Put me in , coach !
Clinton ’ s rec sports participation numbers swelling by jenna blount
The number of people signing up for Clinton ’ s parks and recreation programs is rapidly growing , with organizers pointing to several reasons the city ’ s sports are taking off .
“ I truly believe it ’ s just parents wanting to get their kids involved in programming such as ours for the area , and I believe , also , we do put a good quality product out there for the community and they really enjoy being a part of it ,” says Clinton Recreational Programs Supervisor Chris Evans .
Evans coordinates and oversees 170 recreational programs in Clinton ’ s Parks and Recreation Department . At this point in the year , the soccer programs are seeing the highest numbers of participants , which have increased from 764 in the spring of 2021 to the current enrollment of 937 . The department ’ s basketball programs are becoming more successful as well .
Besides parents in the community seeing the opportunity to take advantage of all that Parks and Recreation Department has to offer , the recent influx of enrollment in sports programs could be the result of other factors coming into play . The department hasn ’ t made any changes to the way it handles marketing or other similar components it uses to draw participation , but there are changes underway for recreation grounds and facilities .
The Ericksen Community Center , at 1401 11th Ave . North , will soon include a designated room for visitors to just relax , where they can watch TV in a room with a lounge atmosphere . But Evans says the biggest thing the department has going on right now is the work being done to Emma Young Pond just behind the Ericksen Center .
“ There ’ s still some earth to move around and areas to level out ,” Evans says , but the project is expected to be finished toward the end of May or early June , weather permitting .
Evans grew up playing a lot of
“ We are always growing . We ’ ll always continue to be open to ideas as a department and growth .”
- Clinton Recreational Programs Supervisor Chris Evans
Summer 2022 Clinton Magazine 19