Reynoldsburg Parks adds to program line-up

(by Rachel Scofield, Staff Writer - January 10, 2009)

Reynoldsburg's parks and recreation department will offer nine new programs this year.

The January-July 2009 program guide features all of them including sports camps, Tumbling for kids and Gardening for adults.

"I am very excited about adding new classes," Councilwoman Leslie Kelly said at the Jan. 6 Reynoldsburg City Council meeting. "The reason I moved to Reynoldsburg, besides the schools, was the tremendous parks and recreation program we have. These are great, great, great additions to programs already there."

The gardening classes will be taught in April and June by Fisher's Greenhouse and are $15 for residents and non-residents. Offerings include Perennials, Vegetables and Herbs.

Another new class for adults is Geocaching. As described in the parks brochure, "Geocaching is an activity where participants use a GPS receiver to locate hidden containers, called geocaches. The locations of the geocaches are published on the Web. GPS coordinates are entered into the receivers. Seekers, called geocachers use the receivers to get within 10 to 20 feet of the geocache. Then they search the area..."

Each geocache is a container filled with trinkets that the seekers collect. The container also includes a logbook that the seeker signs, parks director Jason Shamblin said.

The activity is similar to letterboxing in which participants follow clues to a hidden box then rubber stamp the logbook.

"It's another opportunity to go hunt for treasure, since there is an interest," Shamblin said.

Shamblin decided to offer the class after a geocache enthusiast contacted his department for permission to hide a box in one of the city parks.
Now all the parks have at least one box.

The class is rated for adults, but Shamblin hopes people will bring their kids.

"It's a great way for families to get out," Shamblin said.

Residents and non-residents may register for classes now.

Although Shamblin said he didn't think anyone had ever been "turned away" from a class or sport, the two-week head start ensures that residents fill spots first.
The entire list of course offerings is available at www.ci.reynoldsburg.oh.us, however online registration is not currently available.

To register, you may either stop by the Parks and Registration Office on Main Street, drop a completed form with a check in the Municipal Building drop-box located in the lobby, or mail the form and check to Reynoldsburg Parks and Recreation, 7232 E. Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068.

There will be a special non-mandatory council work session at 9 p.m. Jan. 17 "to go over procedural generalities," Council President William Hills said.

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