Great Bend Recreation Commission is wrapping up another busy summer and gearing up for fall programming, the board of commissioners learned Monday.
Recreation Director Diann Henderson reported that GBRC offered 1,277 hours of supervised activities for the month of July. There were 4,474 enrollments and 20,936 participants, of which 9,183 were spectators. That included more than 2,000 times when parents and grandparents watched children take swimming lessons, said Program Coordinator Megan Hammeke.
There were 443 enrollments in swimming lessons, with some children enrolling for more than one session, and 49 babies in the toddler program.
Hammeke also reported on July activities for special populations and senior citizens.
Special populations held its annual bowling tournament, which was won by Steven Clarke. His score for two games was 562. Hammeke said some of the bowlers use bumpers in the lanes, but most – including Clarke – do not.
The special needs participants also had a luau at the Wetlands Center.
The senior activities included several sessions of the Fit for Life exercise program, with people participating 343 times in July.
The Commission on Aging has purchased three of the oversized “birdhouses” that can be seen at various locations in Great Bend, and GBRC staff will help decorate them for the Great Bend Senior Center.
Sports Supervisor Chris Umphres reported that baseball and softball tournaments are finished. Great Bend hosted the Hap Dumont baseball tournament for kids 11 years and younger at the Great Bend Sports Complex.
Cooed softball is under way now.
Program Coordinator Garet Fitzpatrick reported on leisure programs, saying GBRC just finished judging a cutest pet photo contest and results will be announced. There were seven entries. There were 150 audience members at the summer children’s theater production, “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”
Hunter education will be taught this Saturday and again in early October, Fitzpatrick said.
In action items, the commission awarded the annual bid for GBRC T-shirts to the low bidder, M&N Screen Printing & Embroidery, 1112 Main. M&N’s bid was $4.25 per shirt, and $5.50 for 2X and 3X sizes. The only other bidder was Identifications Co. Awards & Screenprinting, 1413 Main, which matched the bid on larger sizes but bid $4.50 for other sizes. Henderson said GBRC buys about 1,800 shirts each year.