JACKSON INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES FOR NEW CITY PARKS POSITION

JACKSON -- The six finalists for the city's new position of parks and recreation director are being interviewed this week. Jackson officials hope to have one of them on the job by March 1.

The request to find someone to coordinate and develop recreational activities in the city has been among the most common he's heard in recent years, Mayor Paul Sander says. "We have needed that for quite some time with the growth Jackson has incurred."

He said the hiring committee hopes to find someone with a recreation degree, but that is not a requirement.

"The person will have to be creative and innovative. They will have free rein for a year or so to create new programs."

The city currently sponsors no recreational programs at its parks, which nonetheless are heavily used by baseball, softball, T-ball and soccer leagues. Officials expect programs for senior citizens and a winter sports program will be created.

The director will work with schools and churches to find housing for any winter programs since the city does not have an indoor facility aside from City Hall.

Sander said the director will not run the leagues' activities but will act as a "helpful coordinator" and liaison between the leagues and City Hall

The volunteers and parents who have been running the leagues will continue to do so, stressed Carole Baugh, head of the Parks and Recreation Board.

"We feel this can be a contact person who oversees the events and keeps the lines of communication open so certain activities don't overlap and get in the way of others," she said.

She said the parks and recreation director will supervise the current parks superintendent and parks maintenance staff. "It will be lightening their load so they can take care of more maintenance."

Baugh also is chairing the hiring committee. Other members of the hiring committee are Sander, Assistant City Administrator Larry Koenig and park board member Kevin Ammon.

Thirty people applied for the position the Board of Aldermen created in December. The board was acting on a recommendation by the Parks and Recreation Board.

Five of the six finalists are from the area. The other one is from Indiana.

Jackson has four parks and 200 acres of parkland:

-- City Park, which incorporates the municipal band shell, the American Legion baseball field, six more ball fields, Rotary Lake, tennis courts, the city swimming pool, a maintenance building and about seven picnic shelters. The park also is used for high school cross country and softball competitions.

-- Brookside Park, the city's newest, includes a war memorial and ball fields.

-- Litz Park, which includes two ball fields and a small lake.

-- The Jackson Soccer Park on Highway 72 West.

A summer program for children also is needed, Sander said. "We want to find out what people want.

"... I would hope some new programs could be created for all age groups."