I Salute Metro Parks’ for Citizen Engagement – that’s What Works!

 By WALTER MUNDAY
Outreach and Volunteer Manager
E-mail Walter

Last night, I had the opportunity to participate in a community planning meeting for a brand new park and modifications to an existing park in southeastern Jefferson County.  The process provided citizens an opportunity for input into the future of these parks located in/around their neighborhoods.  As a new staff member of Metro Parks, I applaud efforts made by my colleagues in the planning division.  Not for the countless hours spent at public meetings on three separate occasions, or for the door-to-door flyer distribution, but for the mere fact that they transposed input shared from the two previous meetings into the development template for these two parks.  And for that, I salute them!      

Okay, I work for parks.  What undisclosed reason(s) prompted me to write this?  Well… following the meeting, one citizen approached me on their way out with the question, “Why are you having these meetings?  You don’t have the money right now to build anything… why get the residents all worked up for nothing.”

Metro Parks informs and engages the public about proposed planning projects, like the Jan. 24 meeting regarding Charlie Vettiner Park.

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Calling all seniors! Participate in March Madness at Douglass starting next week!

The Douglass Community Center will be hosting a 60 and over basketball league that starts Jan. 26.

By BJ LEVIS
Recreation Administrator
e-mail BJ

Calling all 60-year-olds and older who are interested in playing the great game of basketball.  What better way to get in shape or stay in shape then by playing a game of basketball with your fellow basketball lovers! Douglass Community Center, located at 2305 Douglass Blvd in the Highlands is offering a newly formed informal basketball league that will meet on the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday’s of each month starting on January 26 at 10 a.m.

There is no fee for this program and we would love to have you come out and join in the fun. For more information call 456-8120.  Let the balling begin!

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For goodness snakes – volunteer and get involved!

Volunteers at the Portland Community Center pitched in to help out on the Mayor's Day of Service on Saturday, Jan. 8

By MARGARET BROSKO
Communications Manager
e-mail Margaret

It was great to see so many people volunteering Saturday, January 8 for the Mayor’s Day of Service.  Some braved the cold to help build a house for Habitat for Humanity or work on Metro Parks trails.  Others painted or helped families move into apartments.   Hundreds dropped off donations.  It was a team effort that made and will continue to make a difference in our community.  I hope the spirit of the day boosts involvement.

Thankfully, my parents and teachers encouraged me to volunteer.  In some cases, at a younger age, made me!  Over the years, I have learned some great lessons from a simple day or a few hours of service.  These days, I volunteer at a homeless day shelter.  Recently, I was asked to help out at 7 a.m.  I’m not a fan of mornings, so you can image my mood when the alarm went off.  As I was walking into the center, one of the guys called me out for my sleepy eyes.  I told him I wasn’t a morning person.  He quickly responded that he had to be, especially since he and the others have to leave the overnight shelters at the crack of dawn.  Amazingly, he had a smile on his face.  He told me he was clean and sober for 32 days and that was enough to get him going in the cold morning hours.  He put me in my place!  Needless to say, I have a much better attitude these days when the alarm clock goes off.

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