Great Bend Recreation Commission Monthly Board Meeting
Sept. 8, 2025
Old Business Items:
Reports
ENRICHMENT REPORTS- Garet Fitzpatrick, Enrichment /Activity Center Director
We set up a booth at the USD 428 Business Showcase on Friday, August 8, in the morning. We had information on our upcoming fall programs, and we had a door prize drawing for three Scooters gift cards along with several boxes of candy. The winners worked at Lincoln School, the Middle School, and Barton Community College.
We also had a table at the Great Bend High School Football Jamboree on Friday, August 29, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. We had poster boards along with markers to let kids and adults make a sign to support their favorite fall athlete or coach.
This fall we will be offering the following Kids Day Out programs for when school has early dismissal and when school is out for the day: Birds & Bugs with KWEC: Monday, October 6, from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Babysitting 101: Monday, October 6, from 1:00 – 5:00 pm,
Strataca at the Kansas Underground Salt Mine Kids Day Out: Friday, October 17, from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, Half Day of Spooky Crafts: Thursday, October 23, from 1:00 – 5:00 pm, and
Heartland Farm & Bowling Kids Day Out: Friday, October 24, from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Our fall afterschool programs in the school sites will start up the week of October 6 and come to an end the second week of December.
Once again, we are offering a wide range of enrichment programs for all ages this fall.
We are collaborating with a number of different organizations in offering these programs including USD 428, City of Great Bend, Great Bend-Brit Spaugh Zoo, K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District, Kansas Wildlife and Parks, The University of Kansas Health System – Great Bend, Great Bend Police Department,
Barton County Sheriff Department, Great Bend EMS/Fire Department, Barton County Health Department, Kansas Wetlands Education Center, Heartland Farms, Walnut Bowl, Central Kansas Thread Benders, BMO Bank, N.A., and No Limits Kennels, LLC.
ENRICHMENT REPORTS: Enrichment, Aquatic, Marketing Director-Megan Hammeke:
August Adaptive Activities:
8/5-8/26 – SN Bowling. Bowling met 4 times and had 117 participating in the weekly bowling program.
August Adaptive & 50 Plus Activities:
There was no other August activities planned as we began preparing for our Fall programming.
September Adaptive & 50 Plus Activities:
SN Bowling will meet at its regularly scheduled times for our Adaptive programming.
Fall programs will kick off on October 7th for our Adaptive and 50 Plus Enrichment areas.
August Activities:
We took the month of August off for Facility maintenance. Classes will resume in September.
September Activities:
The next session of Fitness classes began the week of September 8th. Below is a list of offered Fitness classes:
Fit for Life
AM HIIT
Yoga, Yoga AM, Gentle Yoga, & Chair Yoga
Cardio Blast
Midday Stretch & Strength
Tai Chi Beginners & Intermediate
Hit & Spin in the Gym
Spin Strength & Stretch
AM & PM Rhythm Ride
The fall fitness classes will begin the week of October 6th.
SPORTS REPORT-Shane Sandberg- Sports Director:
We don’t have a ton of old business to report on since the last time we met 2 weeks ago. The transition period from Summer to Fall is over and all Fall sports are up and running.
Youth Flag Football kicked off practice games on Tuesday 9/2 and real games will begin the week of Monday 9/8. This year we have 154 players enrolled. That is up 6 players from last year.
Outdoor Youth Soccer started playing practice games on Saturday 9/6 and real games will begin Saturday 9/13. This year we have 168 players enrolled, the exact same number as last year.
Coed Adult Volleyball started playing the Fall sessions on Wednesday 9/3 and Friday 9/5. Monday Women’s League will start Monday 9/8. There are 28 teams participating this year compared to 16 teams last Fall.
Men’s 3 on 3 Basketball began play on Sunday 9/7. This is the 4th session in a row that we have had a full league of 8 teams.
Instructional 1st – 2nd grade volleyball stated Tuesday 9/2. There are a total of 27 kids enrolled, up 4 from last year.
4-and 5- year old instructional outdoor soccer also started Tuesday 9/2. We have enough kids this year that I went ahead and split it into 2 groups. There are 32 kids enrolled, up 14 from last year.
Attendance Report- Joe Henry, Business Director:
In the month of August, there were 3,511 people enrolled in programs sponsored by the Recreation Commission. Total participation for the month was 5,900 and of that total, 2,322 were spectators. For the month, a total of 946 hours of supervised activities were offered.
Last year there were 3,722 people enrolled in programs with total participation of 4,655 of which 1,205 were spectators.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Dog Park Toys: Information Item:
Each year GBRC has done a Pawsome Easter Egg hunt for the dogs in town. This event is always publicized as a fundraiser for future Dog Park Improvements. This year there are some toys that the dogs might have interest in.
2. Golf Course Architect Agreement: Action Item:
The next step in the Golf Course project is to get a more detailed idea of what the course could look like in the future. Having this plan put into motion early will help determine placement of the sprinkler system and playability moving forward. We will discuss options at the meeting. The proposal is attached as well.
3. City Auditorium Fans: Action Item:
Hammeke Electric installed the ceiling fans in the City Auditorium. The fans were harder to install than first originally planned. The invoice amount of $14,804.48 is the final bill for installation. We will discuss it at the meeting.
Other Business: Basketball Court, Golf and City Auditorium Updates
Adjournment