Hardeeville recreation commission approves 2025 events calendar; director outlines park projects, staffing and volunteer needs

The City of Hardeeville Recreation Advisory Commission on Jan. 13 approved its 2025 special-events calendar and meeting schedule and heard updates from Parks and Recreation staff on several capital projects, staffing requests and volunteer recruitment plans.

Jen, the city’s parks and recreation director, told the commission the Juju Hudson park project — funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) — “is finally here” and that Buford Construction was awarded the contract. She said the city scheduled a groundbreaking for Feb. 19 at 11 a.m. and noted the project officially closed that day, though temporary security fencing had not yet been installed. “We’re breaking ground on the nineteenth at 11AM,” Jen said.

The director said the city will ask the council in the coming budget cycle for additional staff: one part-time events position and one full-time parks/complex position to support operations and new trail programming. Jen described planned amenities for the new park and future work at the recreation complex, including a pavilion, restrooms, fencing, added parking and programming tied to a new trail off Highway 278/26.

Commissioners also heard that the rec center’s intern house — historically used to house seasonal staff and interns — is slated to be demolished to make way for a Memorial Park honoring veterans, police and fire personnel. Jen said the city is exploring options to preserve an internship program despite losing that housing option and noted the difficulty of attracting interns without affordable local housing.

On staffing, the commission was introduced to Haley Langley, hired as the new events and marketing manager; Jen said Langley started the day of the meeting. The commission also learned Denise, previously an intern, has been retained as a part-time marketing and events staffer and will be with the department through June or early July.

Facility work at the recreation complex includes expansion of the rec center parking and a second entrance at McTeer that will add roughly 24 spaces and create an alternate exit toward U.S. 17. Jen said the city will also build a new parking lot across the street on an existing material pile and add an access road behind the basketball courts. She cautioned some construction may overlap with Festival on Maine but said the event should still proceed.

The commission unanimously approved the minutes from its Nov. 12 meeting and later voted to approve the draft events calendar (items highlighted in yellow in the handout were noted as tentative and would not be released publicly until staffing and council direction were finalized). The calendar includes returning events such as Festival on Maine (which Jen said drew nearly 10,000 people), Marion Main, the Christmas parade and Wreaths Across America; highlighted items include a proposed spring-break camp, a kids’ night-in program, a zombie walk and a Thanksgiving-period event.

Commission discussion also covered volunteer recruitment and event staffing. Commissioners and staff proposed tactics including signage at the rec center front desk, a volunteer sign-up table at events, outreach to churches and local organizations, and use of the new part-time marketing position to build a sustained volunteer program. Tammy and other commissioners urged more active recruitment for high-labor events such as the Christmas parade and trunk-or-treat.

Other administrative items: the commission reviewed its 2025 meeting calendar, agreed to make October and December meetings optional because of heavy event schedules, and confirmed a change to avoid holiday conflicts. The commission voted to approve the meeting schedule by voice vote.

No public comments were recorded during the meeting. The commission adjourned following the director’s report and a brief round of commission issues and concerns.

The commission’s actions and staff updates will be taken to the city manager and city council as part of the FY 2026–27 budget discussions; Jen said the council and new city manager, City Manager Gruber, are already engaged with the department’s requests.