Town of Mount Pleasant

Creating Spaces

Where Families Thrive

Mount Pleasant Nutures Strong Families

By Jon Whitbeck, Town of Mount Pleasant

Strong family support is an essential element in any strong community. The Mount Pleasant Recreation Department (MPRD) keeps this fundamental principle at top of mind as we create the wide variety of programs provided to our families. What better way to build connections within the community than to create lasting memories through family fun? Facilities are utilized throughout town to celebrate with relatives and strengthen relationships. MPRD plans programs throughout the year to allow many to participate in events, including the Spring Carnival, Easter Egg Hunts, Father/Daughter Dances, and Family Fun Nights at its pools. For 20+ years, the Spring Carnival has taken place in the historic Old Village at Alhambra Hall Park, beautifully situated on the Charleston Harbor shore. The twohour family-friendly event is free to all ages and attracts hundreds of participants who enjoy carnival booths, various games, fun crafts, temporary tattoos, face painting, snow cones, bouncy houses and pony rides. Local businesses and the public library also participate. Easter Egg Hunts are another special program running for more than two decades serving younger families and engaging them early in community programs. As the town grew, a second event was added to the original Alhambra Hall hunt to conveniently serve residents on the ever-expanding northern side of town around the Park West Recreation Complex. Each site has 2,500 eggs hidden for children ages 6 and under. A small toy awaits discovery upon the prying open of each colorful egg. The events bring hundreds of happy parents with excited kids eager to collect eggs while creating lifelong memories. The Easter Bunny poses for family photos and each child gets a small gift.

SPRING 2022 SOUTH CAROLINA RECREATION & PARKS ASSOCIATION

A L L FOR ONE AND ONE FOR A L L Creating Equity in Parks & Recreation Across South Carolina WHEELS UP!

ENGAGING YOUTH IN LEARNING TO RIDE BIKES & BOARDS

ALSO INSIDE: • 2021 Award Winners • 8-Year-Old Makes a Selfless Gift • Events in Cheraw & Mount Pleasant • Dog Park Design & Operations WINTER 2021 SOUTH CAROLINARECREATION & PARKS ASSOCIATION

2021 SCRPA Annual Conference Schedule Inside Meet the Keynote Speaker & Learn About Sessions

FROM THE GROUND UP

ALSO INSIDE: • Meet the 2021-22 SCRPA Board • Here’s What’s Happening

Be seen. Be noticed.

PARK & REC AGENCY MEMBERS:

Submit magazine articles and ideas to Kristen Guilfoos at kguilfoos@spartanburgcounty.org.

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Reach more than 880 SCRPA members in print and online. Download the 2022 rate card at www.bit.ly/SCRPA2022 or contact Todd Pernsteiner at todd@pernsteiner.com or (952) 841-1111.

Issue Primary Theme

Winter 2022

Spring 2023

Beyond the Business Card

What staff bring to their jobs - methods, special training, new skills.

Active Aging

How seniors contribute to park and recreation departments. What agencies are doing for their 50+ community.

Secondary Themes

Staffing Solutions

Handling staffing shortages, hiring tips, recruiting, retaining employees, seasonal workers

2022 Award Winners

Recognizing outstanding achievements in South Carolina agencies

SCRPA MAGAZINE DEADLINES

Winter 2022 Issue - Deadline: September 15, 2022 Spring 2023 Issue - Deadline: January 15, 2023 Summer 2023 Issue - Deadline: April 13, 2023

Fall 2023 Issue - Deadline: June 18, 2023 (Issue includes Member Directory & Buyer’s Guide) The Father/Daughter Dance is a more recent programming addition that quickly became so popular, it was expanded to include spring and fall events. Limiting registration to fifty participants creates a comfortable, cozy crowd. A DJ plays songs enjoyable to both generations and refreshments are provided along with a photo booth stocked with fun props, coloring station, fairy hair, and jewelry making. Sure, girls just want to have fun, but dads enjoy a great time giggling with their delighted daughters and showing off dance moves that inevitably create some lighthearted moments of embarrassment for their little princesses. Pool events hosted by MPRD Aquatics provide family fun during splash-worthy winter and spring events in the indoor facilities located at both ends of town. At the Jones Center Pool, free Dive-In Movie Nights offer evenings of fun, relaxation and entertainment. Popular family films are shown on an inflatable screen, and folks are invited to bring their own floats and water toys. The Park West Pool Family Fun Nights, sans film, are filled with similar laughter, water games and enjoyment. Families are the heart of communities, and MPRD strives to provide recreational opportunities for all ages. The Programs Division puts on several significant family-focused events that celebrate community and build connections. It’s great to foster the development of lasting memories within Mount Pleasant families.