Whole Lotta 'Goin On

City of Decatur Active Living Update

May is here and that means opening day for the city pools and the start of youth baseball! The big news is the new Glenlake Park Pool House. The old pool house has been demolished, and in its place is a new, more accessible pool house. The Opening Day festivities will be held on Friday, May 22^nd, from 5 to 7:30 pm, with music and free food. As you may have noticed, Glenlake Park is being completely renovated. Only the pool and tennis courts will be open in 2009 as part of the renovation. Because the park’s parking lots are unavailable, there is now on street parking on Church Street. For more information on Glenlake Park, please visit: http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_ced_bondprojects_glenlake.aspx.

The city’s two other public pools, McKoy and Ebster, will open on Saturday, May 23^rd. The McKoy Pool re-opened last year, and had high attendance from day one. Don’t forget Ebster Pool, which is the only city pool with a deep end and diving board, which is the city’s best pool for pre-teens and teens. The Ebster Pool is located behind the Decatur Police Dept. on Atlanta Ave.

Also, the city’s youth swim team, the Decatur Gators, will be practicing and competing in May and June. It is open to swimmers ages 5 through 17 years old. For more info. on city pools and/or the Decatur Gators, please call 404-377-7231. And ask about our new water aerobics classes! For swim team info. only, please e-mail: decaturgators@gmail.com. Need a neat place for a special occasion? Our city pools are available for rental for birthday parties, gatherings, etc. Please call 404-377-7231 for more info.

May means youth baseball practices begin in Decatur. Sign-up now at the Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St. There is tee ball for 5-6 yr. olds, and then league play for 7-8 yr. olds, 9-10 yr. olds, and 11-12 yr. olds. Volunteer coaches are always needed. The coaches meeting is 6:30 pm, Thursday, May 7^th, at the rec. center. The parents meeting is 1 pm, Saturday, May 16^th at the rec. center. The very fun annual Opening Day parade will be held Saturday, June 6^th from McKoy Park to Oakhurst Park. Volunteer drivers, organizers and convertible vehicles are needed for the parade. If you would like more info. on the baseball program, the annual parade, youth athletics, and adult athletics, etc., please contact Stacy Green, Stacy.Green@decaturga.com, 678-553-6549, or Lindsey Struck, Lindsey.Struck@decaturga.com, 678-553-6550.

Magical Mornings is a fun monthly program for city resident parents and toddlers/pre-school age children. Join us for the May event, featuring a magician/juggler, at 11 am, Tuesday, May 12^th, at the Decatur Recreation Center. Parking is limited, so please arrive early. Please consider walking to the event, or parking at one of the many downtown parking locations. For more info. on Magical Mornings, please contact Lee Williams, Lee.Williams@decaturga.com, 678-553-6551.

For all city residents 50 yrs. old and older (who we call our “Keenagers”), please join us for our annual Keenagers Picnic at McKoy Park, from 11 am to 2 pm, on Thursday, May 21^st. There will be great food, games, music and more. For more information, please contact Chris Lewis, Chris.Lewis@decaturga.com, 678-553-6547. This event is only for city residents. Parking is limited, so please consider carpooling or walking to the event if you live nearby McKoy Park. If you are a city resident 55 yrs. old or older, and would like to compete in the Golden Olympics, a statewide athletic competition for older adults, please contact Chris Lewis.

Finally, city residents can join us at the Decatur Recreation Center for Table Tennis Tuesdays from 7 to 10 pm, and Wednesday Night Badminton, from 7 to 9 pm. All skill levels are welcome. For more info., please contact Lee Williams, Lee.Williams@decaturga.com, 678-553-6551.