CREEKING

Under the watchful eye of Metro Parks naturalist, Scott Felker, children ages 6 to 11 years went creeking in Sycamore Park.  They caught everything from salamanders to old boots learning much about hidden stream life  in the process.

 MAD SCIENCE

During the week of July 28 to August 1, children in the Pickerington area can take advantage of a unique class sponsored by Parks and Recreation.  The class is “Mad Science CSI” and is conducted by Mad Science of Central Ohio, part of the world’s largest science entertainment provider.  The Pickerington offering is for children who will enter grades 1 through 4 in the autumn. It will be taught at the Pickerington Christian Church on Diley Road from 9 am until noon during the week. Snacks are provided.

The focus of the program is detective science and forensics.  Class attendees will analyze a pretend crime scene to figure out the contents of secret solutions. They will also crack “top secret” codes and compare fingerprints.  Additional features include learning the basics of DNA, and take-home projects, including a code decoder, a model skeleton, and a secret agent puzzle.  Joe Young is the director of the Gahanna office.  Cost of the adventure is $120 for residents of the city, and $145 for non-residents.  Registration is at the Parks office, or by mail. 

FISHING SKILLS OFFERED AGAIN

Time is running short to sign up for the second Fishing Skills class of the summer.  July 19 is the program date; the Sycamore Park Pond is the site.          Children six to 14 years of age can participate.  For $40, $50 for non-residents, attendees not only get instruction from tournament fisherman Brian Arnold, but they also take home a pole and reel, a tackle box, and various fishing aides such as hooks, sinkers, and bobbers.  The last 90 minutes are spent fishing in the pond.  The first class in June proved to be wildly successful, according to Arnold. “Every kid in the class caught at least two fish, even the first-timers,” he reported.  Sign-up is with Parks and Recreation.

HORSE SPOTS LEFT

There are still openings in the Horseback Riding Day Camps.  Four five-day sessions remain: July 22, July 29, August 5, and August 12.  Each camp ends with the six to 12 year old registrants putting on a horse show for their parents.  For more information, check out page 9 of the Parks and Recreation 2008 Summer Program Guide.

* posted 7/11/08

THEATER

The Columbus Children’s Theater production of Sweeney Todd  will be performed on Wednesday, July 16 at 7 pm in the Sycamore Park Amphitheater.  The program is sponsored by Pickerington Parks and Recreation. Admission is FREE.

The CCT will present a concert version of Stephen Sondheim’s musical about an unjustly exiled barber who returns to London seeking revenge against the judge who framed him.  Sophisticated and macabre, it also mixes funny moments of dark humor into the action.  The Parks department advises parents that the content of the musical is dark.  Parental discretion is advised for children under age 10.

The CCT will return later in the summer to present an August 16 musical based on a Saturday morning educational cartoon series, School House Rock Live Jr.”  That program is suitable for all ages.

Complete information about the shows can be found at Columbus Children's Theatre - Performance Season 2008-2009.

TWEEN NIGHT REMINDER

The first Tween Night at the Pickerington Community Pool will be Friday night from 9 to 11 pm. The event is for all area youngsters who will enter the fifth or sixth grade in the autumn.  Games, swimming, music, and food will be part of the activities.

CONCERT SCHEDULE, PART II

The Giant Eagle Summer Concert Series enters the middle part of its schedule this Sunday night with Dean Simms and the Funky Gurus on stage at Sycamore Park at 7 pm.  The group is a versatile 7-piece band with a horn section and both male and female vocalists.  Simms formerly played lead trumpet for the Ohio Players.  “The key elements for a great band are having chemistry and having fun,” Simms notes.

The Red Ball Jets take the stage on July 20. Lead singer Kyle Allison and his four bandmates have performed with Johnny Paycheck, the Coasters, and the Bay City Rollers.  They play classic rock, rhythm and blues, and some modern rock. 

Local favorite Chris Logsdon is scheduled for the July 27 concert.  He is a songwriter, performer, singer, and guitarist who was voted Best Solo Performer in Columbus in 2001, and has since increased his popularity even more.  His forte is acoustic rock, and he has been a mainstay in the Pickerington concert series for years.  His performance is sponsored by KeyBank.

* posted 7/8/08

FITNESS YOGA 

A scheduling change involving a fitness class should be noted by area residents.  A drop-in yoga class is now available on Monday nights at the Pickerington Senior Center, 150 Hereford Drive.  The class runs from 7-8 pm. No registration is necessary. A fee of $3 per visit is charged at the site.  Pam Gay is the instructor for the Parks and Recreation program.

* posted 6/17/08

CONCERTS

The 2008 Giant Eagle Summer Concert Series debuts Sunday night, June 8, at 7 pm in the Sycamore Park Amphitheater.  The free series, a project of Pickerington Parks and Recreation, will run every Sunday night through August 17, and will feature twelve bands with different specialties.

The initial performance will be by a fan favorite, the Parrots of the Caribbean.  The five-musician group has seven years of experience, and has been called, “the Number One Jimmy Buffett tribute act in the country.”  Dave Albrecht is the lead singer. His bandmates include Riptide Rigmaiden on bass, Greg Martin on drums, Brian Batcheler-Glader on keyboard, and Dave Cousino on guitar.  Multiple costume changes and an atmosphere of  boats, beaches, and bars add to the band’s continuing acclaim as part of the concert series.

On June 15, This Side Up will perform. Lead singer Halli Hill leads the group through spirited renditions of eclectic standards.  They may play “Mustang Sally” followed by “Sweet Caroline,” and then segue into “I Will Survive” or “Folsom Prison Blues.” Their forte is presenting music across the spectrum.  They have built an enthusiastic following in southwestern Ohio.

On June 22, Jacked Up brings energy, dynamic vocals, and mountain soul to Pickerington.  Composed of two women and seven men, all of whom are songwriters as well as virtuosos on several instruments, they recently performed with Nashville’s hottest new artists, Craig Morgan and Danielle Peck.  A recent review called the group, “the new standard for hard-hitting country rock in the Midwest.”

Agent 99 completes the first third of the series on June 29.  Manager Marika Gross of J.F. Walleyes on Middle Bass Island in Lake Erie, calls them “ an awesome band, the best entertainers we’ve ever had.” They have also performed at Miami University, the Scioto Downs Race Track, the Ohio State Fair, and at numerous events for The Ohio State University.  They play everything from 70’s classics to pop rock. A typical songlist might include “Gimme One Reason,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” “ Honky Tonk Woman,” “You’re So Vain,” or “She’s a Lady.”

FISHING CLASS

The first of two fishing skills classes will occur on Saturday, June 14.  Brian Arnold, a competitor in fishing tournaments around the country, will teach the class, which is geared to youngsters aged 5 to 12.  Arnold will teach the assemblage how to cast, tie knots, hook and unhook catches, and elements of conservation.  Each registrant will receive a pole, reel, tackle box, lures, sinkers, bait, and bobbers, which can be taken home after the event.  The site will be the pond at Sycamore Park. It was stocked with over 800 game fish 18 months ago.  Cost is $50, or $40 for a resident of the city. Registration is through Parks and Recreation.  Parents are asked to accompany the participants to the class, which will run from 10 am until noon.

* posted 6/4/08

ADULT TENNIS

Kelli Rings, a successful coach for Pickerington interscholastic tennis for years, will offer a first-time experience for adults as part of the Parks & Recreation summer curriculum.  “Last year, the adults who took tennis lessons asked about some sort of follow-up to those.  They mentioned that playing in a league would be ideal,” she explained.  This June, the Pickerington Summer Adult Tennis League will begin play.  To date, seventeen adults have signed up. Rings can accommodate many more.  The format for this year will depend on the total number of sign-ups, their ages, and their genders.  The resultant composition of the league will be determined at the organizational meeting, June 12 at 6:30 pm on the Pickerington High School Central tennis courts.

To compete in the league, adults must first register with Parks and Recreation, by mail or at the Parks office.  Cost is $50; city residents pay $40.  The league will play on Thursday nights through July 31.

SPORTS CAMPS

Three sports camps for youngsters are available through Parks and Recreation this summer. 

Eric Mialky’s Soccer Day Camps begin with a session from June 9 to June 12.  There will be another one from August 4 to August 7.  Both will be from 9 am until 3 pm.  The cost per camper is $137; residents pay $112.  Mialky also runs half-day camps throughout the summer.

Horseback Riding Day Camps will occur in weekly sessions all summer long at New Beginnings Stables.  Cost is $145; residents pay $120.

The entire summer schedule is on the city website under Parks and Recreation Program Guide at 2008 Spring Summer Program Guide.

* posted 5/28/08

PLAYGROUND

Summer Playground, which will begin June 16, annually recruits over 120 children for arts and crafts, sports, games, and special events. As the class increases in size, Mrs. Brunet increases the number of instructors and adult leaders.  Registration applications are still being accepted.  The classes run from 9 am until noon on all weekdays until July 25.  Cost is $45 per child; city residents pay $36.  The minimum age is children who will enter kindergarten in the fall; the maximum age is those who will be fourth-graders in the 2008-2009 school year.   Classes will occur at the Pickerington Elementary School.  A new feature for the upcoming summer is a weekly art lesson from Young Rembrandts. All registrants also receive a t-shirt. 

The other three classes are all called Pre-School in the Park, but all filled to maximum capacity in April.  They are devised for youngsters aged four and five, and emphasize discoveries in the outdoors, creeking and nature exploration, along with games and crafts. Classes meet in the Pickering Shelter in Sycamore Park for a week in June, and two separate weeks in July.

NEW DISC GOLF COURSE TO OPEN SOON

The Parks and Recreation Department will soon announce plans for the disc golf course, set to open this summer in Simsbury Park.  Disc golf is played in golf-like surroundings, using a Frisbee. The game is growing in popularity throughout the Midwest; several courses have opened in central Ohio in the past few years.  Much of the necessary land-moving and construction has occurred.  The opening will depend on how much of the remaining work can be accomplished without prolonged interference from the spring weather.

* posted 5/21/08

SWIMMING POOL UPDATE      

Sign-ups for swimming lessons at the Pickerington Community Pool have begun.   The pool, recently purchased by the City and managed by the Parks and Recreation Department, will host lessons from June 16 until August 8 on weekday mornings. Additionally, there will be two sessions of evening lessons beginning June 23.  The complete schedule is online at Pickerington Community Pool.  Registration is required to enroll in the classes.

Season pass holders have priority registration --by mail-- through May 15 for lessons sign-ups.  City of Pickerington residents without a season pass may register by mail beginning May 19.  Non-residents without a season pass can register by mail  starting May 27.

Seven levels of class proficiency are addressed in the lessons. Each lesson-level has a list of pre-requisites, noted on the website.

Several features of the upcoming pool season include free admission for grandparents who are supervising their grandchildren, special price categories for baby-sitters and for children under the day-care supervision of pool pass-holders, and a 10% discount for senior citizens on all singles, couples, or family passes.

Important to prospective purchasers of season passes is the recent decision to extend the deadline for buying before prices increase. The increases will now not become effective until May 15.  The pool will open at noon on May 24, and on Sunday the 25^th at 1 pm, and will stay open until 9 pm each day.  It will close on days that schools are in session until the end of the school year. 

Contrary to a rumor circulating in the area, there will be no day passes sold for the upcoming pool season.

HORSEBACK RIDING

A busy venue in programs offered by the Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department is the New Beginnings Stables on Stemen Road in Violet Township.  Owners Al and Anne Bradford host a bevy of would-be equestrians from ages six through adult in a series of classes in the Parks’ spring, summer, and autumn curricula.  The spring sessions are in full swing with lessons for adults and youths. As always, those classes filled early.

The upcoming summer sessions are unique.  Nine “Day Camp” sessions are scheduled, a format that has attracted area youngsters of all riding abilities for years.  Each class runs from Tuesday through Saturday, and is mostly geared to six to twelve year-olds, although three sessions invite registrants between the ages of 13 and 18.  The sessions begin the week of June 10.  Succeeding classes begin every Tuesday through August 12, except for the week of July 1. The 13-18 year-old weeks are June 24, July 22, and July 29.

The duration of each daily lesson is four and one-half hours. Each class has a maximum size of twelve students.  Riding skills are not the only feature. Instructors also teach about the care of horses, in which the campers actively participate, and also stress techniques of riding safety.  Each program culminates with a camp horse show on the concluding Saturday. Parents are invited to attend.

So the experiences will occur throughout the other three seasons.  Cost of the day camp per registrant is $125. City residents pay $100. Fees are payable at the Parks office, 51 East Columbus Street.

* posted 5/7/08

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

For several years, the Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department has presented year-round Little Explorer programs, in which pre-school registrants get behind-the-scenes- tours of area businesses and places of interest.  This year’s spring and summer program sets add a new format, “Outdoor Adventures,” to the Little Explorer curriculum.  Utilizing the expertise of Metro Parks Naturalist Scott Felker, the classes will offer nature subjects in outdoor settings.  Felker is a natural for the classes. The ten-year Metro Parks employee who is the Naturalist for Pickerington Ponds, specializes in programs for youngsters.  He conducts classes for elementary classes in all Pickerington district schools, and also for several schools in the Columbus system. 

The first offering is “Amphibians,” which will occur on April 22 at 10 am. The class will meet at the Sycamore Park dam, at the end of Hereford Drive.  Felker promises “the discovery of the world of frogs, toads, and salamanders in the Sycamore Park Pond.”  The second class will be July 2 at 10 am, and is titled “Bats.” The class will meet outside at the Pickerington Parks office, 7680 Wright Road.  Each class costs only $3 per registrant. The resident fee is $2. Registration through Parks and Recreation must precede the classes.  Felker will also teach a couple of new summer classes called “Creeking,” for kids aged 6-11. These classes will meet at the covered bridge at Sycamore Creek Park, and will use the creek to look for various types of stream life.  The first class, for ages 6-8, will occur June 13 at 10 am. The second one, for ages 9-11, will be at 11 am on the same day.  Felker advises both groups to wear clothing suitable for water and mud.  The cost for each of the Creeking classes is $3, $2 for residents. Those interested must register before June 11.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY 

An adult class that promises to make people more comfortable with their digital cameras will begin April 17.  The list of items which will be covered includes shutter speeds, ISO speed, printing, editing, saving, backing up, and as much computer interaction as time permits.  Pickerington resident Jim Kuebler teaches the class, which was a popular program in its only other inclusion in the Parks curriculum during the winter of 2006.  Kuebler asks that registrants bring their cameras if they own them.  For those who don’t, he will advise them on selecting and buying appropriate models.  The class will be April 17 from 6-9 pm in the Pickerington High School Central computer lab.  Cost is $31 for non-residents, and $25 for those living within city limits. 

* posted 4/15/08

GOLF

Golf professional Jim Zielinski is a fixture in the Pickerington Parks and Recreation’s program curriculum.  Zielinski has given golf lessons and conducted leagues for city programs since 1996, teaching golfers of all ages and ability levels.  A native of Chicago, he returned from a Thailand Air Force assignment in 1974 to embark on a career as a golf professional.  Year-round instruction in the Pickerington programs is available for ages “4 to 104,” as he explains it.  “The goal for all of our programs and leagues is to provide successful and continued development of skills regardless of experience. We also stress fun, relaxation, appreciation for the game, and the opportunity to make new friends,” he adds.  He has expanded the program over the twelve years to include not only lessons, but also leagues for ladies, fifth-to-eighth graders, and co-rec adults. 

Zielinski can furnish golf equipment for all lessons. Additionally, he will counsel those in the market for new clubs, regardless of whether they have registered for his classes.  “I can help with money-saving tips, and also with contacts,” he explains.  His outdoor instruction is taught at West Par Driving Range on Route 33, and indoor lessons are given at Performance Training for Athletes in Canal Winchester.  Leagues play at both Pleasant Valley Golf Course and Blacklick Woods Golf Course.

Important features of the golf leagues are the organizational meetings for each group.  The meetings for the spring leagues will be April 15 at Harmon Middle School, 7:30 pm for co-rec, 8 pm for ladies, and 6:45 for youth.  Registration for those planning to play must be done with Parks and Recreation prior to the league meetings.  Zielinski has definitive thoughts about golfers and their sport.  “Golf is a privilege, not a right,” he says.  In that vein, he asks that golfers new to the youth and ladies leagues sign up for additional instruction. In those sessions, he covers everything from etiquette to making tee times.  “Taking time to learn all aspects of the game brings quality to the game. That quality results in personal growth and increased enjoyment,” he states. 

A complete list of the classes and leagues under his auspices can be found at www.pickerington.net, under “Parks and Recreation,” and the Program Guide button.   He can be reached at 614-863-3135, or at jzielinski@insight.rr.com .

NEW CLASS OFFERINGS

Paul Lane will prepare gardeners and homeowners for imminent spring yardwork in his Home Landscape Design Workshop, a new offering of Pickerington Parks and Recreation, which will occur on April 16.  Lane, who has a degree in landscape architecture from the Ohio State University, will present his program from 7-9 pm at the Pickerington Public Library, 201 Opportunity Way.  Per-couple cost for the session $10; city residents pay $5. Pre-registration with Parks and Recreation is necessary.

Several other first-time classes will be offered to adults this spring.  Author and professional speaker Eddie Powell will call on his areas of expertise for two classes, Getting Published for Fun and Profit, and Public Speaking Basics. The speaking class is actually two sessions, April 16 and 23, from 6:30-8:30 each night, at Harmon Middle School.  The class for aspiring writers will also be at Harmon Middle, on May 14 from 6:30-8:30. Cost of each class is $63; city residents pay $50.  The cost of both classes includes hand-outs and other materials.

Ann and Al Bradford, owners of New Beginnings Stables, have conducted riding classes for youth for years. The couple sensed that adults might want the experience too, so for the first time a class for adults is in the Parks curriculum.  The five-week Wednesday night—6:30-7:30 pm--class costs $125. Residents will pay $100.  The Bradfords ask that registrants wear long pants and sturdy shoes.

Mindy Kaleta of Pataskala explains her new class, D-R-E-A-M Workshop for Women, as an adventure in designing a dream life, and then making it happen.  “Being a dream girl is listening to your heart, and finding out who you are,” Kaleta says.  She is a Certified Professional Coach, who explains that she has always been interested in what keeps people from doing what they really want to do.  The class will run on Thursdays from June 12 through July 24 from 7-9 pm in the Carnegie Museum basement. Cost is $124; residents pay $99.

The final two new offerings are geared toward managing emergency situations.  Leslie Mugg, RN, and a CPR and First Aid Instructor, will instruct sessions on both.  The Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation class will be held on April 22 and 24, and then as a new session on May 20 and 22, at Pickerington High School Central from 6:30-8:30 pm. Cost is $50 for non-residents, and $40 for those who live within city limits.  First Aid in the Community and Workplace will teach students to handle emergencies. There are two class sections, one is April 8 and 10; the second is May 6 and 8. Cost is $31, $25 for residents.  “Graduates” from both CPR and First Aid will receive training materials, a book, and a two-year certificate card.

* posted 4/9/08

ADULT FITNESS CLASSES 

To encourage adult fitness, the Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department has assembled a collection of classes for spring and summer sessions which offer conduits to better health.

Pilates returns with Marilyn Morgan, a Certified Fitness Instructor, leading a six-week course which will begin March 31, and continue on Monday nights until May 5.  “It’s one of our better deals,” according to Recreation Coordinator Don Ross. The cost is only $23, with residents of the city receiving a $5 discount.  Morgan asks that all participants bring a workout mat. Her program focuses on strength, flexibility, and tone, and will occur at the Pickerington Senior Center, 150 Hereford Drive.  Thursday night Beginning Yoga classes at Pickerington Rehab Associates will also last for six weeks, from April 10 through May 15.  Stephanie Coutant, with MSW and RYT certification, is the instructor. Each ninety-minute class begins at 7 pm.  Coutant lists the values of the workouts as stress reduction, improved fitness, and enhanced relaxation.  The fee is $90; residents pay $75.  Pre-registration with Parks and Recreation must precede both of these classes. 

Fitness Yoga is a drop-in class, which means that participants don’t need to pre-register.   Pam Gay will conduct the sessions on Monday and Wednesday nights through May 21 at Harmon Middle School beginning at 7 pm. After a brief hiatus, the classes will resume on Monday nights only at the Pickerington Senior Center from June 2 until August 18, also at 7 pm.  Gay notes that with the drop-in status, there isn’t the pressure of attending every class to get full value from the class fee.  Participants simply pay $3 on nights that they attend.  She explains that the program is effective for all age groups, genders, and fitness levels, and also counsels that a participant arrives for sessions on an empty stomach.  Harmon Middle School is at 12410 Harmon Road; the Senior Center is at 150 Hereford Drive.

Two specialized aerobics classes are also drop-in experiences, at $3 per attended session.  On Tuesday nights at Harmon Middle School, Lisa Tedrow presents what she calls Interval Express--Hi/Lo Cardio, with weights. That program will end May 20.  Christina Brown hosts Hi/Lo Aerobics with Kick Boxing on Thursday nights, also at Harmon Middle. That program ends May 22.  Both of those programs will return in the autumn.

* posted 4/1/08

PICKERINGTON COMMUNITY POOL

 The City of Pickerington has set prices for 2008 resident use of the Pickerington Community Pool.  The city recently purchased the facility, located at 11330 Stonecreek Drive NW, from Dave and Andrea Watros for $655,000.

The Parks & Recreation Department, which will supervise the pool operation, plans to offer city residents a 25% discount on costs, a first-time benefit.  Additionally, there will be no cost increase for non-residents.   The city will also offer a category called “Working Family.”  Those families can use the pool after 5 pm on weekdays, and all day on weekends and holidays.  Seniors 55 and older will get an additional 10% discount if they purchase a single or a couples pass.  Daily passes will not be sold.  A short-season pass for July-August use by residents only is under consideration.

City Council member Tricia Sanders is enthusiastic about the city’s initial endeavor at managing a recreational facility.  “The citizens will have a family facility right in the heart of the city. The pool is in excellent shape, and the services we’ll offer will be great for all of our citizens,” she said.  She has a unique and comprehensive perspective. Besides serving on council, she is that group’s representative to the Parks Board. Additionally, she and her family had a Swim Club membership for years.  “My kids learned to swim there.  It’s a safe environment, and a great place for family time.”  “It’s important to mention that the pool is being purchased through impact fees, non-tax revenue.  The operating costs will not come from the city’s general fund,” she added.  “We should also see revenue generated from the pool that can be put back into the city.”

Parks and Recreation Director Steve Carr explained that the Watros’ have been retained on a limited management contract to help with this year’s transition. Pool staff will be asked back.  As a courtesy to working parents with family memberships, grandparents will be permitted to supervise/babysit their grandchildren free of charge.

Pool pass sales for last year’s pass holders and for city residents will begin on March 31 at the Parks office at 51 East Columbus Street.  Proof of residency, a driver license, etc., is required.  Non-residents who were not members last year can begin on April 7. The Parks office is open weekdays from 8 am until 5 pm.  The pool is slated to open on Memorial Day Weekend, and will be open only on weekends until school is out.

* posted 3/28/08

DATE NIGHT

A unique set of programs in the Pickerington Parks and Recreation Winter Series is set to begin.  “Adult Date Night” is the title of the adult class hosted by My Girlfriend’s Kitchen at 201 Clint Drive.  “There has been a lot of interest in the program. We were asked by several people to revive it,” storeowner Patty Tinney said.  The class existed in a somewhat different format taught by another local business until they closed.  The current program invites adult couples to prepare three grande or six petite entrees. My Girlfriend’s Kitchen furnishes all items, which also includes appetizers and wine.  “I think the attraction is that we do all of the shopping and clean-up, in addition to coaching them through the preparation,” Tinney added.  Tinney and her staff tested the concept in December, offering a class independent of the ones for Parks and Recreation.  “It went over great. Adult couples don’t usually have the time to cook together, with family obligations. The ninety-minute class lets them do that,” Tinney continued. 

JUNIOR CHEF

There is a comparable class for children from ages 5-12 titled “Junior Chef.”  The youngsters choose four kid-friendly menu items to prepare, and receive a chef’s hat and apron.  “We’re trying for several things in that class. We want the kids to learn about measurements, about ingredients that don’t get used a lot, and to gain confidence from making it themselves,’ Tinney explained.  One of those classes has already occurred, with interesting results.  “Two of the mothers who accompanied their kids to Junior Chef were so excited by the experience, they’re going to sign up for Date Night,” Tinney said.

* posted 1/17/08

2008 OUTLOOK 

The Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department is looking toward a busy 2008.  A long list of activities and special events are planned for 2008.  As the year begins, the department is sponsoring its winter classes and programs for area residents of all ages. Seventy-six sessions of 26 different classes will run from January 7 until April.

Winter sports leagues are running with co-rec volleyball and men’s 30+ basketball in action on Sunday afternoons.  The department will partner with the Olde Pickerington Village Business Association twice for special events, the Jazz and Blues Ribfest August 2, and the Haunted Village on October 30.  They will co-sponsor “Breakfast with the Bunny” with TWIG #165 for the benefit of Children’s Hospital on March 22, and “Breakfast with Santa” with the Senior Center and the Lions Club on December 6.

Several events will be solely under their auspices: the 4^th of July Celebration; the Arts Festival; Friday Night Flicks, beginning in June; the Giant Eagle Concerts in the Park, which run from June to late August; and Tot’s Trick or Treat at City Hall.

A new partnership has been formed with the Violet Township Bicentennial Committee. The result will be department involvement in Heritage Days, July 5 and 6; and the Community Picnic on September 7.  In addition, P&R Director Steve Carr will organize the first-ever Pickerington HS Central and North Alumni Softball Tournament. That is slated for June 28 and 29, to coincide with Bicentennial events.  That will be separate from the department’s summer softball leagues for men’s, churches, and co-rec teams.  In other sports opportunities, the department will offer soccer camps for kids, and a fishing tournament in August.

Parks will partner with the Senior Center again for the Letters to Santa project, and will promote the Mitten Tree for charity next December.  Special attention will be paid to the department’s arts partners, the Pickerington Community Theatre and the Pickerington Community Chorus, throughout the year.

On March 7, the spring-summer program guide will be delivered to area residents.

* posted 1/9/08

PETS POLICY

Area residents are reminded of the city’s policy on pets in the city parks.  The only pets permitted are domestic dogs and cats.  The pets must be controlled at all times, and secured to a leash no longer than six feet.  Pet owners must clean up after their dogs, and must carry a device for that purpose.

* posted 1/4/08

2008 SHELTER RENTALS

On January 2, Parks and Recreation will begin taking reservations for shelter use by residents for 2008. Others may call after January 7.  There are two available shelters in the system, one at Victory Park, and one at Sycamore Park.

The Terry O’Brien Shelter at Victory Park, named in honor of a community volunteer and Lion’s Club member, seats 96, and has two small grills.  The Pickering Shelter at Sycamore seats 80 and has one large grill.

The rental fee for city residents and non-profit groups is $25 per time slot on Saturdays and Sundays. Weekday usage is free.  Non-residents pay $50 per time slot.  Potential renters should be aware that neither facility will have restroom facilities or water until April 1.  Those same features are unavailable after October 31. 

CLASS CANCELLATIONS

Registrants signing up for Parks & Recreation programs held in school buildings will not have class sessions when the school’s buildings are closed due to inclement weather or holiday breaks.  Questions should be directed to the individual instructors.

* posted 12/18/07

STUFF-A-FRIEND

A Gingerbread Friends Workshop will be held December 13 from 7:00-7:45 pm at the Carnegie Library, 15 East Columbus Street.  Pickerington Parks and Recreation is hosting the event, which will be presented by Carla New of the Noah’s Ark Animal Workshops. The workshop will feature stuffing a gingerbread man for the holidays.  “Attendees will stuff a friend and name it. We will also listen to the classic story of The Gingerbread Man, re-written by Claire Black,” New explained.  Children aged 3-6 are welcome to attend.  “We also welcome parents and/or grandparents to attend with their child. This is a family event,” New continued.  Cost to register per child is $19.  City residents get a $4 discount.  Registration is through the Parks & Recreation Department, 833-2211.

* posted 12/4/07

PARKS BOARD

The five current members of the Pickerington Parks and Recreation Board are Dale Frazier, chairperson; Yulanda Hammond, vice-chair; Lynn Boetcher; Susan Green; and Eric Pawlowski.  The Board is an advisory board appointed by City Council.

* posted 11/28/07

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS

The Violet Township Board of Trustees, the City of Pickerington, and Pickerington Local Schools will hold a Special Information Session on the Pickerington Local School District Safe Routes to Schools Plan (SRTS) on Thursday, August 30 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Pickerington North High School lecture hall.  The meeting will be a town hall style gathering and is open to anyone interested in learning more about SRTS. 

Forming a partnership between the City of Pickerington, Violet Township and Pickerington Local Schools, a core group of committee members has authored the Pickerington Local School District Safe Routes to School Plan.

The United States Congress has set aside monies for Safe Routes projects, through the Department of Transportation of the State of Ohio.  Separate Federal funding is also available since the plan incorporates transportation activities.    

Pickerington’s SRTS plan seeks to increase the safety and the number of walking/biking routes in the district in order to increase the number of students walking and biking to school.  Another goal is to ease traffic congestion on various city thoroughfares while the schools are in session.  In its present form, the plan specifically considers all areas within two miles of every K-8^th grade school building in the district.

Several measures are the starting points for the group’s mission: sidewalks, crossing guards, street lights, multi-use paths, and adjustments to existing speed limits in some areas.  Increasing traffic enforcement, reducing the need for school buses, a possible increase in stop signs, extensive educational programs, and special events are also addressed in the plan.

* posted 08/22/07

WILDLIFE  PROBLEMS 

The Parks and Recreation office fields numerous phone calls concerning wildlife problems.  The department is not staffed to solve those problems, however.  “In the past few weeks we’ve been called about dead ducks in a pond, a raccoon in the house, and several incidents with deer,” P&R Coordinator Don Ross explained.

Ross recommends that calls be made to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources at their wildlife number, 800-945-3543, or to the office of the Wildlife Officer for Franklin County, Brad Kiger, 614-644-3929, extension 1205.  An alternate plan would be to call a local office of Critter Control or a similar pest control company, according to Ross.

* posted 06/20/07

 CEMETERY RESTORATION

As the direct result of a contact form Dannielle Patterson from Dominion Homes and Helen Mayle of the Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Pickerington and its Parks and Recreation Department are partnering in what began as the Chamber’s 2007 LEADS Class project to revive and renovate the historical Pisgah Cemetery at the corner of routes 204 and 256 near the City's north border. Other involved entities are the Tri-County Area Realty Association, the Columbus Board of Realtors, Violet Township, the Pickerington-Violet Township Historical Society, and Keller Farms. The parcel has been maintained by the City since an annexation several years ago removed it from the auspices of Violet Township.

The cemetery is historical, and it's located at the gateway to the City, so it's critical to preserve it, and to present it in an appropriate historical manner," committee member Don Ross explained. Over the years, a natural attrition has occurred, according to Ross, and the task at hand will include re-furbishing many of the headstones. Also on the agenda are landscaping, a retaining wall, enclosing the area, the clearing of undergrowth and brush, identifying historical relationships, providing visitor-friendly accouterments, and upgraded signage.

Detailed plans are still in the formative stages, but the committee has set June 6th as a volunteer workday in the cemetery to begin the clean-up phase of the project. Tim Hansley, The City's Director of Development who is assisting with coordinating the various elements of this partnership, believes that it may be necessary to spread the work over two or three more phases in order to achieve the goal of the committee.

* posted 04/13/07

Little Explorers

A “little” program offered by the Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department has proven to be one of the biggest, in terms of registrants and popularity. The Little Explorers programs, available to children aged 3-6, are tours of businesses and areas of interest in Pickerington and Violet Township.

The program is supervised by department coordinator Fiona Spears, who contacts the tour areas, and then schedules the destination times. Each tour costs $2-$5 per pre-schooler depending on the program. All occur during the day.  Parents are admitted free, and must accompany their children.  Parents can refer to the Parks brochure; program schedules can also be accessed at www.pickerington.net.

Department director Steve Carr complimented another pre-school program offered by the city, this one taught at the Pickerington Public Library. “In our booklet, it’s called ‘Story and Craft Time’, and it’s taught by the library staff,” Carr mentioned.  The format of that experience, for youngsters 3 and 4 years old, is a Friday morning in the library with stories, crafts, activities, and games. The fee for that activity is also $2; non-residents pay $3.

Spears also coordinates those classes for the department. “We list thirty-five separate classes for pre-schoolers. We feel good about their compositions, and the people teaching them,” she said.

* posted 9/26/06