The City of Cordova Parks and Recreation Department is completing the first summer season under a newly produced activity guide, which includes expanded offerings to the public, robust activity schedules, and opportunities for special events. Parks and Rec manages and maintains a number of facilities around the city including the Bidarki Recreation Center, municipal parks such as Hollis Hendricks, and the Bob Korn Memorial Swimming Pool.
Parks and Rec unveiled their new summer activity guide, the first of its kind for the department, at the tail end of May 2024. Within the guide Cordovans can find a schedule of recurring activities, dates of special events, a clear list of amenities found at local facilities, and information on how to register for these opportunities. The guide was designed in house and 500 copies were printed and distributed around town. Duncan Chisholm, Parks and Rec director, says that the new, organized guidebook is a part of building the department’s capacity.
“We want to show what we are contributing to our community,” he said.
Chisholm plans to produce a guide for each quarter of the year with variable amounts of activities based on season, staff capacity, and community interest. The upcoming fall guide is planned to cover October through December.
Examples of activities outlined in the guidebook include schedules for drop-in basketball, volleyball and pickleball, as well as a variety of structured clinics for both adults and children to learn new skills. Chisholm says that the guide also includes opportunities for Cordova’s senior citizens such as the social walk hour from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. each Monday and Wednesday. Chisholm says that the planned activities are inclusive and there is a variety of choices to fit the community’s needs.
“We need to cater for everybody,” he said.
Chisholm says he also feels that these activities are opportunities for Cordovans to get out and get to know their neighbors better.
“Part of parks and recreation is social cohesion, it’s an essential service that improves quality of life for us all,” he said.
Chisholm has more than 20 years of experience in municipal parks and recreation, and took the position of director in July of 2021. He says that Cordova deserves the attention and professionality comparable to bigger cities around the country.
“Ultimately, the services here in Cordova shouldn’t be different from any other place,” he said. “There should be lots of kids programs and plenty of activity year-round.”
Chisholm says part of his motivation in creating the new guide was to build back community trust in the parks department through clear communication.
“We’re trying to deliver quality and get community buy-in. A big part of that is schedule consistency so people can know what’s happening,” he said.
So far this summer the most popular programs within the community have been the youth soccer and volleyball camps for ages 6 to 9. The free Wednesday pop-up play accompanied by music on the grass at Hollis Hendricks Park has also been well attended by children in the community when weather permits.
Chisholm says he looks forward to seeing how the new adult programs are received as well. One of these is the Mindful Morning Hike scheduled for Aug. 7 at 9:30 a.m. Parks and Rec has partnered with the Forest Service to offer this guided hike where participants are encouraged to relax, journal, and learn about their backyard in a small group.
The guide also highlights several special events supported by Parks and Rec such as Eyak Lake appreciation day, a family kickball tournament, and a parent and child cornhole league. One upcoming event that Cordovan pet owners may be interested in is the Paws in Pool Day. Chisholm says that staff plans to take advantage of the pool’s upcoming draining by offering a day for the dogs.
On Sunday, Aug. 4 owners are welcome to bring their dogs to swim in the pool with separate sessions for smaller and larger canines. After this the salt water pool will be drained for its regular water treatment and maintenance. Proceeds from this event will go to support the Cordova Police Department’s doggie jail.
These expanded offerings follow several upgrades to facilities such as the installation of new treadmills in Bidarki. Facilities around the city have been given attention as well including the addition of an extra fish cleaning station out at Fleming Spit. The station was constructed with the help of Cordova High School’s 2022 shop class and installed by Parks and Rec staff. Community members have recognized some of these efforts in a positive way. One post on the public Cordova bulletin board on Facebook thanked Parks and Rec staff for installing the seasonal soccer goals at Hollis Hendricks, an amenity popular with several age groups.
Chisholm and staff encourage Cordovans to view the guide and follow the City of Cordova Parks and Recreation Facebook page for more info. Many activities are offered based on interest, so interested participants should pre-register in person or online if possible. Those interested in the new and continued offerings at Cordova’s Park and Rec facilities can pick up an activity guide in person at the Bidarki Center or Bob Korn Pool, or view the online PDF on the City of Cordova’s website under the public notices tab.
