Wendover Park & Recreation or Recreation District?

Published in the High Desert Advocate Newspaper, January 23, 2020 Edition

At last City Council meeting of Tuesday January 21st, 2020, City Councilwoman Kathy Durham had a report as to what the city should do, improve the current Recreation District or create a brand new Park and Recreation Department all together to be able to care for all the wants of the local citizens. 

      But the crux of the matter is that the current Recreation District have been trying for many years to get Bonds to pay for a new facility. Last time the whole country went through a depression, so this had to be forgotten for a while, then the casinos decided to not pay Room taxes for their comp rooms, and since the budget for the Recreation District comes from those room taxes, that meant a big cut, just when they were trying again for some Bonds. 

     But even with a very small budget, this recreation district has done tremendous work for this town (both Nevada and Utah). All the fields, Baseball, softball, the Pool,

all the Youth Program in Place:

Baseball, softball(there is barely enough girls to have 2 teams),

T-Ball,

Coach Pitch,

Youth Golf,

Swimming Lessons,

Jr. jazz basketball; 3 age groups (only 2-11- 13 year old girl’s team),

Soccer, 3 age group,

Flag Football.

Adult Programs are also strong: with Men’s league softball, Adult Volleyball, Golf, Men’s Basketball;

Activities throughout the year like:

Easter Egg Hunt,

Christmas Festival,

Works with WWES on 21st Century Afternoon programs,

Misc. softball tournaments,

Water fest(Pool);

Facilities:

Recreation Center,

Toana Vista Golf Course, 

LaCombe Fields,

New ball fields,

Scobie Park,

Soccer fields,

Rodeo grounds/Arena,

Swimming Pool June to September,

Tennis courts,

and basketball courts,

it is hard to imagine that this Recreation District is not working hard for it’s community. And with 5 Schools, we also have five Gyms for all the indoors activities. Not many towns of the little size of Wendover (even combined towns NV & UT) have so much to offer.

Councilwoman Kathy Durham had almost tears in her eyes,  after the Recreation District Presentations by Jamey Richardson and by Sonny Longson. She addressed those members and others, like Karen Shepherd(also from the Recreation District), saying “my kids grew up with yours, I taught your kids, lets as friends sit together City members and Recreation District members and come up with solutions”. Jamey Christie said that the last time this City(and city council) sat down to talk with the Recreation District, she was then a Councilwoman…that was about 12 years ago. Yes this City needs to resume talks between both entities, and even in the future with more money in Tax revenues from Marijuana, they can even start to increase the Recreation district Budget.  And Mike Christensen, one of the Recreation District Board Member explained in length that it is not really a “Park and Recreation” that this town needs. It is just more interactions and helpful actions from the city.

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