FY2022

Program areas promote skill development and offer educational activities, while maintaining recreational values. Program offerings include sports and fitness, arts, music and movement, independent living skills, special events, clubs and social activities. Youth Sports The Youth Sports program is designed to offer participants a variety of recreational sport leagues and individual programs focused on developing skills and sportsmanship in a fun, positive and encouraging atmosphere. The program is geared for recreation play so all participants regardless of ability or knowledge of the sport have a positive experience. Program offerings include traditional sports as well as non-traditional sports. Seasons are kept short in order to prevent overlap allowing participants to register for multiple programs. The Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department works cooperatively with other local sports organizations to maximize the program opportunities and experiences. It also works with local businesses to create team sponsorships in order to keep participant fees low. Adult Recreation & Wellness Adult recreation and wellness programs include men’s, women’s and co-recreational teams in the sports of volleyball and basketball. Competitive and recreational divisions are established to meet participant’s interests and skill levels. New adult sports leagues and tournaments are being developed and the City will continue to partner with the Corridor Corporate Games. There is an increased focus on branching away exclusively from sports and looking to develop programming for a wider audience, including how-to skills workshops, developing and promoting wellness opportunities, creating larger-scale adult recreation one-day events, increasing neighborhood park visits through the facilitation of weekly small social Pop-Up Park events and in creating bike safety and education clinics and events for youth. Staff schedules the Department’s athletic fields including 19 baseball/softball fields and 23 soccer fields. Affiliate groups and outside user groups include: City High Baseball, Iowa City Boys Baseball, Iowa City Girls Softball, Kickers Youth and Adult Soccer, RedZone Flag Football League, Heritage Christian School, Little Hawks Baseball and Softball Clubs, Trojans Baseball Club, Jaguars Softball Club, Barracudas Softball Club, Iowa Soccer League (Youth), Pearl City Soccer League (Adult), Club Development Soccer League (Youth). The Recreation Program Supervisor in this area also supervises garden plot rentals, contracts for event facilities and concessions at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area, the processing of special event permits, rentals of park shelters, and operations at the City’s two dog parks. Communications & Special Events The Communications & Special Events program area encompasses brand development and external communication coordination including website and social media management, media and public relations, digital design and advertising, brand management, and creative/technical writing and editing. This Recreation Program Supervisor also coordinates with other staff in an effort to enhance the viability and quality of special events in their particular areas.

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