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PITTSBURG —
Pittsburg Parks and Recreation employees returned from a recent conference full of ideas and inspiration to look into additional programming for area populations.
Parks and Recreation Director Kim Vogel said the department tries each year to attend the annual Kansas Parks and Recreation Association conference due to the opportunities to learn, network and return with new ideas for the community.
The parks and recreation staff each focused on different types of sessions and the ideas cover a wide range of possible activities, including senior socials, barrier-free theater, activities for parents and children in addition to the Dad & Daughter Date Night, and therapeutic swimming classes.
“We each broke out to attend different sessions,” Vogel said. “The stuff I attended had a lot to do with building community relationships, effective communication, management, session planning and programs.”
Both Vogel and Parks and Recreation Superintendent Sara Mitchell said it was the main speaker, Ian Hill, who gave them the most to think about.
“He did a good job of reminding us when we’re working with our community to understand the role we play,” Vogel said. “He drilled on the impact of what we do in the community.”
She said Hill emphasized looking at programming for special needs populations, which really started conversation among the employees as they returned from the trip.
Barrier-free theater, a program for people with special needs who often don’t have the opportunity to perform, was one of Vogel’s favorite ideas from the conference.
“Different communities, as I learned by attending, do it different ways,” she said.
She said the Manhattan community and Kansas State University work together to write scripts based on who shows up, while other communities take plays and either shorten or adapt them.
“It’s really an exciting program,” Vogel said.
She said it would be exciting if something of this sort could be added in Pittsburg this year.
“My goal would be to make something happen by fall,” Vogel said.
“Sara took away a lot of ideas,” Vogel added. “She is working on a father-son campout for this summer.”
Additionally, Mitchell said she is considering having mother-son and mother-daughter events, with the recognition that each paring of parents and children provides the opportunity to form memories.
Mitchell also began looking into therapeutic swimming classes and Vogel said things are potentially coming together to be able to offer that opportunity.
Pittsburg Parks and Recreation employees returned from a recent conference full of ideas and inspiration to look into additional programming for area populations.
Parks and Recreation Director Kim Vogel said the department tries each year to attend the annual Kansas Parks and Recreation Association conference due to the opportunities to learn, network and return with new ideas for the community.
The parks and recreation staff each focused on different types of sessions and the ideas cover a wide range of possible activities, including senior socials, barrier-free theater, activities for parents and children in addition to the Dad & Daughter Date Night, and therapeutic swimming classes.
“We each broke out to attend different sessions,” Vogel said. “The stuff I attended had a lot to do with building community relationships, effective communication, management, session planning and programs.”
Both Vogel and Parks and Recreation Superintendent Sara Mitchell said it was the main speaker, Ian Hill, who gave them the most to think about.
“He did a good job of reminding us when we’re working with our community to understand the role we play,” Vogel said. “He drilled on the impact of what we do in the community.”
She said Hill emphasized looking at programming for special needs populations, which really started conversation among the employees as they returned from the trip.
Barrier-free theater, a program for people with special needs who often don’t have the opportunity to perform, was one of Vogel’s favorite ideas from the conference.
“Different communities, as I learned by attending, do it different ways,” she said.
She said the Manhattan community and Kansas State University work together to write scripts based on who shows up, while other communities take plays and either shorten or adapt them.
“It’s really an exciting program,” Vogel said.
She said it would be exciting if something of this sort could be added in Pittsburg this year.
“My goal would be to make something happen by fall,” Vogel said.
“Sara took away a lot of ideas,” Vogel added. “She is working on a father-son campout for this summer.”
Additionally, Mitchell said she is considering having mother-son and mother-daughter events, with the recognition that each paring of parents and children provides the opportunity to form memories.
Mitchell also began looking into therapeutic swimming classes and Vogel said things are potentially coming together to be able to offer that opportunity.
Social opportunities for senior citizens were identified as another program possibility.
“We’re planning for our seniors for longer,” Vogel said, adding that it is important to give seniors opportunities to be social, healthy and mentally active.
Vogel said the conference is a valuable time for the department and has produced programs that have become community favorites, including Toddler Time, Outdoor Kansas Kid Day and Dad and Daughter Date Night.
“Some of those ideas stick and become long-running, great events,” Vogel said. “Some of them don’t, and we keep them in our bag of tricks for years later.”
She said the department traveled together and shared rooms with Pittsburg State University professors in an effort to keep the costs minimal, and that the investment in the conference pays off for the community.
The conference rotates between Manhattan, Topeka, Overland Park and Wichita, which gives attendees the opportunity to follow each municipality’s activities.
“It gives us an opportunity to see what’s happening in the cities,” Vogel said.
