Parks and Recreation evolves programming

The parks and recreation department added 14new programs in 2017 and are making plans for more additions.

Avon Lake Department of Parks and Recreation continues to build momentum in adding programs and increasing community participation.

In an update to Avon Lake City Council on May 21, Tim Pinchek, parks and recreation director, reported an overall participation increase of 44 percent in 2017 with more 6,200 Avon Lake residents taking part in new programming.

The parks and recreation department added 14 new programs in 2017 and are making plans for more additions with new youth football programs in the fall in partnership with the Cleveland Browns and USA Football.

“During these past months, we’ve been planning for the fall season already,” Pinchek said.

In addition, further developments at The Anchor recreation center are coming.

Pinchek added timing of the opening of The Anchor recreation facility at the Artstown Mall, 33483 Lake Road, was less than ideal.

The city, however, hopes to add more programs in the fall and winter after having missed opportunities on league rentals and New Year’s resolutions as other people and leagues were committed to other locations.

“We’re really not where we want to be right now at The Anchor as far as financially,” Pinchek said. “And that’s no reason other than we missed the timing on the opening of the facility.

“When we opened the facility, our whole intention was to try to get this going as early as we could this year.”

Pinchek said he remains optimistic as the facility continues to gain positive feedback from the community in providing low-cost fitness classes and believes participation will continue to grow.

The parks and recreation department is aiming to continue ongoing partnerships with the Browns, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians along with looking at ways to offer more resources to coaches and young athletes to develop fundamentals necessary to move to the next level.

“Our programs are growing, our department’s growing and we look forward to good things to come,” Pinchek said.