Good morning, Shawnee! March is upon us, and I don’t know about you, but I am ready for this warm weather! Let’s see if we can hold onto it, shall we?
The Shawnee Parks and Recreation Department is excited to break ground on the new Rotary Briscoe Boy Scout Park Splash Pad! You may have noticed the current demolition of the older features, and soon you will see the construction on the new splash pad. The existing shade structures will still be incorporated into the new design, since they are not damaged, as this allows the city to save on resources. We look forward to a fun new place to splash and play! Stay tuned for updates!
It is not too late to sign up to help plant trees for the Pottawatomie County and the City of Shawnee RETREET program, operated by Keep America Beautiful (KAB) and dedicated to replanting trees in communities impacted by natural disasters. On March 8 Pogo (Potawatomie Go) will join forces with RETREET and several local organizations to replant trees in residential areas affected by the April 2023 tornado, at no cost to homeowners. To volunteer, please call PoGo at 405-698-1308.
The Parks and Recreation Department also received a tree grant from the U.S. Forestry Service for new trees in our city parks. We are still actively recruiting volunteers to help with this planting process, and we will update you on when these spring planting opportunities will take place. Let me know if you are interested or would like to learn more how your group could assist us by calling me at 405-275-3986 or emailing me at amy.riggins@shawneeok.org
Coming up on Monday, March 3 is a free session with Ryan Bussler from Navigating Medicare, 9:00-1:00 a.m. at the Recreation Center at 401 N. Bell. If you are new to Medicare, plan to sign up soon, or even if you are already enrolled in Medicare, this is a great chance to have all of your questions answered. Ryan is a knowledgeable agent who presents the facts without any sales pressure. Come visit with Ryan!
Our next Grief Support Group will also meet this Monday, March 3, 1:30-3:00 p.m. This group hosted by Valir Health Chaplain Mike Whitehead and is open to anyone who is experiencing the loss of a loved one. They meet on the first and third Monday of each month here at the Rec Center.
In March you will find several times to receive assistance with your digital devices. If you happen to be age 55+, you can attend a free Tech 101 Session to ask questions about your cell phone, tablet, or laptop. Just bring your device, and one of our staff members will assist you. These Tech 101 sessions occur each Thursday, 4:30-5:30 p.m. These are in addition to Tech Tuesdays with Tad, who will still be providing excellent help on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. No appointment necessary, just drop-in during one of these times.
Our March senior activities calendars are ready, and they list all the fun programs and classes for ages 55+ at the Recreation Center at 401 N. Bell. They also include the Project Heart lunch menus for the meal served each weekday at the Community Center located at 804 S. Park. The Project Heart program is for individuals age 60+, but age is the only qualified. For more information or to get registered, please contact Project Heart directly at 405-275-4530.
Call us at 405-878-1528 if you have any questions about our programs or activities. You can also check out the Shawnee Parks and Recreation Facebook page to keep up to date with more information about our department and events. Thanks for reading and have a safe and healthy week!
