Americus-Sumter County Parks and Recreation Authority History and Current Overview

Community involvement for recreation in Americus-Sumter County goes back to 1938; however, it wasn't until 1950 when the Americus-Sumter County Parks and Recreation Department was established that Orion Mitchell became the first Recreation Director. It was the influence and vision of the man that would succeed him, however, that made the department an integral part of the everyday lives of literally thousands of citizens, young and old.

In 1938 Mayor Tom Bell had a dream come true with the construction of the Community Center Baseball Park; which is now named in his honor and is home to a number of local high school and recreation baseball teams; as well as host site of several state-level competitions each year. The historic charm of this community stadium is further embraced by the memories of former players and managers such as the likes of former outlaw big-leaguer "Shoeless Joe Jackson" of the Chicago WhiteSox, who managed an Americus minor league team in 1923, but never played in the Stadium.

Also in 1938, a gymnasium was built on Bell Street. Later a youth center was added, thanks to donations from the local Junior Service League. These areas became a hub of activity until 1968 when a fire destroyed those buildings.

Soon, recreation became synonymous with the name "Finklea"; and as the recreation department began to develop and expand facilities, so too grew the variety of programs being offered. Coach Jack Finklea began his 28 year tenure as Recreation Director in 1952. Over the years the local recreation programs gained much recognition from other cities in Georgia and was known well statewide for swimming and football.

Nothing meant more to Coach Finklea than his association with the young people of Sumter County. Under Finklea's direction, tremendous strides were made in the progress of the recreation department. Expansion included the development of several parks and playgrounds, construction of a new swimming pool (recently dedicated the Angel Myers Martino Swim Center), lighted softball fields and tennis courts.

The Americus-Sumter County area is well-known for the athletes that have graced the Olympic and professional sports arenas. Olympic swimmer Angel Myers Martino brought home the Gold in both the 92' and 96' games. The NFL has had two former Americus High School standouts in players Kent Hill and Victor Green. And Americus is the only city ever to have two NFL head coaches in the league from the same town. Dan Reeves of the Atlanta Falcons and Chan Gailey of the Dallas Cowboys.

On July 1, 2000 the department became the Americus-Sumter County Parks and Recreation Authority through legislation passed by the State of Georgia. The Authority Board of Commission is made up of seven appointed members - three by Sumter County Commissioners, three by the Americus City Council, and one jointly by both governing bodies. The Commission serves as a policy setting Board and lends direction to the employees of the authority.

Funding is provided by both Sumter County and the City of Americus, each of whom contribute an equal amount to the total budget. Contributions from the United Way and the Americus Housing Authority add revenue to the overall budget. The remainder of the budget is generated through user fees, registrations, donations, sponsors, grants, sale of concessions, and fund raisers. Capital projects are addressed via grants, donations from local businesses and city and county funds. Numerous agencies have contributed for capital projects in the past.

The Americus/Sumter County Parks and Recreation Authority consists of nine full-time staff members. We also employ over one hundred part-time seasonal employees to staff concession stands, pools, and summer camp. Seventy five are required during the summer months to lifeguard and teach swim lessons at our pools. Twenty people are used in the Summer Camp, offering a variety of activities, crafts, games, and field trips. Five people operate various concession stands for sports activities and special events. The ASCPRA provides opportunties for volunteers, also, so they can gain practical and professional experience or so they may have an outlet for helping the people we serve.

The ASCPRA offers programs in football, soccer, cheerleading, basketball, swimming, softball, and baseball. More than 2,000 youth in Sumter County participate every year in one or more of the programs.

Today, organized youth sports in baseball, soccer, football, cheerleading, basketball, and swimming highlight the Americus-Sumter County Parks & Recreation Authority calendar throughout the year. Adults are offered opportunties to participate in softball, basketball, and swimming. Every Spring we have a good-old-fashion "egg-in-the-hay egg-hunt", face painting and fun activities for the kids as part of our "Celebration of Spring". A six-week long day camp with swimming-lessons, tennis, arts and crafts and much more provides fun in the sun during the Summer months. Fall football and soccer programs take place at the Oak Avenue fields. The summer swimming programs are held at the Barlow Street pool, the Rucker Street pool, and the Angel Myers Martino Swim Center on Bell Street. There are five adult softball fields in Sumter County - three on Oak Avenue, one on Rucker Street, one in neighboring Leslie. Bell Stadium, located on Bell Street, is still used for baseball games played by local baseball clubs.

In recent years, we have added summer athletic camps for youngsters. There is also the Downtown "Trick or Treat" at Halloween, and a new program called the "Call From Santa Claus" has been implemented.

Americus and Sumter County also have six lighted tennis courts, two high school-football stadiums, and more than a dozen playgrounds throughout Americus and the surrounding communities. The Americus-Sumter County Parks & Recreation Authority manage a 228 acre recreation complex that presently has five lighted championship baseball fields and, as of 2001, two new football/soccer fields. Each baseball field is arranged in a circle design with the home plates in the center. In the center of the fields is the press box and concession stand. A state of the art public address system is used on each field. The new complex held a special opening day open house on March 1, 1998, with Atlanta Falcons head Coach Dan Reeves among the special guests in attendance. A playground and gazebo add the necessary features for enjoyment by the entire family.

Five additional practice fields provide the space for over 40 youth baseball teams to practice throughout the season. Future development plans will include a lake and natural area with walking trails. A community center with a multi-purpose gymnasium is also planned for the complex. There are also plans for additional soccer fields and the completion of a five field adult/youth softball complex. The completions of the softball fields will allow for large tournaments and the much awaited addition of youth girls softball.

The Authority has also expanded its facilities to the neighboring town of Plains. The new Plains Recreation Center has swimming pools, a bathhouse, a playground, a basketball court and a picnic area. The complex is a dream come true for Plains' most famous resident, Former President Jimmy Carter. Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, were on hand for the dedication ceremonies. To reach the new facility in Plains, take US Highway 280 West. Turn left on Carter Street, then left on Wayman Street.

The ASCPRA does far more than just offer programs - we continuously review all of them that we offer in an attempt to better serve our community. We provide evaluation forms to our participants on a random basis to gather their comments on the good and bad aspects of programs they're involved in. Our staff also evaluates our various programs and we closely supervise all the activities. In this way, we are highly visible and open and we're able to gain much information to let us help those we serve better and to meet their needs.

We use different avenues to market our programs. Weekly, we have a fifteen minute radio show where current and upcoming events are discussed. Local businesses sponsor our radio show as well as advertisement spots which are updated weekly and run throughout the year. The Americus Times Recorder and Sumter Free Press both print public service announcements, listing upcoming events and activities. They also cover many events in person or accept for print reports and photos from our programs. The television station from Georgia Southwestern State University provides public service announcements for our programs as well as filming action during athletic events and broadcasting at a later date.

For each youth activity, we produce and distribute fliers to every child in every school in Sumter County. We deliver these at the beginning of our registration periods. Also during that time, we will run one full page in a weekly classified circular, the Americus Shopper. This publication goes to every mailbox in Sumter County and has proven an effective tool. Without a doubt, the most useful tool for promoting our program? Word of mouth. Though we don't have total control over this method, we strive to provide quality programs so that the people in our community spreads good word about what's going on at ASCPRA. We constantly strive to stress that "It's All Fun and It's All Good" at ASCPRA!

With all that is available, and all that will become available in the future, the Parks and Recreation Authority is very committed to the youth of Americus and Sumter County. By providing a chance to participate in sports and other programs, we provide an outlet for them to make productive use of their time and to help keep them off the streets and, hopefully, out of trouble. The Americus/Sumter County Parks and Recreation Authority - clearly striding forward and striving for excellence. If you would like more information on any of the programs offered by the Department, if you would like to volunteer, or better yet, if you would like to participate in any event or program offered, just call 924-4878. We are located at 350 Rucker Street in Americus.

These days, the landscape of parks and recreation is far different than in the past. Progressive governments have come to realize that well maintained facilities and quality youth programs are an investment in the citizens and in the economic impact of their communities. What may have been considered an expense of tax dollars before is not considered an investment for future growth.

And since 1998, we have been on the World Wide Web. You can also e-mail us at .Our motto says it all. "Feel Great, Recreate" with the Americus-Sumter County Parks & Recreation Authority.

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