The downsizing of staff at Peachtree City’s recreation department has led to the closing of the city’s recreation administration building, effective Tuesday.
Instead, the city’s recreation staff will be located at both the Kedron Fieldhouse and
Aquatic Center at 202 Kedron Drive and The Gathering Place at 191 McIntosh Trail to help
residents with facility and program reservations.
The recreation administration building hosted no programs, so it made sense to close it and free up staff “to ensure coverage for the facilities that have programs and classes,” said Cajen Rhodes, who has been named the new Recreation and Special Events Administrator.
Rhodes has worked at the Kedron facility since 2000 and served as the leisure programs coordinator there. His appointment to the top recreation post is one of several changes spinning off from the reorganization of the recreation department.
A number of existing staffers have been appointed to newly-created positions. Jim O’Connell will remain as athletics and tournaments coordinator. Art Sivertsen, who previously was leisure program coordinator for youth is now a general program coordinator along with Billy Spezzano who previously served as a fieldhouse leader at Kedron.
Executive assistant Becky Kimble has been named the new special events and marketing coordinator while staff assistant Joyce Williams has been named the new recreation services specialist.
That leaves one vacancy in the position of program manager for which the city is seeking applicants with a professional recreation background. The city is advertising that position through the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association.
Residents may still use the main recreation number of 770-631-2542, officials said.
The Gathering Place, 770-631-2553, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Kedron Fieldhouse, 770-631-2525, is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Online registration for programs is available at www.peachtree-city.org/recreation.
City Manager Jim Pennington said that the department’s new team is “incredibly enthusiastic.”
“They have served in various positions in the recreation department, so they know how important the programming and facilities are to our community,” Pennington said. “The new organization will give them the structure they need to focus their efforts while maintaining the programs and services our residents expect.”
The Recreation and Special Events Department has several big events to manage through the end of 2011. The annual Shakerag Arts & Crafts Festival will be held on September 17-18, the Peachtree City Classic Road Race is Oct. 15, and the annual Hometown Holiday is Dec. 3. The department is also working with the youth and adult athletic associations for their fall sports seasons and has several tournaments, races, charity runs, and the fall classes and programs already scheduled.
