Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation team members pride themselves on being centered around their mission statement that includes “strengthen the quality of life of our community." To Executive Director of Recreation Services Nate Williams, that goal carries a lot of weight.
“Being responsible for providing facilities, events, programming and activities that bring meaning and value to those in our community is something we don’t take lightly,” Nate shares. “We work hard as a team to determine what's needed and how we can develop unique opportunities for the families of Murfreesboro.”
For the parks and recreation staff, Nate says it means more than just having several amazing parks and greenways for children to enjoy. It’s more than the new splash pad and inclusive playground that was just added to Patterson Park Community Center, and it’s not just the “coming soon” Veterans Park that will showcase a destination playground and more than five miles of walking trails. It includes the programming across the facilities that ensures there's always something happening for the children and families, and even the pets in the local community.
To illustrate this, some of Parks and Recreation staffers wanted to share some of their favorite things that the department offers or achieves.
Lauren Pearson, assistant program coordinator for Outdoor Murfreesboro: “My favorite event that we do is Raptor Rhapsody. I love teaching people about how cool raptors are!”
Seth Thompson. assistant program coordinator for Cannonsburgh Village: "My favorite event is Bingo at Cannonsburgh Village. This program occurs monthly and receives community members of all ages. The best moments are when several rounds have passed and a kid finally wins. The moment you hear 'BINGO!' it raises the excitement and the room cheers them on. The community comes together to play a great game where anyone has the chance to win."
Carrie Stafford, recreation facility coordinator for aquatics: “Watching kids swim during Open Swim is one of my favorite parts of my job. It's wonderful to see them have fun, build confidence and develop new skills in the water through play. Being able to support their growth and see their excitement in a safe environment makes my job both meaningful and rewarding.”
Dana McKee, program coordinator at Adams Tennis Complex: “I love seeing our tennis camp kids enthusiastically embrace the fundamentals, engage in skill-building drills and enjoy playful games. The highlight of our camp experience has been seeing the friendships blossom, hearing the joyful laughter filling the air and feeling the genuine gratitude shared by the children."
Among the services provided by this staff are athletics, aquatics, cultural arts, fitness/wellness and outdoor recreation, all while promoting lifelong play. Whether it’s taking a thrilling ride down a water slide at Boro Beach, exploring historic Cannonsburgh Village, playing a competitive game of tennis at Old Fort Park, hiking along the beautiful Stones River Greenway, or taking advantage of hundreds of other options, these dedicated staffers assure there's a quality experience available for every member of the community.
Of course, this team on behalf of the broader Murfreesboro area was "Red, White and READY" to celebrate America's 250th in a spectacular way on the Fourth of July at The Fountains, including DJ music, games, food trucks, splash pad fun, John Foster's live performance on stage and an incredible display of fireworks.
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MurfreesboroParks.com
“Being responsible for facilities, events, programming and activities that bring value to our community is something we don’t take lightly."