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As the holiday season approaches, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle—shopping for gifts, decorating, baking and spending time with family and friends can quickly fill your schedule. But did you know that spending time outdoors can help reduce stress and improve your well-being?
Even a short walk outside can make a big difference! Explore some of central Ohio’s 230 miles of trails and paved paths or discover a new favorite spot among our more than 400 parks. Take a moment to recharge and embrace the joy of the season.
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Baby, it’s cold outside, but it’s not too early to get ready for those warm summer days at the pool!
Over the winter break, channel thoughts of summer by brushing up on water safety skills. Our Drowning Prevention Lessons and Lifeguard Academy are great ways to build essential water safety skills and get ready for future lifeguard training.
Drowning Prevention Lessons are one-day clinics that teach youth ages 13 and under safety and confidence while being in the water. Multiple sessions are scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 28, and Sunday, Dec. 29; sign up for one session. While walk-ins are welcome, pre-register now to secure your spot!
Do you have a teen ages 14-17 who is looking for a summer job they can do outdoors? Sign them up for Lifeguard Academy! During this program, they’ll practice the skills needed to pass the pre-test for our lifeguard training classes this spring. Classes start at noon on Saturday, Dec. 28, and Sunday, Dec. 29. Sign up to secure your spot.
Both classes take place at the Columbus Aquatics Center, 1160 Hunter Ave., 43201. Don’t miss these exciting opportunities to boost your water safety skills and prepare for lifeguard certification!
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Step into creativity, wellness and connection at the brand-new Fran Ryan Center, the latest addition to the Olde Towne East community. This exciting space has something for everyone:
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Creative studios: State-of-the-art spaces for painting, woodworking, fiber arts, lapidary and more—perfect for artists of all skill levels.
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Golden Hobby Gift Shop: A unique consignment shop featuring handmade goods by Columbus-area seniors, including quilts, ceramics, woodcrafts and paintings.
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Wellness amenities: Enjoy a fitness room, dining room and versatile spaces for community gatherings.
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Classes for all: Explore a wide range of art classes for beginners and experienced creators alike.
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Community park: A serene outdoor space to relax and connect with nature.
Join us for a public open house on Wednesday, Jan. 8, from 4-7 p.m., to tour this vibrant facility and experience live demonstrations in the creative studios. Refreshments will be available. See what makes the Fran Ryan Center a valuable addition to the neighborhood!
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The award-winning APPS Job Readiness Program (AJRP) is changing lives by equipping youth ages 14-23 with skills, confidence and real-world experiences to succeed in their future careers.
Participants gain paid work experience ($15 per hour for up to 20 hours per week) while working with City departments and local businesses in roles like supporting summer camps, maintaining parks, assisting at golf courses and more!
We’re looking for business partners for 2025 to help inspire and guide the next generation of leaders! Become a partner and hire an AJRP participant for your business or organization this summer. Here’s how it works:
- You mentor a participant in both business and life skills.
- Participants complete work that benefits your organization while they grow.
- A City youth development specialist supports you and the participant throughout the program.
- The City pays the participant’s salary – your organization gains valuable support at no cost to you!
We’re looking for partners across a wide variety of industries. Participants have expressed career interests in business and entrepreneurship, sports and recreation, healthcare, arts and entertainment, technology, skilled trades, education, finance, public service, environmental science and law.
Interested in becoming a partner? Fill out the Partnership Interest Form today, and we’ll help determine if your organization is a good fit. Let’s work together to build a brighter future!
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In July, we launched the 18-month planning process for Playbook Columbus, Columbus Recreation and Parks Department’s 2025-2035 Vision Plan. This visionary roadmap will guide the department’s programming and facilities, ensuring we equitably meet the needs of all residents as Columbus continues to grow and thrive. Your input is essential to creating a plan that reflects the community’s needs and aspirations, and you’ve truly stepped up to share your ideas!
Throughout the summer and fall, residents engaged with us through online surveys, activities at community centers, presentations and events. Thanks to your enthusiasm, more than 6,000 community members shared their thoughts, including 3,508 survey respondents, 1,546 participants in graphic polling at community centers and 905 residents engaged at community events. These incredible participation numbers exceeded our goals for this stage of the planning process—thank you!
We’re now analyzing your input and compiling it into a comprehensive report that will serve as the foundation for the plan’s recommendations and priorities. This report will include an equity analysis to ensure fair access to resources and services, a community profile that reflects the diverse needs of Columbus residents, a trends analysis of how facilities and programs are being used, a walkshed analysis to assess access to greenspaces and benchmarking to compare our offerings with similar cities.
Your continued involvement is key! As we move forward, there will be more opportunities to share your voice through focus groups, open houses and additional community events in 2025. We look forward to seeing you this spring!
For more information and updates, visit PlaybookColumbus.com.
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School’s Out Winter
Dec. 23-Jan. 3
Offices and Facilities Closed in Observance of Christmas Day
Dec. 25
Offices and Facilities Closed in Observance of New Year’s Day
Jan. 1
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