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Organizer says PE in the Park will return this summer, asks council to continue support
Summary
At the Feb. 18 Connellsville City Council meeting, program organizer Jason Vanamere described the upcoming PE in the Park summer schedule, volunteer support and a reduced tuition made possible by Parks and Recreation; no formal action was requested.
Jason Vanamere, a Connellsville teacher who runs the PE in the Park summer program, told the City Council during public comment on Feb. 18 that the program will run in June and July and likely a week in August and asked the council to continue Parks and Recreation support that helped cut last year’s tuition in half.
Vanamere said the program — held at East Park and run by volunteer teachers and coaches — is entering its sixth year. “We’ve serviced probably over 750 kids in the 5 years,” he told the council, and described an average of about 30 children per week in earlier years and “we averaged over 40 kids a week last year. Which was spectacular. And there were some weeks where we were pushing 50.”
Vanamere said last year the Parks and Recreation board subsidized part of each child’s tuition, lowering the fee from $60 to $30. “They were able to contribute part of that half of that tuition for, the students for the kids attending the program. So, I’m hoping that that will continue this year,” he said, adding that he would operate the program regardless of the subsidy.
He described the program as structured and staffed by credentialed teachers and volunteers, including two teachers who will return as counselors and volunteer nurses Kathy Pallegas and Stephanie Muir. Vanamere also said the program serves a range of children, including those with special needs: “We’ve also been able to help special needs kids.”
Councilwoman Tiberio asked whether participants must be Connellsville residents. Vanamere replied, “Yeah. Oh yeah. We’ve had kids from as far away as Greensburg come. We had a couple of girls from Brownsville, California, and there was — we’ve even had kids come from out of state because they came and visited grandma and grandpa.”
Vanamere gave tentative dates for the sessions, subject to final confirmation with the parks board: June 9–12; June 23–26 (noting a break around July 4); two sessions in mid-July; and a likely week in early August to help children prepare for the school year. He did not ask council for formal action at the meeting and no vote followed public comment.
The program’s stated benefits, according to Vanamere, include structured physical activity, mentoring by teachers and coaches, and relief for working parents and grandparents who care for children during the summer.
