Newspaper Page Text
SPORTS, LEISURE & ENTERTAINMENT
COUNTY from 2G
Department’s new adminis
trative offices.
Additions to Coal Mountain
and Midway Parks will also start
inSsugpst 1999. Both parks are
addjfi£ qbout 20 acres each.
•JSdrte; other structural
changes include concrete side
wajks being added to Sawnee
Maintain Park, concrete bench
eJ'-.ijejng added at Sharon
Sfirihgs. Park and concrete steps
tctijennett Park.
r'Also at Bennett this year,
1 at Bennett Park will
s<sf‘;.upgrades with fencing,
giving, regrading and relight
ing;
year will bring about
mfsrny.Changes in our park sys
tenf .tbai; are greatly needed,”
sqid'if insey. “We look forward
tq al [-the additions of park land.
The jad’d it ions to the park has
■w • •
V from 2G
ing in December,” Little said.
“There would be byes built into
the schedule.”
When the new building is
open, pot only will most of the
youth teams be able to use it
(other schools may still be uti
lized at that point), but something
may be worked out with the
county to help provide space for
adult hoops programs as well.
The director also said the
youth program would likely
remain non-competitive in that
championships are not awarded
and teams don’t advance into
GRPA playoffs. “The way we
loo’k at it, it’s a program for the
K**w ivsmf - I ' l ' iMmctP? iwP
jbqh Hnsi gt?a. iiy* 3jT HHmbwmhM
L k>W z - *
' 4 •if Jah-VrtL fl!
FwiJk
W r W
KflF - dro Ji fl m mu.■
Kfl rjbk
■ pflr^^^Hfefl^^ 11 * Jfl
Phota/Stephen Underwood
<■
The scene at a Cumming Waves home meet last summer as children in the “bullpen” are given
instructions for their upcoming event.
I A >~x
?■ Now Featuring Live Jazz
Music Every Tuesday Evening 'WM
/ J “Come in and Experience Authentic Italian Cuisine”
\\Mz V I
\v ¥/ Dinner Hours:
\ \ (3p\ 5:00-9:30pm Tues-Thurs. KVJ) /
CrA\ J// 5:00-10:00pm Fri-Sat.
I zb\ Tri-County Plaza z VI//1111 infill k\
<770) 781 “ 2631
helped make our county a great
place to live and play.”
Drama and dance
Other special features of the
department include drama work
shops and creative dance classes
- all taught by Michele Roberts.
In the drama workshops, chil
dren can explore the world of
acting through theater games,
exercises, movement, scene
study and improvisation.
Classes are small, so children
receive more individual atten
tion. Each child performs scenes
and monologues at his or her
own level.
“We focus on techniques that
will be useful to the child
whether he/she wants to act on
stage or just improve his/her
social skills,” said Roberts.
masses,” he said, noting that
other programs exist in the area
for those youth who do what a
more competitive environment.
“The building is not a cure
all,” Little added. “If we really
had the facilities, we might look
at it.”
Expanded programs
Looking at the Cumming Rec
and Park Department’s program
offerings overall, Little is pleased
with the growth that has taken
place. “We have greatly expand
ed our programs in the past year,”
he said. “Our program coordina-
“These skills are beneficial in
helping them with things like
oral book reports, public aware
ness and confidence to mention
a few. We enjoy working togeth
er as a group and it feels great to
see these children progress in
the short time we spend together.
This time is precious.”
In creative dance classes,
children have lots of fun learn
ing basic dance steps to a variety
of music.
“We work on rhythm, timing
and technique,” said Roberts.
“We use our imagination with
lots of pretending as we dance.”
Students look forward to the
time in class using props such as
streamer ribbons, tambourines
and pompoms. “We get so
wrapped up in our dance, it’s
hard to leave!” Roberts conclud
ed.
tor, Sandra Bennett, has done a
tremendous job.”
The staff has had several
changes in this past year, with
Little moving up to director with
the departure of Eddie Canon and
Bennett taking over her post.
Jonathan Bennett is the new ath
letic coordinator and Theresa
Brackett the new administrative
assistant.
A new position that has been
created is that of assistant athletic
coordinator/aquatics coordinator,
which has been recently
bestowed upon Matt Payne - who
served for years in the Forsyth
County Park and Rec
- —— . . . .
J I I
' jj Im
?•••
I^WKMW < ■ J
Photo/Tom Brooks
The facilities of the Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department require hours of careful
upkeep so they can be enjoyed by the thousands of local residents that come to visit.
Department. Jack Search is the
maintenance coordinator and
Theresa Brackett the administra
tive assistant.
“We’ve got a full staff,” said
Little. “It’s a great group. I may
be biased, but I think I’ve got the
best staff you could have.”
Little figures over 4000 peo
ple are involved in programs,
with a total of 64,000 “recreation
visits” a year. “The only thing
holding us back from offering
more is having enough facilities,”
he said.
Other facilities
One improvement in the
department’s facilities that has
recently taken place is the use of
what is now called the Cumming
Municipal Building (formerly the
I ezeoeeeS] YAMAHAUSA I
the #i golf car in the world Nothing compares". -I
NEW & COMPLETELY REBUILT GAS & ELECTRIC CARS
Sales • Service • Leasing • Parts • Commercial • Utility • Recreational
• 2,4 or 6 Passenger Models • Factory Trained Technicians
All Cars have Warranty. I
ijl*7AJ| | —-Q i«—J|
GOLF CAR SALTS flfl I
■■ l
□ a
_ ■-■■■■■■■!■■-^- —.- ht >s» M
FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Sunday, March 28,1999 I
Russell Building).
“It’s now a permanent loca
tion for our art studio (Rick
Renick’s classes) and it’s taken
the brunt of our gymnastics,
especially the younger kids,”
Little said. “It’s been a tremen
dous asset to us.”
The department has been able
to expand and instructors have
been able to offer more classes,
especially during the day with
preschoolers (gymnastics used to
be at the schools more during
afterschool hours). The self
defense classes are now perma
nent at the Cumming Municipal
Building, too.
Little adds that the Municipal
Building has, in turn, enabled the
department to offer more things
at their home site, such as a new
dance program, auto mechanics,
photography and more.
“This facility is booked slap
solid,” said Little. “We’re maxed
out on what we can offer.”
The department’s outdoor
facilities, such as the Cumming
City Park and the pool, are in
good shape. Upcoming programs
include Little Rookies baseball
and - in the summer - the swim
lessons, Cumming Waves pro
gram and open swim.
Little said the pool will under
go some renovations after pool
season this year. “It’s the center
piece of our summer program,”
he said. “We had a great summer
last year.”
With the new multi-purpose
building coming soon, the entire
year will be great for the
Cumming Recreation and Parks
Department.
PAGE 3G