Newfield Recreation Department reimagined thanks to new help

It was early March, and Mike Jordan was thinking about spring sports. He’d been a coach for Newfield’s Recreation Program for many years and was itching to get back on the field. His 10-year-old daughter was looking forward to running with the youth recreation track team, while his 7-year old son was dreaming of baseball.

Then, Jordan heard about the recreation director’s abrupt departure from the position, a departure that would place those spring programs in jeopardy.

“My first inclination was to send an email off to the town supervisor,” Jordan said. “I offered to help out in any capacity whatsoever — step in as temporary director, be part of a committee, whatever. I have a vested interest in this community because I’m going to be involved in it for a long time to come.”

Jordan soon learned he was not alone in his desire to help. A group of parents, many of whom had been coaches or program leaders in past years, attended the next Town Board meeting and offered their services.

“Hilary [Humble] and Dorinda [Daley] have track down solid,” Jordan said. “I’m invested in baseball — I played at Ithaca High School and I have three little boys who will more than likely be playing soon — so I volunteered to get that squared away.”

Town Supervisor Michael Allinger gratefully accepted their help, acknowledging that the program was in a bit of a bind in the short term and could use the assistance.

“We had a group of parents step up and take leadership roles for the baseball, softball and track programs,” Allinger said. “They’re passionate about seeing these programs move forward and they have more knowledge about running them than I do, so I’m taking their lead on that. As far as helping them get organized and getting the resources they need, I’m working closely with them.”

Jordan is also committed to revitalizing the recreation softball program and has already found the coaches to make it happen.

“I think we need to have a strong female presence in our recreation programs, and softball brings that,” Jordan said. “So far, it looks like we will be able to field a Dessie Jacobs league prep team, which is for first- through third-graders, and a National League team, which is for fourth- through sixth-graders.”

Sign-ups for spring sports programs, including track, baseball and softball, are available online at newfieldny.org/residents/recreation1 or in person at the Town Hall on April 6 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Lauren Schumacher had already been hired to run the summer day camp, as she did last year, and that will continue as planned. Camp will run from June 27 to Aug. 5 and will be held in the elementary school.

Sign-ups are available now at tinyurl.com/yclpescu. Space is limited, and enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis.

With the immediate programs well in hand, the Town Board is taking advantage of the opportunity to consider the future of the recreation program and what it could look like going forward. While programming in the past has been geared heavily toward youth sports, the board recognizes that there are a lot of other activities that could fit under the recreation umbrella.

“Where do we want to go with this program? That was the gist of the discussion at our meeting last Thursday,” Allinger said. “The recreation program has always provided a place for younger kids to learn and practice athletic skills. While that’s an important asset of the town’s recreation program, we are also looking at what we can offer kids who might have other interests. Also, recreation is not just for kids. There used to be programming for adults, and we’re looking to include that back into the mix as well.”

The town is working closely with other organizations such as the Newfield Public Library and the Tompkins County Recreation Partnership to provide a broader spectrum of creative offerings for Newfield residents.

“Newfield has been a part of the county’s Recreation Partnership for years, but we haven’t had representation on their advisory board for a while,” Allinger said. “I believe that people in Newfield just aren’t aware that these programs are out there and available to them.”

Kate Shanks-Booth, director of the Tompkins County Youth Services Department, said that the Recreation Partnership has been in existence for 23 years and is made up of 11 participating municipalities, including Newfield. The budget and specific offerings are determined each year by an advisory board made up of representatives from each municipality. The Ithaca Youth Bureau is the contracted agency that provides the services.

What kind of programming is offered by the Tompkins County Recreation Partnership? According to their website (iybrec.org), there are a wide variety of sports to choose from, including golf, fencing, tennis and swimming. But there are also options for those who might not be athletically inclined, such as music, theater and pottery. There are lessons in skating, outdoor climbing and tae kwon do. All of this is available to Newfield residents through a unique, intermunicipal agreement.

“Newfield residents are entitled to sign up for programs on the same basis as Ithaca or any other partnership residents,” Shanks-Booth said. “There is a level entry fee no matter where you live in the county. Prior to the creation of the partnership, residents of outlying areas were charged triple the fee, which made it cost prohibitive for most families outside of the city of Ithaca.”

In addition, the Recreation Partnership heavily subsidizes its two summer camps, one at Cass Park and one at Stewart Park. Families who qualify for free or reduced lunch are automatically eligible for a scholarship covering 40% to 70% of the cost. If there is still a financial hardship, families can apply for additional assistance through the partnership’s Echo Fund.

For more information, or to register for any of these programs, visit the website at iybrec.org.

Currently, Randy Brown fills one of the two seats on the Recreation Partnership’s advisory board representing Tompkins County, while Allinger has recently stepped in to represent Newfield. He believes that, in the future, this responsibility should fall on the recreation director’s shoulders.

“We are going to be looking for a director who is really versatile in all aspects of what Tompkins County is offering to the smaller towns as part of the Recreation Partnership and Youth Services,” Allinger said. “To make it even more complicated, we now have two parks within the town that are going to need active programming. So, we need someone who is skilled in working with those resources as well.”

For now, the recreation ballfields on Vankirk Road are quiet, saturated with snow melt and spring rains. Soon, they will be dotted with youngsters in ballcaps, the pinging of bats as sure a sign of spring as the first robin. With new vigor and vision, the future looks bright for Newfield recreation.

Newfield Notes appear every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Dine to donate at the Texas Roadhouse

On April 10 from noon to 9 p.m., Texas Roadhouse, located at 719 S. Meadow St. in Ithaca, will be holding a fundraiser for the Newfield Lions Club. Visit the Texas Roadhouse during the time range, mention the Newfield Lions fundraiser to your server or at checkout, and 10% of your total purchase will be donated to the Newfield Lions Club. Come, eat and show your support!

Spring book sale at the Newfield Public Library

On April 9 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., stop in to the Newfield Public Library, 198 Main St., for a great selection of books, DVDs, games and more! Prices are $2 for books and $1 for DVDs, puzzles and CDs. For more information, visit newfieldpubliclibrary.org or contact the library at newfieldlibrary@gmail.com or (607) 564-3594. Learn more at newfieldpubliclibrary.org/spring-book-sale-april-9.