The Beach & Recreation Department (BR) is announcing new program offerings as part of its spring and summer schedule, and courses are filling up quickly. In response to member requests, the department will be still be hosting its traditional schedules, but will add new programs including Wiffle Ball, Pee Wee football, sugar hikes, yoga, and more.

According to Department Head Austin Hall, member feedback is a key component in what BR makes available, and these new classes are a direct response to requests from residents.

“These new programs are particularly important because they are a direct result of our survey responses. Taking suggestions and turning them into reality is exactly what Carrie [Gazda, recreation supervisor] and Matt [Quatrano, before/after school recreation supervisor] do. We strive to provide experiences that community members want and that means offering new and creative programming each season,” said Hall.

According to the recent BR survey results, when asked to rate the quality of programming provided by the department on 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the highest, nearly 64 percent of respondents gave a 4 or 5 rating. Hall said this is an improvement over responses to the BR survey of two years ago, when nearly three quarters of responses to this question were 3 or 4.

Hall said that member response was the main driver is this year’s additions to their programming.

“We received many great suggestions for new programs. In general, there is a desire for expanded hours of programming, including evenings and weekends, as well as a wider variety of classes like STEM, dance, baking, photography, or ceramics. The department has already expanded hours at Town Campus Gym for youth, teen, and adult open gym...and the Fitness Room has reopened,” said Hall. “We will continue to offer new programs seasonally. It’s important to note that our ability to expand programs is limited by the number and types of rooms available to the department.”

Gazda said that there are a number of new offerings from the department and members should sign up as soon as possible as space is filling fast.

“We are moving forward and adding a lot of courses. We added dance classes, as we finally found a new instructor. We have some new yoga offerings that we haven’t had before. We have some new camps, some new STEAM camps, which are very popular—kind of having fun, but learning at the same time-type classes,” Gazda said. “We are still working on some programs. There is a maple sugaring program coming up, which people love. The maple sugar hike is another addition, and also the Friends of Spring Hike is new, for kids 8 to 12. We also will be adding e-gaming and coding classes as well. Those are brand new, and we expect those to be popular.”

Gazda said that the department will be adding and enhancing some current programs including pee wee football, flag football, Wiffle Ball, and more.

“All of the classes are very popular. The science classes, dance classes, sports, are all filling up quickly,” said Gazda. “Being creative and doing these different programs in different environments is great fun. Getting people outdoors since COVID are huge, and we think people are learning to love then outdoors again. It’s a lot of fun for us.

“Helping other people find ways to make their life more meaningful is why we do this,” Gazda continued. “There’s a lot more than just work or school and ways to learn. It can be a challenge due to limited space, but when we get creative and get something up and running and it’s successful, is a lot of fun.”

BR is also announcing several other improvements to area facilities and parks including the opening of the long-awaited dog park at Salt Meadow Park, which Hall said will be opening by mid-summer and is sure to be popular gathering spot for pets and owners.

According to Hall, residents should look for the new pavilion to be complete by spring at Salt Meadow Park, and a permanent, waterless restroom building to be installed shortly thereafter. New bathrooms at Rockland Preserve and improved bathrooms at East and West Wharf beaches are scheduled in the Capital Improvement Plan; use of American Rescue Plan funding may help these projects be completed even sooner, said Hall.

Hall added that their grounds crew is rebuilding the gate guard huts at East and West Wharf and repairing the East Wharf beach gazebo. Grant money has been secured to replace the boardwalks at the Bauer Park, where work is expected to start soon, according to Hall.

For complete information visit the Beach & Recreation link at www.madisonct.org.