Hope Kiwanians Hear from Hope Parks Recreation Director

By Mark Keith, 01/24/23 10:46 PM

The Hope Kiwanis Club heard from Melanie Griffith, Recreation Director with the Hope Parks Departmentment.

Griffith said they had a big year with soccer this past year with nearly 500 young people signed up.  Griffith said they had a flag football program for kids in grades 1 through 4.  There was also a “mini-cheer” program in conjunction with the flag football.

Baseball, softball, and t-ball are Griffith’s current focus.  She said she is working with the Baseball Association and also noted they are working with Dixie League this year which will strengthen the softball program.  Sign-ups are February 14th, 15th, and 20th at the Coliseum.  Griffith says the season will start the third week in March.

The Hope High Lady Cats are getting ready to start their program.  Their first home game will be March 1st and that will be against Prescott.  Griffith says the batting cages at the Lady Cats complex will have new netting for their batting cages.  Work is continuing on the baseball cages as well.

Griffith says she will working on youth summer programs before the ball season is over.  She said these programs are offered two days a week through the park including sports, crafts, outdoor activities, and a weekly free pool day.  Griffith says that program draws 35 to 60 kids twice a week.  She also brings in local agencies such as the fire department, Pafford, and the Hope police to let them interact with the kids.

The club asked Griffith some questions at the end of the program.