Walk in the park 2018 january

Johnson City Parks and Recreation

A Walk in the Park

Special points of interest:

YOUR Parks and Recreation Connection

~ First Day Hike chilly, educational ~ Administration Highlights ~ Athletic Division Highlights ~ Park Services Division Highlights ~ Recreation Services Highlights - Kudos Corner ~ Dashboard

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First Day Hike chilly, educational For the fifth consecutive year, Johnson City Parks and Recreation’s innovate Nature Program Coordinator Connie Deegan and staff member Arrow Dawson led seven brave souls up Buffalo Mountain on a traditional New Year’s Day hike.

The temperature during this year’s “First Day Hike” was an attention-getting 19 degrees.

Participants stopped along the way to gain insight into Buffalo Mountain’s winter adaptations, including an explanation from Deegan about how streamdwelling salamanders slow their metabolism to help conserve energy and ensure survival, a lesson about what birds eat when the insects and worms are unavailable in the winter and the fact that rhododendrons’ leaves droop in cold weather to prevent freezing.

Participants also stopped at Huckleberry Knob on the mountain’s west side to take in a view of Johnson City. The annual offering encourages people to start the new year by getting off their seats and enjoying the outdoors, says Deegan.

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Administration Highlights ~  Several employees took a refresher course on Active Net Friday, Jan. 19 at Memorial Park Community Center.  A meeting was held with Lance Lowery of FTDD to discuss grant possibilities for a potential splash pad at Carver Park.  Progress has been made at Keefauver farm with the assistance of Public Works.  Metro-Kiwanis Park playground project is underway. The excavation has taken place and structures have been set in place in preparation for concrete.  Projects still pending include the completion of Carver playground and exploring restroom options at Rotary Park.

Athletics Division Highlights ~  Search is underway for soccer officials and coaches for the 2018 season.  Registration will open for the spring youth soccer program Jan. 22.  Adult spring softball registration opens Feb. 5. Letters have been sent to all current softball coaches for the upcoming season to see if they are still interested in coaching.  Youth and adult basketball play resumed this month.

Park Services Division Highlights ~  Remodeling work continues at Keystone Community Center with painting, wall repairs and trim work.  The Winged Deer Park softball concession area has been repainted, cabinets cleaned and new countertops have been installed. The soccer concession has also been repainted and cabinets have been cleaned in preparation for the new season.  Snow removal was conducted at all parks during the recent storm.

A Walk in the Park

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Recreation Services Division ~  Memorial Park Community Center’s homeschool/preschool P.E. classes resumed with 55 participants enrolled. To quote one lady from Facebook, “it is the bomb!!” The program is a big hit with parents. The teen program continues to grow. The teens took a field trip to Kids Rock Adventure Jan. 25. The Wild Card Wednesday teens are concentrating on skill building and competitions during this report period and cornhole has grown to 10 participants. A Fitness Expo was held on January 25 with an estimated 70 participants. The Expo provided an opportunity to test out some of the fitness and exercise offerings for free, tour the facility and enjoy some light refreshments and a door prize drawing.  Memorial Park’s Adaptive Recreation class now has 40 participants in a program offered twice a month for mentally and physically challenged patrons.  The floors at Memorial Park Community Center were refinished the first of the month and staff took advantage of the shut down to get in some training and team building.

Rentals showed an increased this report period with 32 rentals.  Carver Recreation Center received proceeds from the Martin Luther King Breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 13 held at Wesley church. The funds will be used for the annual Washington D.C. trip for the afterschool youth. The center held its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. dinner on Jan. 15 with 400 in attendance. Storytime had 80 youth participate and 45 individuals participated in the NAACP blood drive.  Two nature opportunities are scheduled for February starting with a program on snakes on the 12th and a winter hike at Willow Springs Park on Feb. 17.

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Johnson City Parks & Recreation

4137 Bristol Highway 4137 Bristol Highway Johnson City, Tennessee 37601 Johnson City, Tennessee 37601 Phone: 423-283-5815 Phone: 423-283-5815 Fax: 423-283-5829 Fax: 423-283-5829 Email: jcparksinfo@johnsoncitytn.org Website: www.johnsoncitytn.org

This month’s Kudos Corner belongs to Gary Gray for his outstanding work in interviewing employees for the Hello My Name Is project where the department introduced our employees via Facebook.

Gary also took care of the department’s marketing needs during the absence of the Marketing Coordinator during some family illness.

Great job Gary!

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