The Harrison Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee met at City Hall on Tuesday, June 3, at noon.
Creekside numbers increased by 300 in the last week, and Executive Director Chuck Eddington said that brings the total number of members to 4,428.
Eddington told the group he hired Jennifer Feighert as the interim aquatics director at Creekside for the summer and Jontel Robbins as the assistant manager of the outdoor pool.
The Committee also received Todd Curry's resignation, and Eddington said he hopes to have a recommendation to fill that position by next month.
A 3v3 Soccer event, which will use six fields, is scheduled for Sunday, June 8. Eddington said he appreciated Richard Sciarra from Explore Harrison for setting up the event.
Eddington also reported that the bike trail at Creekside will need some maintenance due to the excessive rains, which have washed out part of the trail. He said it was marked off well, to keep bikers safe, and they have a good plan to repair it so it doesn’t wash away again.
The Committee heard the specifics of a new Discipline Policy and Incident Report. If the rules aren't followed, the violator will receive a warning. If it happens again and they are escorted out, they will receive a one-month suspension. If it happens again, they will be banned for a year, which could mean permanent suspension from any City Parks and Rec facilities.
Eddington said, “I feel good about this policy the committee designed. We always want to maintain a safe environment for all our members and guests. Plus, we want to keep our equipment and facility in good condition.”
The School Resource Officers have been on duty at Creekside while school is out for the summer. “Their presence, even just the car in the parking lot, has helped deter potential problems,” Kim Fulton, program coordinator, said.
Eddington also included a thank you to the Fire Station 2 paramedics. Their proximity helped save a man’s life recently. He was having a heart attack, and they were able to get his pulse going again. NARMC transported him to the hospital. His son thanked us for our fast response and for saving his father’s life.
The Committee was excited about the pickleball ribbon-cutting ceremony after their meeting. The courts will have lights and are open to anyone. They do not have to have a Creekside membership to use them.
Baseball and softball leagues are underway. Staci Tucker reported that the summer rec program has continued to grow, and she’s very pleased with the numbers.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 1, at noon in the Administration Conference Room at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public. Anyone interested in addressing the committee must be approved for the agenda by calling 870-741-2346.