THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603020091
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 266 lines
THERE ARE several calendars in Tim Smith's office.
``That's so I can look ahead,'' he explained.
Since becoming director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Facility Management in September, the soft-spoken Smith has been gung-ho with ideas on serving Suffolk residents.
Ideas seem to flow from his five-person staff, four of whom have been with the department for a year or less. Most migrated from other local parks and recreation departments.
``We have a lot of opportunities to do new things with new personnel,'' said Carole Faye Tillery, a 15-year veteran. ``We have better plans, more programs, more sponsorship of some of our athletic and recreational events.''
Ten of 22 recreation classes are new, as are four of 23 scheduled adult classes.
``We're looking at more outdoor programming for all ages,'' said Smith.
``We're not deleting the old programs. We want to increase recreational opportunities by offering more variety.''
He emphasized: ``We're in the process of rebuilding our services. There's a lot we'd like to do. There aren't enough financial resources. We'll be innovative.''
The department has an annual budget of $350,000. That covers staff pay, operating expenses including the Suffolk Museum, and salaries for sports officials and umpires.
In these tight-budget days, innovation is becoming vital as a way of getting things done.
``We're finding opportunities to join hands with other organizations in the community - recreation, cultural, the schools,'' said Dinesh V. Tiwari, director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Facility Management. ``We'll pool our resources, increasing the opportunity for leisure activities in Suffolk.''
One example is planned joint ventures with The Fine Arts Center, which teaches music and drama.
Fortunately, the department has been able to count on volunteers to coach basketball, football, softball and volleyball and to handle the children's summer playground schedule.
Those are the most popular activities. Some events entice few participants.
``Football is on the decrease, soccer on the increase. That's a national trend. We'll always have a football program, but it's not increasing like soccer,'' Tiwari said. ``We're taking a look at our programs, reviewing effectiveness. Those not working out will be eliminated, then we'll create new ones. This is typical of any recreational organization.''
Smith adds, ``There is a lot going on, but sometimes not a lot of people to do it.''
Few people attended concerts at the Magnolia Amphitheater during the past few years.
``It's time to find out why. Is it the location, the facility?'' Smith asked. ``We're going to find out how to turn it back around. What's going to work? We have to figure out what Suffolk is about.''
Tiwari expressed disappointment in the turnout for the New Year's Eve activities at Constant's Wharf, blaming ``not enough publicity, and bad weather. Still, we had about 200 people - not bad considering the weather.''
He hopes to do well with nature escape programs such as next month's False Cape trip.
``Are people really into nature here? We have the resources. There's no shortage of water. We had success with a winter nature series in King William County,'' said Smith, who was director of the Department of Parks and Recreation there.
The other new staff newcomers have similar backgrounds.
Tony Colden, manager of the Birdsong Gymnasium, its fitness center and the department's inner-city athletic programs, arrived from Portsmouth.
``What got me here was Surprising Suffolk,'' he said, ``Its new directions. It's a growing city.''
The department's assistant director, MaryAnne Cunningham, came from Norfolk, where she went in the first place to escape the congestion of Washington, D.C.
``I thought Norfolk would be a relief from that hustle and bustle,'' she said. ``It wasn't. I could've stayed where I was. I came to Suffolk because I wanted a hometown atmosphere.''
Liz Daugherty arrived from Newport News. ``I'm a recreation specialist,'' she said, adding with a smile, ``that means I'm a special person. I came here because the working conditions are better and there's more room for personal and professional growth.''
Daugherty's supervisor, Jan Thomas, arrived from Chesapeake to take charge of the leisure classes, after school programs and senior citizen programs.
``Suffolk,'' she said, ``offers a wonderful opportunity for new challenges.''
Smith, who said he came to Suffolk ``for the opportunity to grow in my career,'' mixed a good job with bad timing.
He lives in Richmond with his wife and their two children, commuting, he said ``because I just bought a house there.''
Smith talks about families who just bought houses in Suffolk.
``The first things they look at are education and recreation,'' he said. ``What are the schools going to be like - and what can the kids do after school?
``The department is looking at more outdoor programming for all ages - things that are relaxing, yet educational,'' Smith said.
Even for the very little ones. ``Breakfast With the Birds,'' for instance, is a new program that gives toddlers the opportunity to take an early morning walk and feed their feathered friends with self-made treats.
Other new tot and toddler classes are Creative Movement and Dance, and tumbling. ``Lunch Time Pals'' gives little ones the opportunity to play, while mom shops.
New programs for teenagers include beginning ballet and tap classes, modern dance, horseback riding lessons, creative writing, making Oriental greeting cards.
The new adult classes are advanced ballroom dancing, Chinese brush painting and intermediate drawing.
``We have an obligation to bring the city a good quality of life,'' Smith said. ``Recreation is a big player in that.''``That's so I can look ahead,'' he explained. MEMO: For information on programs offered by the Department of Parks,
Recreation and Facility Management, call 925-6325.For information on
programs offered by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Facility
Management, call 925-6325.
PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES
The Suffolk Department of Parks, Recreation and Facility Management
invites you to enjoy the following facilities:
PARKS
Bennetts Creek Park and Boat Ramp
Route 659, Shoulders Hill Road
Phone 484-3984
50 acres
Coulbourn Park
East Constance Road
2 acres
Cypress Park and Pool
Arizona Avenue
Phone 539-9793
30.6 acres
Ida Easter Park
Brook Avenue
1 acre
Joyner Park
Holladay Street
2 acres
Lake Kennedy Park
Blythewood Lane
19.34 acres
Lakeside Park Tot Lot
Maryland Avenue
1 acre
Lone Star Lakes Park
Bob House Parkway
Phone 255-4308
1,069 acres
Magnolia Park and Amphitheater
301 N. Saratoga St.
5 acres
Peanut Park
Carolina Road
5 acres
Turlington Park
Lawson Circle
1 acre
Wellons Park
200 Pender St.
1 acre
Wynnewood Park
Brookenwood Drive
2 acres
PLAYGROUNDS
Belleville Meadows Playground
Plummer Boulevard
5 acres
Mary Estes Playground
Dill Road
1.7 acres
Tynes Street Playground
Tynes Street
1 acre
REC CENTERS
Birdsong Recreation Center
301 N. Main St.
Phone 925-6325
Whaleyville Community Center & Athletic Field
6213 Whaleyville Blvd.
Phone 986-3556
TENNIS COURTS
Booker T. Washington Elementary School Tennis Courts
204 Walnut St.
5 acres
Forest Glen Middle School Tennis Courts
200 Forest Glen Drive
1/2 acre
Lake Meade Landing Tennis Courts
North Main St.
7.63 acres
Suffolk High School Tennis Courts
North Saratoga Street
1/2 acre
WATER ACCESS
Constant's Wharf and Boat Ramp
North Main Street
12 acres
Crump's Mill Pond
6075 Godwin Blvd.
Phone 255-4941
ATHLETIC FIELDS
Holland Athletic Field
6620 Holland Road
2 acres
Kings Fork Athletic Field
Robbs Drive and Kings Fork Road
2 acres
Monogram Field
Sleepy Hole Road
8 acres
Southwestern Elementary School Softball Field
Southwestern Boulevard
2 acres
Whaleyville Community Center and Athletic Field
6213 Whaleyville Blvd.
Phone 986-3556
8 acres
OTHER FACILITIES
Lone Star Lakes Lodge
Pembroke Lane
Phone 255-4308
10 acres
National Guard Armory
2761 Godwin Blvd.
Phone 925-2236
Planters Club
4600 Planters Club Drive
Phone 539-9893
Senior Citizens Center
350 North Main St.
Phone 925-6388
The Suffolk Museum
118 Bosley Ave.
Phone 925-6311 ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo on color cover by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Tim Smith
Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Lakita Frazier, the after-school leader, and recreation specialist
Liz Daugherty register applicants for a program at Birdsong
Recreation Center.
Jan Thomas heads up leisure classes and senior citizen and
after-school programs.
``We have a lot of opportunities to do new things,'' says staffer
Carole Faye Tillery.
Assistant director MaryAnne Cunningham loves Suffolk's hometown
atmosphere.
Tony Colden manages the Birdsong gym, fitness center and inner-city
athletics.
Miguel Knight, left, and Gene Cummins play a game of table soccer at
the Birdsong center.
File photo by DAWSON MILLS
Thomas Aquino and his grandmother Amy Chura visit the pond at Sleepy
Hole Park.
by CNB