Beaufort County parks and recreation advisory board hears department reports, new recreation coordinator

The Beaufort County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met Nov. 7 and received a series of department reports, introduced a new recreation coordinator and approved routine meeting business.

Board leadership opened the meeting, conducted roll call and approved the agenda and September minutes by voice vote. Chair (speaker 2) led the session and invited a series of staff presentations across recreation, pools and senior services.

A Bluffton recreation staff member reported the county's youth basketball program has 904 participants across ages 4 to 16, with roughly 130 teams; coaches will meet Nov. 12'13, practices will begin Dec. 16 and games are scheduled to start Jan. 4. The same staffer said adult kickball registration opened Nov. 1 and that 12 participants had signed up in the first week while coaches remain the limiting factor and the youth wait list sits at about 20.

New board member Buffy Campitaro introduced herself to the group: "My name is Buffy Campitaro. I live out in Lands End. I'm an attorney for Motley Rice," she said, and added she is pleased to serve on the board representing the North of Broad seat.

Pool staff reported check-ins and program counts at Battery Creek and Beaufort pools. Battery Creek check-ins were given as 277 for September and 1,178 for October; Beaufort Pool reported 750 check-ins in September and 617 in October. Staff said one pool (the left-hand pool) remains closed with a planned February reopening and asked the board whether future reports should separate school/team (FINS) check-ins from general public patron counts; the board agreed that split reporting would be useful.

Senior programming manager Marissa reported rising attendance and said the county now operates two new 36-passenger buses used for center trips and meal delivery; staff said home-delivered meals and group dining are near the 3,000 mark for recent months.

County staff announced the creation of a recreation division and introduced a new coordinator, Faranika Reynolds, who will focus on North-of-Broad programming out of Lynn Brown. The director-level staff said the county is recruiting a recreation superintendent to manage programs countywide and will use coordinator positions to expand classes, camps and special events.

Staff also described recent and planned projects: an adapted soccer program this fall for roughly 20 children with special needs; a youth summit for district students interested in adapted programs; council approval to pursue new buildings at the Agnes Major and Booker T. sites; an RFP for Lynn Brown floor and amenity work; and ongoing work on Bluffton Pool renovation with a conservative Feb. 1 reopening estimate because of some long-lead items.

Board members and staff discussed a memorandum of understanding with the Beaufort County School District for facility sharing and swim lessons; a district representative said the MOU is either complete or being finalized. Members noted facility-access problems during early voting at Bluffton Center and requested better strategies for public restroom access when spaces are used for elections.

On adult-league operations, staff outlined a possible shift in adult baseball from an individual-registration model to a team-fee model to reduce the per-player cost. The board asked staff to produce a written proposal and comparative numbers for review in January before taking action.

The board adjourned following approval of the meeting motion to close.

What happens next: staff will return to the board in January with written proposals on adult-league fee options, updated patron check-in breakdowns that separate school and team users from the general public, and any finalized MOUs or RFP schedules.