Piedmont rec department reports pool opening, pop-up putt-putt and May 3 'Play Like a Girl' event; seeks volunteers for July 4 planning

Recreation Department staff told the commission the community pool has opened and staff are onboarding programming, and they previewed several family-oriented and youth events this spring.

Jennifer Hudson, speaking for Recreation Department staff, summarized the pool ribbon-cutting and the department’s first full week of operations: the Piedmont High swim team started practice, swim-lesson registration opened for resident pass holders, and a swim meet is scheduled later in the week. Hudson encouraged commissioners and residents to visit and engage with frontline staff.

Staff also described a free pop-up putt-putt event in Piedmont Park on Sunday the 19th from 12–4 p.m., featuring community-built mini-golf holes, prizes, snacks and a donation station for the Recreation Fund. A volunteer reception to honor award winners will be held Monday, April 20 at 4:45 p.m. before the city council meeting.

On program outreach, a commissioner presented details for Play Like a Girl, the commission’s youth-sports festival scheduled for Sunday, May 3, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Witterfield Complex. The presenter said 584 people had already signed up and the department expects more than 1,000 participants. The event will host a record 31 sports stations, demonstrations in the pool during the first hour (including UC Berkeley diving demonstrations and local high school teams), and appearances by invited athletes listed by staff (transcript references include Dana Volmer Grant and Odara Chittum). Sponsors include Dress Best for Less (returning), Toro Property Management and RK Roofing; sponsor activities will be interactive (for example, a sports equipment swap hosted by Dress Best for Less and a coffee station by Toro Property Management).

Organizers asked for volunteers and equipment donations (the equipment swap accepts day-of donations) and said volunteer shifts begin as early as 7:30 a.m. and run through the afternoon. Staff said they will circulate sign-up links and confirmed youth programming, t-shirt rewards for participants who try three or more sports, and the presence of professional athletes at specific stations.

Separately, commissioners and staff discussed July 4 parade logistics (parade at 11 a.m., Hoopla in the Park through 3 p.m.), the new Google sign-up form for floats and the need to recruit more neighborhood contingents and volunteers as long-time parade volunteers retire. Staff described the typical workload for the July 4 planning committee — light early in the year and ramping up in June — and invited commissioners to volunteer for the planning committee.

The presentation included many operational and volunteer details but no binding votes on event funding or contracts were taken at the meeting. Staff said further updates and a complete pool-program report would appear on the May agenda.