Park and rec gears up for summer

Camora Craig hits a ball at Hal Kirby Park. File photo.

By Matt Wilson

For the FCT

Chad Sears is a busy man. And for Sears, the superintendent of the Russellville Parks and Recreation Department, the summer months are a busy time.

Sears and his staff make plenty of activities available for the kids of Russellville. Activities include everything from tee ball and softball to a basketball camp and swimming lessons.

“The summer is a busy time for us,” Sears said.

“We are about to get a lot of things going, but that’s good for us and good for the community.”

The Tiny Tykes Tee Ball league is underway with teams playing on Mondays and Tuesdays at Hal Kirby Park.

Hal Kirby Park was also host to the 2014 Russellville Softball Tournament on May 30-31. The tournament consisted of 8-and-under, 10-and-under, and 12-and-under teams from the area playing in a seeded tournament style.

Jeff Studdard, assistant superintendent of parks and recreation, said that he likes providing this tournament for some of the local all-star teams.

“We put this tournament on for a small fee, just to cover the umpires, but it gives the teams the same experience as playing in a larger tournament that might cost a couple hundred dollars,” Studdard said.

“Each team is guaranteed three games and they even get trophies.”