Parks board hears plans for Talk Like a Pirate Day, movie nights and a potential pickleball tournament

At the Sept. 10 meeting board members and staff discussed event planning and volunteer needs for several upcoming Parks and Recreation programs, including a Talk Like a Pirate Day celebration, movie nights, winter registration, and potential tournaments. Staff said National Talk Like a Pirate Day programming is scheduled and that Comcast has helped secure a movie license (Pirates of the Caribbean) for a movie-in-the-park night; staff noted the date coincides with a home football game and acknowledged some residents raised that conflict. Staff requested board members’ assistance with staffing and public outreach; several board members committed to attending briefly or assisting with setup. Coates noted staffing is limited because seasonal staff hours change once school resumes. Staff also reviewed registration and programs: winter-sport registration is open (youth basketball, adult basketball, adult volleyball) and indoor pickleball registration will open soon. Parks staff said a pickleball group has discussed running a tournament (potential dates Oct. 4 or Oct. 18) and that logistics — court rental, seating and scheduling — are under discussion. The board suggested creative formats such as family costume tournaments for Halloween to encourage participation. Other one-off events noted include a grass volleyball tournament at WCP and continued movie-night programming; staff said they will coordinate dates to avoid conflicts with other community fundraisers such as a Wellington Food Bank gala and a high-school fundraiser. Board members were asked to promote events through neighborhood and HOA channels and to consider assisting at booths or staffing activities.