Holiday schedules

City offices, including the Parks and Recreation offices at Robert A. Lee and Mercer / Scanlon, will be closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays. The holiday schedule is as follows: 

Thursday, Dec. 24: All facilities closed.

Friday, Dec. 25: All facilities closed.

Saturday, Dec. 26: Buildings open Sunday hours. The pool at Mercer / Scanlon will open at 1 p.m. The Robert A. Lee pool will be closed.

Thursday, Dec. 31: Facilities close at 5 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 1: All facilities closed.

Saturday, Jan. 2: Buildings open Sunday hours. The pool at Mercer / Scanlon will open at 1 p.m. but the Robert A. Lee pool will be closed.

Winter / Spring Guides

The Winter / Spring issue of the Parks and Recreation Activity Guide will be released in early December. An electronic copy will be posted at www.icgov.org/pr. Copies will be available at both the Robert A. Lee and Mercer / Scanlon recreation facilities and the Public Library. Registration for Winter / Spring programs begins Dec. 16.

Rec Center, pool closure

The Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center will be closed Jan. 4-10 for an emergency replacement of the boiler system, which supplies heat and hot water supply for the building. It is expected to reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 11.

The pool and wading pool at Robert A. Lee Recreation Center will be closed from Dec. 24 to Jan. 17 for repair and maintenance projects.

We need your input!

The City recently launched an East Side Sports Complex Master Plan community engagement platform to seek input from residents on the City's current parks, programs, and facilities, and gather ideas on how they can be improved for the future. The feedback will be used to identify recreation needs of the East Side Sports Complex and develop the master plan design. Please comment, contribute ideas, submit photos and interact with fellow residents at http://bit.ly/mySidewalkESC.

In addition to this website, you're invited to participate in a community input meeting scheduled at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3 at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert Street. More info available at http://bit.ly/EastSideSportsComplex.

Youth basketball

Registration for the Youth Basketball Program for students in 1st through 6th grade gets underway Wednesday, Dec. 2. The deadline to register is Wednesday, Dec. 30. Fee is $48 per student for Iowa City residents or $53 for non-residents. Boys' and girls' teams will practice two nights a week and play one game per week, on Friday night or Saturday, depending on the team. The program will be held at the new Alexander Elementary School, 3571 Sycamore Street SE. This program is parent-coached, so if you're able to help or need more information, contact the Recreation Division at 319-356-5100.

Holiday Market #2

The second Iowa City Holiday Market of the season is scheduled Saturday, Dec. 12 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert Street. Vendors will be located in the gym on first floor and the Social Hall on second floor. Stop by to visit many of your favorite Farmers Market vendors and other artisans for homegrown, homemade, and handcrafted gifts and foods for the holiday season. For more info, call 319-356-5210.

More gift ideas

Recreation gift certificates make a great gift for any age, interest, or level of experience. Gift those on your list with a new experience rather than more stuff. Gift certificates in any amount may be purchased through ActiveNet at www.icgov.org/pr or at the Customer Service desks at either the Robert A. Lee or Mercer / Scanlon recreation facility. The certificates may be redeemed for an art class, exercise program, swim pass, or other activity. Make the holidays merrier with a gift they'll really enjoy!

Private swim lessons

If you'd like to learn to swim or improve your existing swimming skills in an individual setting rather than a class, our Aquatics Program now offers one-on-one instruction. Several days and times are available. Sessions run for six weeks, with one 30-minute lesson each week. Cost is $90 per person. Check out the Winter / Spring Activity Guide for more information. Registration gets underway on Wednesday, Dec. 16.

https://icgov.org/pr

319-356-5100

www.facebook.com/ICParksandRec

ACTIVITY GUIDES

Electronic version available   at www.icgov.org/pr. Printed copies available at either Recreation Center, City Hall, or Iowa City Public Library.

TO SIGN UP FOR CLASSES

Electronically via ActiveNet at www.icgov.org/pr; in person at either Recreation Center; or by phone at 319-356-5100

New Director named

Juli Seydell Johnson has been selected as the new Director of the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department. She will join City staff on Monday, Jan. 4, succeeding Mike Moran, who retired in September. Seydell Johnson will work with the Parks and Recreation Commission to direct the operational, financial, personnel, and capital improvement activities of the department, overseeing the maintenance and development of 46 parks, approximately 1,600 acres of open space, and an extensive trail network of more than 40 miles. She will also oversee all recreational programming, including management of the City’s two recreation centers, as well as the City’s facility maintenance operations and the City-owned Oakland Cemetery. Seydell Johnson comes to Iowa City after serving as the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Eagan, Minn. since 2005. She also served as the Director of Parks and Recreation for Coralville from 2000 to 2005. Welcome aboard, Juli!

Winter Break camps

Registration gets underway Dec. 3 for the Winter Break Camp, which keeps kids occupied, learning, and entertained during their holiday break from school. This year's camp, 'Tis the Season to be Freezin,' runs Dec. 21-23 and Dec. 28-30 for kindergarten through sixth grade students. Camp activities will take place at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert Street, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Early check-in and late check-out times are available at no extra charge. Camp fees are $40 per day for Iowa City residents and $45 per day for non-residents. Morning and afternoon snacks are included, but students will need to bring their own lunch. Check the info packet to see what other items students should bring with them to camp. For an information packet, including a schedule of activities, a printable registration form, and payment options, visit https://icgov.org/event/winter-break-camp. Printed packets may also be picked up at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center or Mercer / Scanlon at 2701 Bradford Drive. Registration may be handled via mail, fax, or in person at the Customer Service Desk at either recreation center. Online registration is not available. Questions? Call 319-356-5100.

SPI holiday festivities

What does the Special Populations Involvement (SPI) program have lined up for the holiday season? Plenty! Visions of Sugar Plums: Dec. 1 and Dec. 8, SPI participants will learn how easy it is to turn candy into whimsical decorations and ornaments. Tis the Season: Homemade and traditional holiday crafts are the best -- and on Dec. 3 and Dec. 10, class members will use natural materials like wood and pine cones to deck the halls with individual creations. Candy Canes and Cocoa:  Red, white and delightful, candy canes are a holiday tradition. On Dec. 5, participants will enjoy hot cocoa while making sweet candy cane decorations to ring in the holiday season. Can you help? If you have an interest in attending or volunteering for any of these events, please contact Cindy Coffin, Program Supervisor, at 319-356-5100 or cindy-coffin@iowa-city.org.

Winter Solstice Festival

Mark your calendars for Saturday, Dec. 19 for the Winter Solstice Festival of Light, scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Social Hall of the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center. This event is designed for individuals and families of all ages and abilities. There's no fee to attend, although we do encourage you to pre-register via ActiveNet at www.icgov.org/pr (activity number 4811) or by calling 319-356-5100. Participants can make twig star crafts, shakers, herbal sprigs and lanterns you can use during the actual solstice on Dec. 22. We'll also create luminaries to light the Discovery Garden at the close of our Winter Solstice Festival. Opening and closing ceremonial bell ringing and drumming will be performed by the Yahoo Drummers. Join us for hot cider and an afternoon of fun as we celebrate the shortest day and the longest night of the year!

Members of Alpha Phi Omega-Omicron (APO), a national, co-educational service fraternity, built a Little Free Library and donated it to the Lucas Farm Neighborhood Association for installation in Highland Park. The neighborhood association has been working closely with Parks staff to design improvements to the park, located at the corner of Highland Avenue and Keokuk Street, including hosting fundraisers to help pay for some of the park upgrades. This year, new playground equipment and a shelter were installed. Next spring, an interior trail and water fountain are planned.