ML Parks and Recreation Department beginning winter programs

By CARA LORELLO

Staff Reporter

All of Medical Lake’s city parks, minus the skateboard park, will stay open this winter but visitors can forget about using the public restrooms, which have all been winterized and will remain closed until next spring, parks and recreation committee chair Jeff King reported at the Nov. 4 City Council meeting.

King also reported that a slide at Wilcox Park was damaged recently. City Administrator Doug Ross said a sharp object carved grooves onto the surface of the slide by an unidentified source. The city learned of the damage after a call reported the slide had torn a child’s clothing. Ross said it took the city about a day to smooth out all the gouges.

This kind of vandalism, he added, is common around the parks, and difficult for city maitentence to catch every time.

“If kids want to do something, they usually find a way to do it. We always have vandalism at our parks. It’s an ongoing battle for us,” Ross said.

In other park news, the new picnic shelter ordered this year for Pioneer Park arrived this month, and is slated for a spring installation. Ross said the shelter is in storage until then. The city is arranging for inmate work crews to help install the structure once the concrete slab is poured.

King also reported on the status of several winter athletic programs and activities through the Medical Lake Parks and Recreation Department.

The MAC (Medical Lake Airway Heights Cheney) adult sports league slow break basketball had five teams register in October, which play through Nov. 24. The league is taking registrations now for people interested in joining its coed volleyball league, open to all adults ages 18 and over.

Registration for Medical Lake Youth Basketball, open to ages 5-12, runs through Wednesday, Dec. 3. Registration fees are $35, and practices begin mid week in early January 2009, with games on Saturdays through late February. Those interested should call (509) 565-5007 to find out more.

Plans are underway for the city’s annual Community Tree Lighting Festivities, to be held Friday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. at Coney Island Park, located at Jefferson and Lake streets in downtown Medical Lake. Featured festivities will include lighting of the community tree, a visit from Santa Clause, and free hot cider and cookies. A free movie at City Hall won’t be included in this year’s festivities, as King said last year didn’t render a big enough turnout for the city to arrange for one this year.

Also taking registrations now through Dec. 31 is Hatha Yoga, offered Sunday and Thursday evenings for 12 weeks beginning Jan. 4, 2009. Cost for 12 weeks is $120, with meetings at 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. Space is limited, so those interested may contact the department either by phone, or download registration forms at http://www.medical-lake.org.

Practices for coed volleyball begin Jan. 18, 2009, with payment plans available for team registration fees of $205 per team (a 50 percent down payment is needed at time of registration). Individuals interested in registering for adult coed volleyball may contact Cheney Parks and Recreation at (509-498-9296).

Cara Lorello can be reached at [email protected]