Pickleball and playgrounds were among the topics recently discussed by the Seymour Parks and Recreation Department board.
Parks Director Stacy Findley told the board during the Sept. 11 meeting that the Seymour Redevelopment Commission had awarded the department $50,000 to put toward adding two pickleball courts at Gaiser Park. Those will be placed next to the two existing courts on the south end of the park.
The commission approved the quality of life grant request because the parks department is going to put in more than $10,000 in labor and services, including site preparation work.
Findley said the additional courts will allow the department to have a pickleball league and host more events.
With playgrounds, Findley said the plan was to start installation in October. The department, however, recently posted a photo on its Facebook page of ground being broken at Freeman Field Recreational Complex.
Thanks to an Indiana Department of Health grant, there also will be new playground equipment installed at Gaiser, Kasting and Westside parks. Weather-permitting, Findley said they should all be done this fall.
In other news, Findley said a bee hotel recently was installed by Will Kratoska at Shields Park behind the fountain. She said this is for carpenter bees.
“I’ve talked to beekeepers, and they said that it could take them a couple years to move in,” Findley said.
There also is a bee hotel at Westside Park.
“This will be a great addition,” Findley said of the new one at Shields Park.
Updates on programs and leagues also were provided during the board meeting.
Program Director Chad Keithley said there are four teams each for fall softball and adult kickball leagues. The first two softball games were Sept. 20 and 27, and the final league game will be Oct. 4 before a double-elimination tournament begins. Kickball started Sept. 19, and games are being played Tuesdays.
Keithley also said signups have started for the winter volleyball league. To sign up, call 812-522-6420, stop by Seymour City Hall, 301-309 N. Chestnut St., or visit seymourin.recdesk.com/community/program.
Free classes open to the public also are being offered through IDOH grant funding through Healthy Jackson County.
In September, Zumba was led by Maribel Brand at 5:45 p.m. Wednesdays at Crossroads Community Park, and water aerobics was led by Katrina Hardwick at 7 p.m. Wednesdays at the Seymour High School pool. Both will continue through the end of the year, but Findley noted Zumba will move indoors. She also said yoga classes will be offered at Studio SPF in Brownstown. Follow the department’s Facebook page for updates.
Assistant Program Director Ally Wheeler shared information on a new event, a candle making workshop with Carrie Kruse of Blow This Candle Co. It’s set for 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Seymour Community Center, 107 S. Chestnut St.
The cost is $40 per person and includes a candle, a charcuterie board, dessert and drinks. Choose between a cereal bowl or succulent bowl candle when registering by phone, at city hall or online.
Another topic discussed during the meeting was the Christmas Parade of Lights, set for 5 p.m. Dec. 16 in downtown Seymour.
There is no cost to enter the parade, but people should preregister online at seymourin.recdesk.com/community/program because there’s a limit of 50 entries.
After the parade, people can go to the B&O Railroad Parking Lot behind the Knights of Columbus for a variety of activities. The event will end with fireworks at dark.
Findley said there will be Christmas-related activities each week in December. The board approved the Jackson County Chamber using Crossroads Community Park for Christmas at Crossroads at 6 p.m. Dec. 2. Findley said the parks department will do some type of mixology event another week, and Wheeler said they will have cookies and milk with Santa at the community center, too. Those details will be shared once they are available.