City of Ames, IA This Week in Ames, 8 Jan 2016

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From YouTube: This Week in Ames | Winter Recreation

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Just because its cold outside, doesn't mean there's nothing to do.

A

Hi welcome to this week in Ames, I'm, Susan gwiazda, and today's show we'll check in with games Parks and Recreation Department.

A

A

My guest today is Kelly Alma recreation, superintendent with the Ames Parks and Recreation Department Kelly. Welcome to the show thanks Susan for having me today we're just talking about. It's been a while, since you've been on. Tell me a little bit about your position. I think you were pretty new on you when we first had you on and now you've had some chance to get your feet wet, correct.

B

Thanks Susan I have been here for approximately two years now, just over a little bit about my position. I supervise the programs and the facilities within the Park and Rec Department, all the way from youth to adult, from Homewood to the ice arena to the community center so involved in a little bit of everything and.

A

You also like to personally stay active I, know, you're involved in a lot of different sports. Staying active is a big topic right now. We've started a new year and a lot of people for their new year's resolutions are saying. They're going to get healthy and I think you have a lot of ways to help them with that. We.

B

Do Susan both indoors and outdoors. If we start with the indoor opportunities, we can look right at the community center. We have the the gym with open gyms from volleyball to basketball, to badminton to pickleball. Then we go to move right next door to the weight room in the cardio room. You can, you can buy a daily visit, you can buy a punch card and then fitness classes as well yeah.

A

So much going on the community center gymnasium misters as part of city hall, fight between clark avenue, it's sort of around the corner there on 5th Street, it's I would say a cost-effective way to get some physical fitness inside during these cold winter months are their schedules. If you want to do drop in basketball, vs. volleyball, correct.

B

Yep, we definitely encourage you to get online at www park rec or to look at our monthly calendar because it does change. We do have scheduled programs in there and then we do have open gym time. So please visit the online calendar before coming out. So.

A

The two of the things I love watching it at the gym are Zumba. Those aren't sure is still going on and badminton, which is amazing. It's really a kind of a much more of a workout than you'd ever think. It would be.

B

Correct, yes, we do have zumba in the in the evenings in the gymnasiums and we have badminton, Tuesdays and Thursday afternoons come on and join and play with us. We have rackets, you can borrow if you don't own one or just want to give this board a try. So.

A

A couple of months ago I saw they were playing. Pickleball is that's still an option. Correct.

B

Pickleball is Wednesday afternoons and they are a group that is starting to really develop and gain some traction and it's becoming a bigger program here names and we offer it in the winter months at the community center. Then they move outdoors. So we also have pickleball equipment that you can borrow to give it that so.

A

Trick of all kind of a tennis, but with a much heavier kind of fall, its unexpectedly hard, you have to hit that ball corrected.

B

It doesn't look very hard, but it is a lot of challenging than it appears.

A

And then I see those classes, you mentioned fitness classes directed it sort of all different levels and areas of comfort. I I know that I've seen seniors do exercise sitting down. Yes,.

B

Absolutely we have a fitness class for everybody for every age ability size shape. Please visit us, you know give Nancy Shaw or public wellness manager a call or stop to the community center, and we will find a class. That is is right for you, whether you're, a beginner and intermediate or advanced. We have something for everybody now.

A

If you're somebody likes a specialized sport, like you like to ice, skate figure skate play hockey. Other options.

B

We have the Ames, is you Ice Arena, and currently we do have plenty of options for public skating. We have the noontime public skating on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, so Verlander, and then we have wednesday evenings Saturday Sunday afternoons. But again, please do check the online calendars to make sure that it is on for that day because we do have. You know some hockey games that may push back public skating or we might have to readjust the schedule so plenty of options there as well and.

A

Swimming and I understand, if you forgot to sign your little ones up for swim lessons. There might still be an opportunity that is.

B

Correct we are still taking registrations for our februari session of swim. Lessons so get online and look at the openings or give us a call at the community center will help you get in the right class and.

A

If you like, to do laughs, I mean that's always.

B

An option that is an option we have lap swimming Monday through Sunday over the lunch hour and then also in the evening, so at municipal pool is a great option that.

A

Pool again located right next to the Ames High School sort of a shared facility, correct.

B

Yep yep in that that calendar can be found online as well, so.

A

If you're somebody, that's, maybe a little braver and will is okay with being out in the elements just finished up a cross-country skiing clinic, I heard that was very popular. Yes,.

B

We had a very successful cross-country ski clinic in december was the intro part which was indoors in this past sunday. They took it outdoors and actually put the the skills into practice, and I believe they had about 50 people out enjoying the clinic and.

A

Those were East River, Valley, those people, a groomed trail.

B

Yes, we do have a groom trail at East, River Valley, most ppl park in the car park, parking lot and cross the bridge, and the trail is right there you can hop right on and- and it is a groom trail. So.

A

I've always thought that if you liked being out in the cold and don't mind going to moving around and dressing in layers, the winter is really a lovely time to visit the parks. It's quieter your there's more solitude. You can see different kinds of wildlife that you don't typically see in the summer. Definitely.

B

Winter is a great time to be out and- and we do plow our trails once the the roads and everything else are Paul. We do get to them. So there's opportunities, though, for walking running hiking, you know snowshoeing. If you want to go off, you know the cross country, skiing, there's plenty of things to do also outside. If you're brave.

A

Enough yeah so I know ada hayden is always sort of the park. We always talk about and, as you mentioned, those trails are maintained during the winter months, but that's really not the only park.

B

No, absolutely not you. We talked about East River, Valley Brookside, you know walking through there. There there's plenty of trails that are maintained in the winter months when one time allows so.

A

Maybe get the list out and sort of a check at the back. The list I'm talking about is in the back of the Ames parks recreation guide, which, by the way I understand the summer guide, will be out soon enough. Yes,.

B

The spring summer edition will be online on februari fifth, so you can take a look at the classes and and sign up for your favorite ones or try new one try a new program. We have a lot of new programs in the work, so we look forward to exciting spring summer. So.

A

That's a great day to remember: februari, fifth yep, every fifth, the guide be online correct and you will be able to register for programs.

B

A

Couple weeks later, maybe.

B

In your mailbox, yep works, we're thinking and we're on target for an early March guide in your mailbox at your houses. Well,.

A

That's then they look forward to to me. It's always the sign. The warmer weather is on its way and you can get excited about those spring and summer activities. Yes, you can we're.

B

Looking forward to.

A

It well Kelly, thanks for dropping by know, you're busy and I'm appreciate you making the time for us thanks Susan again, if you'd like information about any of the Ames parks and recreation programs or services, you can find them on our website at city of ames org. You can also go to the dedicated Parks and Rec website at Ames park. Rec org! Well, that's our show for today, thanks for watching and tune in next week for this week in Ames,.