Parks and Rec planning for a busy summer season

     Monticello Parks and Recreation is gearing up for a busy summer with several events in the works.

     Every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the summer, kids will have a chance to take part in either the Golf(ish) Extravaganza (grades second through eighth) or the Summer of Fun (PreK through second) programs.

     Parks and Rec Director Jacob Oswald said Keegan Arduser, who is pursuing a degree in recreation from the University of Iowa, will teach both programs, which are limited to just 25 participants. People have a chance to sign up for either the June or July sessions.

     The Golf(ish) Extravaganza will take place from 10-11 a.m. at the Baty Disc Golf Course. This program will highlight the variety of activities people can use the disc golf course for.

     “We want to utilize the park for more than disc golf,” encouraged Oswald.

     Some of those activities include foot golf and urban golf.

     Summer of Fun will take place at the Willow Shelter off Oak Street. Arduser will instruct a variety of activities for younger kids such as throwing, catching, running and some competitive games.

     Parks and Rec is also planning on several fundraisers this summer that will become annual events, raising money for park improvements and trails. This year’s fundraisers will help support the Austin Smith Inclusive Playground, which will be built near the Aquatic Center.

     On Saturday, June 19, Parks and Rec will host a golf tournament, best-shot format.

     “It’s not your normal golf tournament,” warned Oswald.

     Each team will have four players, with several challenges and competitions thrown in throughout the course. One such challenge is the “duck drive,” to see how far players can hit a toy duck.

     This leads to Parks and Rec’s August fundraiser:  a duck race off the E. Oak Street Bridge in Kitty Creek.

     The formal date has yet to be announced, but the public can purchase a duck(s) for $10 each. The ducks will be dumped into Kitty Creek off the bridge and float to the E. First Street Bridge behind La Hacienda.

     “Our goal is to sell 1,000 ducks,” said Oswald. “You can buy multiple ducks.”

     Each duck will be numbered.

     On Saturday, July 10, Family Fun Night will take place at the Aquatic Center from 5-10 p.m. for all ages. There will be food, music, games, and more. The pool will also extend its hours from 7-10 p.m.

     As part of the Family Fun Night, rubber ducks will be thrown into the pool for a bobbing for apples-type of game. Participants will bob for ducks, earning themselves entries into the duck race in August.

     With the heavy interest for pickleball, Parks and Rec also recently applied for an AARP grant to build two additional outdoor courts next to the courts already in use.

     “It’s expanded to the point where it’s difficult to get a time on the courts,” Oswald said of the popularity.

     The grant was for $40,000, and does not require a cash match. Oswald said he should know by the end of June whether they were successful or not.

     If Parks and Rec is awarded the money, construction of the new courts would start this fall.

     If they are not successful, Oswald said, “We’ll have to look at other avenues to financially support it. And they wouldn’t get built as soon as we’d like.”

     The public can sign up for Parks and Rec activities for all ages by going to https://secure.rec1.com/IA/monticello-ia/catalog.

     “Even if you don’t have kids,” offered Oswald, “this is a way for people to find out what’s going on.”