Columbus, Georgia

Parks and Recreation Department

MEMORANDUM

TO: Mayor Teresa Tomlinson

City Councilors

City Manager Isaiah Hugley

Deputy City Manager Lisa Goodwin

Parks and Recreation Employees

Recreation Advisory Council Members

From: James D. Worsley, Director

Date: October 3, 2014

Subject: Friday Newsletter

Our department had the pleasure of hosting our GRPA

Third District Award Banquet on

October 1, 2014 at the Trade Center.

Columbus Parks and Recreation staff with GRPA

President Lisa Cherry

Holli Browder, Assistant Director, receives the Jim “Buck” Goff Award for

outstanding and lasting contributions in the field of leisure services.

Lisa Castile, Cultural Arts Manager, receives the Mary Roth

Award for outstanding work in the area of programming.

Tommy Groce, Park Services Division Manager, receives the D.L. Lastinger

award for excellent service in the Park Services Field.

Awards

Juli Wagenti receives the Volunteer of the Year Award for her tireless work with

our Therapeutic Section.

Barbara Justice also receives a Volunteer of the Year Award for her years of

service as a volunteer at Gallops Senior Center.

Melissa Crawford from the TR Section receives the 2014 Innovative Program

Special Event Award for her outstanding Autism Program.

Midtown Inc. also won an award to honor them for their

generous donation of a nine hold Disc Golf Course that will

be coming soon to Dinglewood Park.

Welcome

We the staff of Columbus Parks and

Recreation would like to welcome

Mr. Warren Gilbert to the staff at

Shirley B. Winston Recreation

Center.

Northside Recreation Center

Our newest employee at Northside, Brian Elliott went back home to Cleveland,

Ohio last weekend and was asked by his father to take part in a LeBron James

Sprite commercial. He did not hesitate to say yes. He had a great time with the

small part he had to play. We hope it makes the final video edit. Upon leaving

the commercial shoot area, Brian was stopped and interviewed by an ESPN

magazine reporter Ramona Shelburne. She asked him about the t-shirt he had

on "Ohio Against The World". The interview will be published in the October

issue of ESPN magazine. Brian says this was an amazing experience, one he

will not forget. Brian has also asked his father, who trained LeBron James

before he left for Miami, to come to Columbus Parks and Recreation to do a

youth basketball camp. His father agreed to come to Columbus. The date will

be announced later.

Boxwood Recreation Center

In a partnership with East Columbus Boys & Girls Club, Boxwood Recreation

Center hosted a Flag Football Game between East & North Columbus this past

week. On Tuesday, both clubs 6 & 7 and 8 & 9 year olds competed against each

other, and on Wednesday, their 9-12 year old girls competed against each

other, while cheerleaders for both teams cheered them on. All teams played

hard as they closed out the season, preparing for the playoffs. If you have any

questions about programs offered at Boxwood Recreation Center, feel free to

give us a call @ 706-653-4515.

Fluellen Recreation Center

The Michael Fluellen “Girls Dance Team” performed at the 2014 Battle of

the Bands held at Memorial Stadium. The young ladies danced in the stands

and on the field prior to a great performance by Talladega College and Miles

College.

Frank Chester Senior Center

Here are a few good pictures of the seniors enjoying some of their favorite activities. We

had several card tables going as well as a couple of puzzle tables. Our seniors really enjoy

having a nice place to come be with their friends, while enjoying their favorite activities.

We finally got a new cook and the seniors are enjoying his cooking already. His name is

Wayne Jackson. While they said Joy’s cooking skills got better everyday, we know that they

were longing for some chicken & dressing and other time consuming meals that other staff

just couldn’t prepare. So with Thanksgiving just around the corner, I’m sure their getting

ready for some great Turkey & Dressing!

The seniors enjoyed a special Bingo this week with Kelly and his assistant from River

Towne. They came out to call Bingo, plus they furnished all the prizes for that session. You

would think that was enough but they decided to add a little something sweet by bringing

cupcakes for everyone. The cupcakes were yellow & chocolate with yellow frosting. They

were delicious; I caught a couple of seniors even licking their fingers that they had dipped

in the frosting. Who ever said a way to a senior’s heart wasn’t through their stomach was

wrong! The pictures say it all!

Gallops Senior Center

Congratulations 2014 Georgia Recreation and Parks Association District 3 Volunteer of the Year

Barbara Justice!

Mrs. Justice has been volunteering with Columbus Parks

and Recreation Senior Division for 16 years. Mrs. Justice

volunteers at the Marianna Gallops Senior Center on

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. If she is not at the front

desk on these days everyone that comes through the doors

asks where she is. There is not a volunteer that has been

more dedicated to the Gallops Senior Center than Mrs.

Justice has been. She is a positive person that gets along

with everyone that attends Gallops. We always say that

things do not go well if she is not volunteering on her days.

Again Mrs. Justice thanks for all you do.

Columbus Parks and Recreation would like to thank Shannon McLemore for her service and dedication to the Therapeutic Section. Shannon will be leaving to attend graduate school at the University of Southern California. Congratulations and good luck on your future endeavors!!

Therapeutics

Community Schools

This week at community schools everyone is getting

into the fall spirit, and many of programs are

planning trips to pumpkin patches, and local farmer’s

market to help kick off the fall season.

In addition to that a few kids at the Forrest Rd site

recently enjoyed making personalized note card

holders for their desks to help when studying for

upcoming tests.

Cultural Arts

Cultural Arts picked up Britt David Park on Tuesday,

September 30th as part of the “Help the Hooch” project.

People stopped by Britt David Studio for gloves and trash

bag. They picked up the park, and we turned the trash into

a sculpture.

See the finished

sculpture on

display at the

Watershed

Festival at

Golden Park on

Saturday,

October 4th.

Cooper Creek Tennis Center

CCTC Fall Hours

We will begin our fall hours on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Mon-Thurs 9:00am-9:00pm

Friday 9:00am-8:00pm

Saturday 8:00am-7:00pm

Sunday 10:00am-7:00pm

Elementary School Team Tennis

The final ESTT matches were completed on Wednesday and were followed

by a pizza party and awards ceremony hosted by Corta. 224 kids

competed this year on 25 teams. The final standings can be found by

clicking the link.

Elementary School Team Tennis

Local League Season

The local league season has started with over 1,500 adults competing for a

chance to represent Columbus at the 2015 State Championships. The

next 12 weekends will be busy with activity as matches are played all day

Saturdays and Sunday afternoons. The standings for the 18+ league

may be viewed at: 18+ Standings

The standings for the 40+ league may be viewed at: 40+ Standings

Middle School Team Tennis

The MSTT season begins Monday, October 6th with 21 teams competing at

3 levels. Matches will be played at CCTC on Mondays and Wednesdays at

4:30pm with the final matches being played on Wednesday, November

12th.

Facebook

Follow us on Facebook! We use Facebook to inform players about court

availability after inclement weather. We currently have over 875 followers!

If you need information on weather, court conditions, tournaments or

special events….click here: Cooper Creek Facebook

Book your next birthday party at The Columbus Aquatic Center!

Just because you have a fall or winter birthday, doesn’t mean you can’t spend it at the pool! The Columbus Natatorium is a great place that can fulfill your destination birthday needs. You can book it at the facility front desk, but be sure to call the front desk at (706)-225-3980 to check for our openings now! Prices start as low as $150, which will give you access to our private birthday party room and all three of our pools for you and up to 24 guests!

Columbus Aquatic Center

Lifeguard Certifications offered at the Columbus Aquatic Center!!

For the next two weekends, you can register at 1603 Midtown Drive and become a

certified lifeguard! The class costs $250.00, and you will receive your lifeguard, AED,

First Aid, and CPR certifications. Don’t miss this opportunity!

Dates and times for the classes: Session 1: October 3rd, 4th, and 5th

Session 2: October 10th, 11th, and 12th

Times for both sessions: Friday: 4:00pm-8:00pm

Saturday: 9:00am-6:00pm Sunday: 1:00pm-6:00pm

Must attend all three days of the session to receive your certifications! See you at the

pool!