Recreation Authority reports 20% jump in youth registrations, lists events including Feed the Dream and sledding

The Recreation Authority of Roseville and Eastpoint reported Jan. 14 that registrations for youth basketball and volleyball programs have increased by about 20 percent and previewed a slate of winter and spring events.

Tony Lipinski, director for the Recreation Authority, told the Roseville City Council that youth programs for elementary, middle and high school athletes will start next week and that registration for those programs is up roughly 20 percent from the prior comparable season. He said participants can register online or at the Rec Authority Center and asked residents not to rely on phone inquiries alone because classes require minimum registration to run.

Lipinski listed upcoming activities: a Feed the Dream craft day and pantry-drive in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., a drive-in movie with a pre-movie craft (Feb. 15; $5 residents, $7 nonresidents), sledding and cocoa at Spindler Park and Huron Park (Feb. 22, weather dependent), and a March blood drive featuring a “battle of the badges” between police and fire departments. He also said a winter craft class scheduled for Thursday had been canceled for insufficient registrations.

Council members asked about sledding locations and logistics; Lipinski confirmed the large hill at Spindler Park will be used and that hay bales are sometimes placed for safety. He described outreach efforts that include keeping communications toggled in residents’ online accounts and distributing a quarterly digital newsletter via the recreation authority website (raremi.org). Lipinski provided a contact phone number for the Rec Authority Center during the meeting.

Council members thanked Lipinski and staff for the programs and asked staff to continue outreach to ensure registration minimums are met.