The Crookston Park Board met on Monday night reviewing the summer recreation programs and receiving an update from pool manager Cody Brekken. Brekken said starting in September, the pool will go away from the punch card system in favor of pool passes. “Instead of being able to get punch cards we’ll have pool passes,” said Brekken. “From September to December we’ll have a four-month pool pass and another one from February to May. We’ll have a summer one for the busy months in June, July, and August. For those $100 for individuals and $175 for family passes. We’ll have swim lessons again in mid-November which you can find in the FunFinder starting on November 11. Sign-up will open up in mid-October.”
Brekken also said they are looking to add a Crookston Park and Recreation Wellness Group at the pool for youth who have completed swim lessons. Adding if it comes to fruition would likely be similar to the CROCS program but without the same competitive level. “During the school year during the swim season, our open swim is Monday-Friday 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and noon to 3:00 p.m. on the weekends,” said Brekken. “Once the swim season is up around mid-November we’re looking to start a Crookston Park and Rec Wellness group. Kind of what the CROCS use to be, not so much on the competitive level just kind of what you do after swim lessons until the lower teenage age range. Looking at something like December to an April season with a 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. class twice a week. Nothing for sure yet, but more to follow with that program.”
Brekken also provided an update on several upgrades planned inside the facility. Those include adding glass doors on the east side of the building to allow light in and to better utilize the patio, new water fountains, and shower replacement. Brekken said they are also looking at different hours for the 2020 summer season that is comparable to several other area pools. “We’re looking next summer to have a broader range of hours,” said Brekken. “So instead of the two different time periods for open swim we’d do something like noon to 8:00 p.m. like you see with the outdoor pools in the area. And then as far as what we’re looking at doing inside would hopefully be getting two new water fountains in the swim area and a refrigerated one with a bottle filler in the front of the lobby. That would be huge and then getting some quotes for updating the shower systems in the locker rooms. Those are original, and some of the last original equipment left that could benefit from some updating. Other things, adding a door on the east side out to the deck space there to provide a little more light with some open window doors there and putting some tables out there for next summer so we’d be able to have some space if you wanted a birthday party outside rather than inside. We could utilize that deck space out there better.”
Parks and Recreation Director Scott Riopelle said the 2019 summer programs were very successful with a focus on being able to participate in more than one activity. “Whether it was tennis, golf, baseball, softball, club kid, we compared the 2018 to 2019 summer programs,” said Riopelle. “We were basically on par with last year. I think a difference of eight participants. And then we’ve now added in the pool. We had approximately 93 participate in swim lessons during our portion of the summer, so that was good. We’re holding steady, still looking for ways/options to bring in new kids. With the bus delivering kids to and from it helps the programs for the parents that can’t get the kids there. Plus, we have the meals up there so they can eat at noon and then go to club kid after participating in morning programs. It’s worked well, and we try to make it so you can participate in more than one activity each day, so the kids are well-balanced and have options.”
The total participants in the youth programs were 419, up from 411 plus an additional 93 students in swim lessons.
2019 SUMMER PROGRAM NUMBERS
Swim Lessons – 93
Club Kid – 69
Boppers/Big Boppers – 69
10U/12U Baseball – 37
Prep/Babe Ruth Baseball – 26
Peewee/Bantam Baseball – 42
Fastpitch Ponies/Bantams – 42
Golf – 83
Tennis – 61
The adult programs also saw increased numbers as men’s softball went from 10 to 11 teams, the first time the league has grown in many years, according to Scott Butt. Women’s sand volleyball also increased to 16 teams across two divisions. “Slowpitch was up, and then our sand volleyball was up,” said Riopelle. “That’s been good the last few years anyway, but we had approximately 16 teams. There is stuff for everybody to do. We’re still looking at other alternatives to get more people out. This year was pretty good, and we’ll look for numbers to grow next year.”
Butt also informed the Park Board that the Crookston Baseball Association had paid for two sliding windows for the press box at Karn Field which the park staff will install. Riopelle also said the first set of new bleachers has arrived for Karn. And with those new bleachers, a staircase will need to be built for the press box as the new bleachers are not as tall as the ones out of the old arena.
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