Auburn Parks highlights adaptive recreation, camps and community-garden openings

Jonathan Glover, communications manager for the City of Auburn, hosted Parks staff Curtis Carlson and Paris Banquo on the city podcast to outline the department’s adaptive recreation and summer programming.

Paris Banquo, Parks staff, said Auburn’s adaptive recreation program "does adaptive sports activities, socials and just really enable people with disabilities to have a recreational space that will meet them where they're at." She listed activities including kickball, pickleball, basketball, bowling, bocce and cornhole and said offerings accommodate a mix of participants: some come with caregivers and others attend independently. Banquo said most programs are for ages 16 and up, with some opportunities for ages 12 and up.

Curtis Carlson, Parks staff, said the summer season brings overlapping programs and that staff are working to ensure gym and field time are balanced across activities as demand — particularly for pickleball — increases. Carlson also noted that staff and community members operate seasonal and year-round community garden plots and that the department is seeking applicants for a community garden manager to help steward plots and volunteer coordination.

Banquo described two three-day youth camps, called "Make It, Move It, Cool It," scheduled in July and August and said the parks department will host an open house the following day to solicit community feedback on youth programming and age-group interest.

Contact information and registration details are available on the City of Auburn Parks pages listed at Auburn.gov/parks. The podcast closed with staff encouraging residents to sign up early for summer programs and to contact Parks for volunteer opportunities and garden-plot inquiries.