Crown Point's Parks and Recreation Offers Full Slate of Programs, Classes
activities, classes, josh ravesloot, parks, recreation, sports, sportsplex skate park,
Fun‚ fitness and a better quality of life are the focus at Crown Point’s Parks & Recreation department – and everyone benefits.
There’s a wide range of activities available at the city’s parks and recreational facilities‚ including the 86-acre Sportsplex‚ which spans 109th to 113th streets in the Hub City. Summer is a particularly lively time.
“We’ve increased our programming by 35 percent‚” says Parks & Recreation Director Julie Johnson. “We’ve added a lot of senior programs‚ more health and fitness programs for all ages‚ family programs‚ and tournaments – including beanbag or corn hole competitions.”
Corn hole?
The beanbag toss apparently traces its origins to the Hoosier State’s agri cultural heritage when players tossed corncobs into a hole‚ Johnson says.
“I think overall my goal is to just encourage people to take advantage of what’s out there – what’s offered by Crown Point’s Parks & Recreation department and the city of Crown Point‚” she says.
The Sportsplex includes soccer fields‚ lit baseball fields‚ adult softball fields‚ picnic tables‚ a pavilion and skate park. The city currently has 18 parks‚ with two more being added soon. The 1-acre Penn Oak Park will include a community; the second‚ the 8-acre White Hawk West Park‚ will be more of a “passive” park‚ Johnson says.
“We’re trying to offer all types of recreation – not just playgrounds‚ but trails and passive parks‚ with gazebos‚ benches and walking trails through wooded areas‚ as well. That’s part of implementing passive parks – providing a quiet space in today’s day and age where everybody is moving so fast‚” Johnson says.
“That is the goal of parks and recreation in general – to give people a place to kind of step out of your norm and venture out into recreation‚ taking advantage of the parks. It’s a stress reliever‚ improves health and has a positive effect on people if they take advantage of it.”
Johnson’s department is also encouraging participation in a citywide initiative called Lite-N-Up Crown Point‚ designed to encourage an active and healthy lifestyle.
“It’s a health and fitness program‚” Johnson explains. “We’ve implemented a walking club that will be part of the initiative. My staff and myself are taking advantage of that as well. It’s helping everyone adopt a healthier lifestyle.”
Johnson says she tries to enjoy the parks herself – and benefit from all that they offer all of Crown Point’s citizens.
“Today‚ people often get wrapped up in their day-to-day schedules. The parks and recreational activities allow them to step out and relax – or try something new – and help them enjoy life more.”
Story by Anne Gillem
Photo by Brian McCord
