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Merced parks director touts $180,000 pact to make youth flag football and basketball free
Summary
Parks Director Chris Jensen told the commission the department signed an agreement with Merced City School District worth about $180,000 this fiscal year to cover staff and supplies for TK–6 flag football and basketball, allowing students to participate without fees.
Chris Jensen, parks and community services director for the city of Merced, told the Parks and Recreation Commission that the department entered an agreement with the Merced City School District to cover staffing and some supplies for TK–6 flag football and basketball. "This contract is approximately $180,000 for this fiscal year," Jensen said, adding the funds will allow student participation to be offered free of charge.
The contract, Jensen said, covers program staff and some supplies and is intended to remove financial barriers that have kept families from registering. He said the standard registration fee for the flag football program is about $85 and that many families enrolled because the city removed the fee under this agreement.
Jensen described the department’s approach to managing no‑show risk in free programs and said the youth basketball season will open for registration in October, with winter clinics and open gym sessions offered at the youth center to prepare new players.
The department reported current fall registrations include more than 200 youth players, about 75% participating at no charge under the district agreement, and over 690 adult softball players across more than 20 teams.
Jensen credited Councilman Darren Dupant with encouraging outreach to Weaver School District and said the city will pilot classroom visits and clinics with Weaver and Merced City School District to expand access. He also said Parks is working with the Merced County Office of Education on a possible fourth‑grade zoo curriculum, which he described as requiring a "$5,000 a week" commitment from school districts; Jensen said that program would be piloted with select fourth‑grade classes.
The commission did not take votes on program funding at the meeting. The meeting adjourned following a unanimous motion by Commissioner Lewis and a second from Commissioner Gonzalez.
