Programming: The Great Ball Pursuit

Inspiring residents to explore parks creates a buzz that began with a simple walk through the storage roomBy Margaret CollettIn the summer of 2020, parks and recreation departments across the country were looking for ways to engage community members safely since the COVID-19 pandemic brought most traditional programming to a halt. In Appleton, Wis., the parks and recreation team took on a “2020 Summer Reimagined” theme and set to work on brainstorming safe, community-engagement programs. The team decided to go with weekly themes that included activities and contests promoted through the website and social media. Each team member was assigned a week, and the creativity began! Jeff Brazzale, Recreation Programmer for Youth Sports, was put in charge of Sports Week and went to his storage room for inspiration. He returned with 400 tennis balls, which had been used for programs in years past and needed to be recycled. His initial thought was to distribute the balls and have participants send in videos or photos of how they were enjoying the new balls: maybe playing catch, performing trick shots, bouncing the balls at a park, or even decorating them with a creative design so a winner could be chosen. After further consideration, to ensure engagement and to simplify the event, the discussion turned to an Easter egg hunt. This idea seemed to check all the boxes.