Walk in the park april 2017

Johnson City Parks and Recreation

A Walk in the Park

Special points of interest:

YOUR Parks and Recreation Connection

~ Play Has No Limits - Administration Highlights ~ Athletic Division Highlights ~ Park Services Division Highlights ~ Memorial Park Community Center ~ Recreation Services Highlights - Kudos Corner ~ Dashboard

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Play Has No Limits Although just opened on April 4, the new Inclusive Playground and Splash Pad at Rotary Park is already an award winner. The project received the 2017 John S. Wilder Rebuild Tennessee Award from the Tennessee District Association. Nominated by the First Tennessee Development District, the award is presented to local governments and other agencies for special contributions to the improvement of infrastructure and/or quality of life for their citizens.

In addition, the Inclusive Playground has been named as a National Demonstration Site for meeting best practices in design and program elements, which was awarded by Playcore.

The accolades are impressive, but the proof is in the photos. If dedication day was an indication , this is going to be a very popular spot this summer.

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Administration Highlights ~  Several staff members attended the Tennessee Recreation and Park Association East District Workshop on April 13 in Pigeon Forge.  A department-wide job fair was held on April 25 for recruitment of the summer seasonal staff in all areas of our operations.

Athletics Division Highlights ~  The youth soccer season started on April 8 with 940 participating in the program.  Adult softball began on April 24 with 65 teams participating.  Youth T-Ball and Girl’s Machine Pitch started play on April 24.

Park Services Division Highlights ~  Park Services staff members assisted members of the Johnson City Senior Center Foundation set up and tear down of the obstacles for this year’s Deerslayer Obstacle Course Race held at Winged Deer Park on April 1.  Pavilion rental season opened this month at all park locations. Crews are performing daily clean-up and trash removal for all sites  Little League opening ceremonies were held at Kiwanis on April 4.  With the assistance of the Washington County inmate crew, Legion Street Pool has been painted in preparation for the season opening.  Repairs were made to the fountains at Willow Springs Dog Park on April 13.  The annual Day of Service clean up with the Church of Latter Day Saints was conducted on April 20 at Winged Deer Park. Volunteer activities included pressure washing the patio area and the back of administration office, cleaning out the landscape beds and adding mulch. Volunteers replaced damaged boards and hammered down nails on the lakefront boardwalk, mulching the disc golf course, and replaced boards on the benches located along the walking trail in the wooded section of the park.

A Walk in the Park

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Memorial Park Community Center ~  Glamping sleepover was a big hit with 50 participants enjoying a wide array of camping ‘indoor style’ activities. The girls were treated to manicures and pedicures, a make-up station, crafts, s'mores, and great camping fun. This event is most certain to make a return appearance.  The Little Chefs class enjoyed learning about kitchen safety and creating a very tasty dip to go with their newly acquired talent of cutting veggies.  Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt held on April 13 had 400 in attendance. The crowd enjoying finding eggs and visiting with the Easter Bunny.

Recreation Services Division ~  The Nature Program Coordinator pitched in as the wildlife judge at the Envirothon - a unique outdoors environmental competition in which high-school students demonstrated their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management and their ability to work together as a team.  A group of seniors enjoyed a stroll through the bluebells at Winged Deer Park.  Princeton Arts Center’s Transform Your Nest , a decluttering and organizing workshop, had 11 participants. Students learned how to transform an area in their home and to let go of clutter.

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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

Kudo’s to Mary Ann Kinch this month for her work with the Johnson City Senior Center Foundation’s Deerslayer and Deerslayer Jr. Obstacle Course Race. The event drew 233 registered adults and 70 youth. Mary Ann developed the promotional materials, attended the organizational meetings, and assumed the role of event manager. Thanks to her dedicated efforts, the event was a huge success.

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