver
Kids visited Atlanta, Georgia, Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, during educational spring break camp.
Nature
Don’t forget to treat yourself to the bluebells at Winged Deer Park a short walk from the Disc Golf Course. Peak time is from March 31-April 6.
Senior Services Highlights ~
Senior Center collected over 200 bags of clothing during the CHIPS clothing drive for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.
Galentine’s Day – a day out for women highlighting heart disease and women’s health plus making a craft to take home and finishing with a chair yoga session.
Connie Deegan presented Stories Behind our State Symbols.
Ralph Clarke, retired Clinchfield Railroad conductor, presented Steam Engines and Stories from the Clinchfield Railroad.
Welcome our new Promotions and Events Coordinator, Lindsey Suder.
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 March 2 - Summer Hours (7 a.m.-10 p.m.) begin at city parks
April 3 - Girls Softball Practices Begin
March 5-6- USSSA 1st Pitch Invitational –Winged Deer Park
April 5 - Youth Soccer League Play Begins
March 11– Glow Stick Swim—Memorial Park Community Center
April 9 - USA Dual on the Diamond , Winged Deer Park
March 12- USA Diamond Classic -Winged Deer Park
April 9 - Bunny Breakfast, Memorial Park Community Center
March 15 - Youth Soccer Practices Begin
April 12-13 –Easter Egg Coloring Days, Carver Recreation Center
March 15 - Adult Softball Practices Begin
April 13 - Hound Egg Hunt, Memorial Park Community Center
March 17 - Shamrock Scavenger Hunt - City Parks
April 14 - Easter Egg Hunt & Cookout, Carver Recreation Center
March 17-20 - East Tennessee Classic, Winged Deer Park
April 16 - USA April Classic, Winged Deer Park
March 26 - Girls Softball Registration Concludes
April 19 - Adult Softball League Play Begins
March 26 - USA Spring Fling - Winged Deer Park
April 22 - Teen Service Day/Earth Day
March 26 - Nature’s Garden Seed Swap and Share!
April 23-24 - Tri-Cities Diamond Classic, Winged Deer Park
March 31 - Girls T-Ball Practices Begin
April 24 - Girls Softball League Play Begins
March 31 - Girls Machine Pitch Softball Practices Begin
April 30/May 1 - Tennessee Super NIT - Winged Deer Park
March 31 - Girls Fastpitch Softball Practices Begin
May 1 - High School/]Adult Fastpitch Registration Begins
April 2 - Adult Softball Registration Deadline
Youth/Adult Tennis and Pickleball Registration Begins Online