- By Andre’ Nolan, Parks and Rec Board member
The Lakeland Municipal Parks and Recreation/Natural Resources Advisory Board met Tuesday (5.14.19) at City Hall.
Parks Board Members Steven Snow and Mark Donley had excused absences, Kevin Rooney (Parks and Recreation director) Wendi Haley (recreation program supervisor) Kim Odom (Senior Center manager and special events coordinator) were in attendance.
Zadie E Kuehl Memorial Park
Sherriff Patrols seem to have curbed unwanted actively at Zadie Kuehl Park. There was some trash left in the parking lot but otherwise no unusual activity.
The Parks Department is waiting on a report on drainage to move forward with the planned dog park.
Lakeland received a Community Block Development Grant to provide all-inclusive playground amenities. This will replace the older equipment within the park.
Oak Ridge
An application filed with the State for playground facilities was declined. It is however hoped that the Parks Department and HOA can work together to add amenities to this park.
Plantation Hills
No late-night activity was recorded. Increased Shelby County Sheriff’s Office patrols have helped keep the Park more secure. Parks Board Member André Nolan suggested adding giant Checkers and Jenga to the Park utilizing the currently unused concrete pads. He will donate the time and material to this task over the next few months.
Athletic Complex
The wetland survey has been completed and the Parks Department hopes to meet with Barge Designs (the consultant on the project) within the next week or so. Discussion will take place on staging and layout of the fields and mitigation of wetland issues
IH Park
All of the bands for the 2019 Concert Series have been booked. The concerts will start at 6.30 p.m. and finish at around 9.30 p.m. This is earlier than last year, and the hope is to make it a more family friendly event. The St Jude Band event will start at 5.30.
June 1st – Memphis Funk and Horns
June 22nd – The St. Jude Band and celebration of the St. Jude Dream Home in Lakeland.
July 27th – Will Tucker
Aug. 24th – Land/Divided
Sept. 28th – Bluff City Bandits
The Balloon Man, inflatables and food trucks will be there as well as Sprouts who is back as sponsor of the concert series. They will be giving away gift cards and other prizes. Cannon Chiropractic is also sponsoring the event with a donation to the Parks Department for every person who signs up for Treatment.
The IH Roof Project is underway. Sixty sheets of Plywood had to be replaced but the project is on time and on budget.
The internet at IH Park is being upgraded. Cable modems with fast connections and 5G routers will serve both the Club House and the Senior Center. In addition the cable television service will be removed in favor of an internet-based content provider. This will save the City thousands of dollars a year.
Table and chair orders are pending. It is hoped that this will be complete by the end of the summer. The old tables will be kept to be used outdoors and at other City events.
The Fishing Rodeo is this Saturday. Registration is at 7 a.m., fishing starts at 8 a.m. Online registration is available at www.lakelandtn.gov/events
Five hundred pounds of catfish were added to the lake earlier this week, so there should be plenty of great fish to be caught.
The TWRA (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency) after sampling the fish in the lake noted that the Bass population needed bait fish. To that end 5000 blue gill sprats were added to the lake. This should help the bass population thrive.
The TWRA also noted that the City had otherwise done an excellent job of husbandry on the lake.
The Lakeland Lions will not be providing golf carts for the event. It is hoped that all attendees can use the IH parking and the gravel overflow lot. The Lions did contribute at $500 cash donation towards the fish for the Rodeo.
Windward Slopes Park
The official opening of the Tennis courts was at Windward Slopes. Michael Chamberlain of the USTA was in attendance. The USTA (United States Tennis Association) hopes to further invest in Lakeland tennis with the additional of new courts.
Link to article in Lakeland currents: https://lakelandcurrents.com/lakeland-tennis-courts-re-opened-in-tuesday-ceremony/
A volunteer group is hoping to raise funds to light the tennis courts. The first steps will be to approach the MPC (Municipal Planning Commission) for approval and meet with the HOA to hear their concerns.
Park Department administration.
Dick’s Sporting Goods has stepped up to sponsor the Parks and Recreation Department. They will give a gift of sporting goods and cash. In addition there will be a community Lakeland event where residents can take a 20% discount on purchases from Dick’s.
The City Arbor Day was a success with kids participating in coloring and adults getting trees to plant. It was part of the Arbor Foundation mission to plant 250,000 trees. Sean Posey of Tennessee Urban Forestry presented the City with a 13-year participation award. Link to article in Lakeland Currents https://lakelandcurrents.com/perfect-spring-afternoon-for-arbor-day-celebration-in-lakeland/
Athletics
Summer T-Ball & Coach Pitch Baseball
Registration closed at the end of April with 132 participants, and 14 teams, ages 3-9. This is up from 98 in 2018. Practices and games will begin the first week in June and conclude on August 1.
Soccer
Spring Soccer games will conclude for the season on June 1. Registration for fall soccer will open at the end of May.
Competitive soccer tryouts began yesterday (5.16.19) for boys and girls born between 2005-2012. Last season we had one each boys team and girls team. It is hoped to expand the number of teams this year.
Soccer Summer Camp for ages 6-14. The last day for registration is May 20. Camps are being offered for full or half days, on June 10 – June 14 or June 17 – 21. Camp is held at the City Hall fields.
Youth and Adult Tennis
Youth clinics begin for the summer session on May 19 and run thru June 23.
Adult summer sessions began May 12 and will run thru June 9.
Clinics are at the Windward Slopes Tennis Courts. Additional sessions will follow.
Tennis Summer Camp for ages 5-18, Tuesday and Thursday nights, June 4 – June 13 and Saturdays in June.
Safe Sitter
The one-day class in April was a success with 12 students in grades 6th – 8th grade participating. The students learned CPR, along with other safety and child-caring skills. This class may be offered again in the fall.
Lego Club
The six-week class concluded May 16. Ten participants, ages 5-13, have enjoyed this popular club featuring “Engineering Adventures”. Participants will receive a Lego Kit to take home at the end of the session. A session in the fall will be offered.
Lego Club Summer Camp for ages 5-13, July 15-19, featuring “Super Hero Academy” at the I.H. Clubhouse.
Cheerleading
Recreation cheerleading registration is now open for ages 6-11. Registration ends June 27. This team will cheer for the City of Lakeland 8U and 10U tackle football teams in the fall. They will also cheer for the Junior Grizzlies basketball program in the winter. Practice begins in July.
Competitive recreation cheerleading. We had a great turnout at the tryouts which were in April. We have a team of 17 girls that will compete in 3-4 local competitions, and also cheer for the football and basketball season. Practice begins in June.
Football
Flag Football registration is now open for ages 5-9. Registration ends June 30. The season will begin in August and games will be played on the City Hall fields.
Tackle Football registration is now open for ages 7-10. Registration ends June 30. Our 8U and 10U tackle football teams will play teams within the Municipal Football League (MFL), along with non-league Shelby Youth Sports.
Additional Summer Camps
Memphis Grizzlies Summer Youth Basketball Camps
The Camp in Lakeland is for ages 7-16, and is July 15-18 at LMPS. This will be the Memphis Grizzlies third year to have a camp in Lakeland. Register at www.grizzlies.com/camps.
Coding Camp for ages 8-12, June 3-7 or June 10-14 at the IH Clubhouse from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Children will create their own games, art and digital stories taught by a certified instructor.
Blast off with Piano Camp!! for ages 5-10, two 3-day weeks in June, for ages 5-10, at the IH Clubhouse.
Register for all of these great programs at www.lakelandtn.gov/leagues or contact Wendi Haley, recreation program supervisor at whaley@lakelandtn.org or 867-5407.
Senior Center
LSC attendance for April was 401.
The Stars and Stripes Annual Dinner will be held on June 28th, Sponsored by Trustmark Bank.
… Photo by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents
