Copper Parks and Recreations - Needs You

Copper Parks and Rec began seven years ago when a group of thirty volunteers decided to become organized. Over the years Parks and Rec has participated in several events such as Pride Day, where they pick up litter along the road ways (Beautifying Copperopolis); Copper Kids Camp where children engage in several outdoor activities; movies under the stars in Town Square; or running the Flea Markets in the vacant lot south of IGA Market. “These are our flag ship events,” says Tim Reed.

Events come and go depending on the interest of the members and new people with new ideas. “All it takes is a pair of people willing to run the event,” says Bruce Reid pointing to the aerobic swimming class at the Saddle Creek pool that a group of people put on a few years back.

Of course there is a cost associated in running such events, and that is where fund raisers help out.  Fund raisers cover the gamut from the upcoming / much anticipated Spring Fling Dinner Dance March 26 at the Armory, put on by two Bret Harte seniors for their senior project to having local car washes. Elysa Schulte, one of the seniors organizing the dinner dance and long time member of the Parks and Recreation, says, “Putting on the dance is a lot of work, but you learn a lot too. One to two hour meetings, delegating jobs, making flyers, inventorying material, promoting the dance with radio station,” is just part of a long list of  things Schulte must do to put on the dance March 26^th, 2011.

You never know where your interest and willingness to help will lead you. Tim Reed, a teacher, started out “having a dozen kids over his house for a kid’s camp and it blossomed.” Now it’s so popular it goes on for several days during the summer at the Black Creek Community Center.

All of these activities are “community based,” explained Bruce Reid. Because Parks and Recreation puts the community first, they are now sponsoring the Community Garden on O’Byrnes Ferry Road run by Jack Jimenez. The garden will be open to whoever has a need for the vegetables.

The hard work of organizing a group for volunteers has already been done.  If you’re interested in making a difference, and you want to pick your own way of doing it, pick up the phone and call…785-PARK.