Summer Successes:
• Summer Day Camps – All eight sessions of Camp Discovery for ages 5-12 (held at Orchard Hill Elementary School) were filled to an all-time high capacity, with double digit wait lists in the last six of the eight sessions! Staffing and space issues made it impossible to accommodate those on the wait list this summer, but plans are already in the works to expand the camp to accommodate additional campers for the summer of 2009. We feel that this success is due to the efforts of what has been our strongest camp staff lead by a phenomenal camp director, Krissy DeLuca. When campers want to keep coming back – it’s the staff that makes the difference! Thanks gang!

• Seals Swim Team – We had a record-breaking 141 swimmers treading water this season! At the time of this writing our Senior Team had won their third championship in as many years and the Junior Team was preparing for their championship meet with high hopes of yet another championship for them as well. Way to go coaches Ben, Becca and Stephen!!

• Concert Series – Between 1,500 and 2,000 people celebrated Rockville Bank’s 150th anniversary in rockin’ style with a two-hour series kick-off concert performed by the Savage Brothers Band at the new Rockville Bank Park at Evergreen Walk. The weather was spectacular, the food tasty, the music smoking’, and the balloon animals amazing!

• “Jacob’s View” addition to My friend’s Place playground which includes a shade shelter, picnic tables, two park benches overlooking a butterfly garden and beautifully designed site landscaping complete with a sign marking the location “Jacob’s View – a place to sit and remember” – was officially dedicated as a living, active memorial to Jacob Osit as part of the first anniversary celebration of My Friend’s Place on Saturday, June 28th! Many thanks to the South Windsor Junior Women’s Club for co-sponsoring the event with us, and to all of the donors and volunteers (especially John Dzen & Todd Mannarino) who contributed to the realization of Jacob’s View. It’s a wonderfully peaceful place – I encourage all to visit.

• Rye Street Park – Construction of Phase II expansion of the athletic fields is complete with a new full-size soccer field and another football/lacrosse combination field compliments of a $250,000 state grant. These two new fields remain out of commission to establish strong turf until Fall 2009. Kudos to Jeff Doolittle and Joe Perna from the Engineering Department!

• Community Center – I am very excited to announce, as I am sure many of you will be to hear, that the parking lot at the community center was expanded this summer! An additional 65 spaces has been added to the existing 87 increasing parking by 45%. This should help to relieve the current strain on parking that many of you have disappointingly experienced. Let me know what you think.

Fall Fanfare:
• South Windsor Walk & Wheel Ways – This sub-committee of the Park & Recreation Commission has been diligently working on improving biking , walking & running trails and opportunities in town. They meet the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm at the South Windsor Police Service Training Room.

• Joe Ehrman – Former All-Pro NFL athlete and dynamic youth sports coach visits South Windsor on Oct. 17th with a motivational message you won’t want to miss!

• Rotary Pavilion – Plans are also in progress for expanding the ever-popular Rotary Pavilion at Nevers Park. An addition to the building will increase covered seating capacity, the kitchen will be renovated, electrical service upgraded and new storage rooms added. We expect work to done and completed Fall of 2008 to avoid interrupting reservations. The project will be funded with grants and in-kind contributions from our generous friends - South Windsor Rotary Club!

• Customer Service – For your added convenience we are instituting new extended office hours! Beginning September 2, 2008 we will remain open until 7:00pm the first Tuesday of the month, so now it will be easier for you to stop by and visit us after your work day is over!

Special footnote: In a previous issue of R Magazine, I inadvertently overlooked including John Pelkey’s name in a public thank you for his efforts as part of the Committee that created and completed My Friend’s Place playground at Nevers Park. My sincere apologies and heart felt gratitude to you John!

Ray Favreau, Your Director of Recreation