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Parks & Recreation reports expanded youth and seasonal programs: soccer, before/after care, basketball and new family events
Summary
Assistant Director Debbie John Pero told the Parks, Recreation & Harbor Advisory Committee on Oct. 10 that city recreation programs are running at high participation this fall, and staff are introducing new family events and amenities.
Assistant Director Debbie John Pero told the Parks, Recreation & Harbor Advisory Committee on Oct. 10 that city recreation programs are running at high participation this fall, and staff are introducing new family events and amenities.
"We have over 300 kids, actually, over 400 kids participating in our youth soccer program," Debbie John Pero said, describing registration across kindergarten through sixth grade and a separate Mighty Bites program for ages 2–5 that had 86 participants this season. To reduce Saturday congestion at the Union Street Complex, the department moved kindergarten and first-grade games to weeknight slots and used smaller fields and existing lighting.
Before- and after-school care: John Pero said the city currently serves just over 100 children in before- and after-school care, with about 75 enrolled in both programs. The program uses city buses to transport students from public schools to the recreation facility and remains open for vacation and snow days.
Youth and adult offerings: The department reported completed travel-basketball tryouts (eight travel teams across several age brackets) and an in-house basketball league; adult drop-in pickleball sessions run on Monday nights until the winter basketball season begins; learn-to-skate programming is scheduled at Sawyer Arena and ice operations have begun for the season.
New and seasonal offerings: The department plans a Halloween family dance on Oct. 25 at the Cross Insurance Center with a DJ, costume contest and family photos; staff also described a new gaga ball pit built of cedar at Hayford Park by a University of Maine fraternity that will be available to the public in spring and a portable unit used for kids’ programs.
Why it matters: High participation in youth programs increases demand for field scheduling, parking and staffing; changes in scheduling and expanded offerings aim to reduce congestion and broaden recreational access.
Ending: John Pero said staff will continue program registration via the Parks & Recreation website and monitor demand for winter programming.
