City looks to expand sports offerings

McMinnville Parks and Recreation sponsors several activities throughout the year. Will sports programs be next?

City officials are currently looking into offering city-sponsored sports programs beginning next year. The hope is to join with volunteer organizations in an effort to provide bigger and better sports-related offerings to those who want them.

‘We want to jump in and take a more active role,’ said Parks and Recreation director Carlene Brown. ‘We want to be more involved than we have in the past.’

According to city administrator David Rutherford, small communities expect holidays like the Fourth of July to be big days filled with activities. Since residents pay taxes, the city should offer as many activities as possible on these days, Rutherford said.

‘I was very disappointed on the Fourth of July when that there was absolutely nothing going on over there,’ said Rutherford referring to the McMinnville Civic Center having no games that day. ‘It’s going to be a big day here next year.’

Most baseball-related programs last from April to June. The city would like to extend that from March to August/September.

Also, given the city’s seven ballfields, officials would like to offer large tournaments.

The Parks and Recreation Department in the city of Lake Oswego, Ore., offers several summer activities including men’s basketball, coed soccer, high school basketball, high school ultimate Frisbee, adult coed softball and men’s softball. Also offered are hikes and rambles, which are hikes of varying degrees for all fitness levels.

For right now, the city will be looking at what other cities are offering when it comes to sports, as well as the cost of training umpires, buying equipment and insurance.