The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department is offering an American Red Cross Lifeguarding class that starts Dec. 13.
The class will meet:
About 560 runners competed in the Secret City Half Marathon, which started and ended on Briarcliff Avenue Sunday morning. (Photo courtesy of Frank Chmielewicz)
More than 600 adults and children ran in the Secret City Half Marathon and Relay in Oak Ridge on Sunday, organizer Frank Chmielewicz said.
It was the third year for the race, and final fundraising totals should be available in a few weeks, Chmielewicz said.
Race results are available at the Secret City Half Marathon website. They include overall results and finishes by age group and relay team results.
Top local finishers in the half marathon included Ed Wright of Oak Ridge (No. 3) and Jeremy Sexton of Clinton (No. 5).
Dodgeball tournament champions Oak Ridge Fireballs are pictured above, from back, Molly Landmesser, Ryan Pointer, Coach Lisa Summers, Mihir Mehta, Juan Fernandez, and from front left, David Laubach, Catherine King, Monil Mehta, and Andreas Sauter. Not pictured are Daniel Colburn and Drew Stokes. (Submitted photo)
The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board hosted a Youth Dodgeball Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 10. After three rounds of pool play, the Oak Ridge Fireballs faced off against Evan’s Shadow in the championship match, with the Fireballs winning 3-1.
It’s one of several events the Youth Advisory Board has scheduled this year. The board is co-hosting a Breakfast with Santa at Grove Theater on Dec. 1, and reservations are now available.
For more information about future dodgeball events, stop by the Oak Ridge Civic Center or call (865) 425-3450. You can also visit the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department website at www.orrecparks.org.
There is much to do in Oak Ridge this weekend, ranging from arts, crafts, and theater to ballet, disc golf, and a half marathon.
We’ve already posted stories about some of the events, including today’s cash mob and “The Wiz” at Oak Ridge Playhouse. We’ve also written about the Secret City Half Marathon and free Turkey Bowl Disc Golf on Sunday.
But we’ve also added several new events to our new events calendar. They include an arts and crafts fair at the Oak Ridge Civic Center, Girls Inc. Parade of Trees at Pollard Auditorium, Folk Art Nativities at Oak Ridge Art Center, and “The Nutcracker” ballet at Oak Ridge High School. Those are all happening today, although there is another performance of “The Nutcracker” tomorrow (Sunday).
Please check out our events calendar for more details on these and other events.
The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board has organized a free Turkey Bowl Disc Golf event on Sunday at Groves Park on Tuskegee Drive.
It’s part of the Playful City USA initiative, a press release said.
Free discs will be provided to participants while supplies last. Turkey Bowl Disc Golf starts at 3 p.m. Sunday.
“Disc Golf is growing in popularity, and it is a great activity for families,” Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Supervisor Matt Reedy said. “We have two courses here in Oak Ridge, and it is free to play, 365 days a year.”
Reedy said there is a small, but challenging nine-hole course at Carl Yearwood Park. The Groves Park course, meanwhile, has a mix of open and wooded 18 holes on 46 acres of land.
The Turkey Bowl is hosted annually on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Local players will compete in higher divisions, while beginners and children are encouraged to come out and try the event for the first time, the release said.
Course maps are available for download on the Recreation and Parks Department website at www.orrecparks.org. You can also find tips and rules information on the sport by visiting www.pdga.org.
If you have questions, call Reedy at (865) 425-3442 or visit the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department website at www.orrecparks.org.
More than 600 runners have registered for the Secret City Half Marathon and Relay in Oak Ridge on Sunday, and some roads will be closed during the race. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge)
Hundreds of runners from 20 states will compete in the Secret City Half Marathon and Relay in Oak Ridge on Sunday, and some roads will be closed during the race.
As of Monday, more than 600 runners were already registered, according to information from organizer Frank Chmielewicz.
The 8 a.m. Sunday race starts and ends at the National Fitness Center on Briarcliff Avenue.
Here are the race day road closures:
The race is being organized by the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau with help from the City of Oak Ridge, a press release said. The course includes Oak Ridge streets and greenways, including Melton Lake Greenway on the city’s waterfront.
The event includes a Secret City Half Marathon 4 Kids. This free 13.1-mile fun run is for children from first through sixth grade. It encourages children to exercise by giving them a fun and exciting goal, the release said.
By Sunday morning, participants will have run or walked a total of 12 miles. On race day, children will run the last 1.1 mile. All participants get an official race number, race shirt, and goody bag. Medals will be given to those children who are pre-registered and cross the finish line. The children’s log can be downloaded at http://secretcityhalfmarathon.com/register/half-marathon-4-kids.
For more information, visit http://secretcityhalfmarathon.com/ or the city’s website at www.oakridgetn.gov, or contact Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Director Josh Collins at (865) 425-3540.
Race proceeds benefit the Anderson County Child Advocacy Center, which helps children who have been victims or witnesses to physical abuse, sexual abuse, or other crimes.
There will be a Saturday evening pasta dinner before the race to raise money for the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.
Construction workers erect a pavilion this week on the city’s waterfront at Melton Lake Park.
A few weeks after the old pavilion was removed, construction workers have started erecting a new pavilion at Melton Lake Park.
The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department has hired Rich Construction of Lenoir City to build the 2,300-square-foot pavilion at the Oak Ridge Marina.
The pavilion is in the same spot as the old 880-square-foot picnic shelter that was between the playground and the Melton Lake Greenway. The picnic shelter was torn down in late September.
The $159,000 pavilion could be used for rowing and community events. The Oak Ridge City Council awarded a construction contract for it in May.
It’s the second major step in a waterfront development plan approved by City Council in December 2009. The first was the paving of the parking lot at Elza Gate Park.
Rich Construction began site work for the new pavilion in early October. The pavilion itself has arrived and is now under construction on the city’s waterfront, offering “exceptional views of Melton Hill Lake and the Oak Ridge rowing course,” a city press release said.
Construction could be completed sometime in late November, depending upon the weather, the press release said.
The city asked the public to use caution in the park while the pavilion is under construction.
The hexagonal, prefabricated picnic pavilion will include a metal roof, ceiling lighting, and a low stone wall with electrical outlets. It’s designed to serve as a “signature facility” that sets the theme for future waterfront development.
Funding for the proposed pavilion comes from a $140,000 donation from UT-Battelle, which manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and from savings that result from staff turnover in the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department, the city staff said.
The park is used by rowers, runners, walkers, bikers, and families.
For more information, contact the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department at (865) 425-3450 or visit the city’s website at www.oakridgetn.gov.
Participants of Saturday’s Tennis Play Day are pictured above. (Submitted photo)
The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board hosted a free Tennis Play Day on Saturday as part of the Playful City USA initiative.
“Participants of all ages tried their hand at a variety of challenges, while also learning about new tennis opportunities in Oak Ridge,” a press release said.
United States Tennis Association instructor David Bowman led skills and challenges for the event, the release said.
“This event is an example of the partnerships that the city YAB is attempting to build in the community,” said Matt Reedy, Oak Ridge recreation program supervisor and YAB liaison. “David Bowman is a great resource and advocate for youth tennis here in Oak Ridge, and he is bringing in USTA tournaments several times a year as well.”
Reedy said the YAB subsidized the cost of painting “Quickstart Tennis” lines for kids’ tennis and added an informational sign.
“This event was designed to be free, fun, and informative about youth tennis here in Oak Ridge,” Reedy said.
He said the Youth Advisory Board is working on another new initiative involving a partnership with the Grove Center Merchants to host a Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 1.
“Our annual Breakfast with Santa event has always been hosted in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Gym, and we felt that it was time to change the event up and branch out a bit,” Reedy said. “Through this partnership, we will free up Recreation Department resources for Youth Basketball Leagues to begin, while also supporting local businesses in Grove Center. It is a win-win.”
YAB meetings are held twice per month on Wednesday afternoons at the Oak Ridge Civic Center and are open to the public. Board members serve a one-year term of office and must re-apply in May of each year.
For more information, call Reedy at (865) 425-3442 or visit the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department website at www.orrecparks.org.
Construction work has started on a new waterfront pavilion at Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge.
Construction work has started on a long-awaited pavilion at Melton Lake Park.
The $159,000 pavilion could be used for rowing and community events. The Oak Ridge City Council awarded a construction contract for it in May.
It’s the second major step in a waterfront development plan approved by City Council in December 2009. The first was the paving of the parking lot at Elza Gate Park.
More than 400 runners from 15 states have registered for the Secret City Half Marathon and Relay in November, an organizer said Monday.
The 13.1-mile race could have up to 800 runners, said Frank Chmielewicz. The race starts and ends at the National Fitness Center on Briarcliff Avenue, and the course includes Oak Ridge streets and greenways, including Melton Lake Greenway on the city’s waterfront.
Proceeds benefit the Anderson County Child Advocacy Center, which helps children who have been victims or witnesses to physical abuse, sexual abuse, or other crimes.
Besides the Half Marathon and Relay, there is also a Secret City Half Marathon 4 Kids, Chmielewicz said. It’s for children from first grade to sixth grade.
“The free event encourages children to exercise by establishing a fun and exciting goal for them to strive toward,” Chmielewicz said. “Participants will run a total of 12 miles leading up to race morning. On race day, children will run the last 1.1 miles.”
All participants get an official race number, race shirt, and goody bag. Medals will be given to those children who are pre-registered and cross the finish line, Chmielewicz said.
The race starts at 8 a.m. Nov. 18.
Chmielewicz said Emory Valley Road between the Oak Ridge Marina and Briarcliff Avenue will be closed to traffic from about 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Nov. 18 for the run. In addition, Briarcliff Avenue between Emory Valley and Laboratory roads will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. that day. One lane of Oak Ridge Turnpike traveling east will be closed.
“Expect delays on Melton Lake drive due to runners crossing the street to run on the greenway,” Chmielewicz said.
He said the race is being conducted with help from the city of Oak Ridge.
There will be a Saturday evening pasta dinner after the race to raise money for the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.
For more information, visit http://secretcityhalfmarathon.com/.
An American Red Cross Lifeguarding course will be offered during Oak Ridge schools’ fall break next week, Oct 22-26.
Students who are 16 years old and older and successfully complete the course can apply for a City of Oak Ridge lifeguard position, a press release said.
The class is offered by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department, and it will be taught daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory, a press release said.
Successful completion of the class will provide the student with certificates for Lifeguarding, CPR for the Professional Rescuer, AED, and First Aid, the press release said.
All students must be at least 15 years old. Prerequisites include a 300-yard continuous swim using the front crawl and breaststroke using rhythmic breathing, a timed 20-yard swim and recovery of a 10-pound weight, and treading water for two minutes using legs only. The prerequisites must be met the first day of class.
The class fee is $135. Registration is available at the Oak Ridge Civic Center front desk, and payment is due at the time of registration. Enrollment is limited.
For more information, call the Recreation and Parks Department at (856) 425-3450 or visit www.orrecparks.org.
The first, larger layout for a proposed dog park at Big Turtle Park would be closer to the Oak Ridge Turnpike. (Submitted images)
A city committee has drafted two possible designs for a dog park at Big Turtle Park in west Oak Ridge.
The proposals were presented to the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Advisory Board on Thursday by Bridgett Ellis, a parks board member and chair of the Dog Park Committee.
The parks board will fine-tune construction and maintenance costs for the dog park by the end of the year, and members could pick one of the two concept plans presented Thursday, said Josh Collins, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks director. Then, advocates will have to start looking for money.
That’s been the primary obstacle to building the dog park, a project that’s been in the works for about four to five years, Collins said.
He said the park is well-supported by many people. During Thursday’s meeting, Oak Ridge City Council member Chuck Hope said the dog park could have sponsorships, and people in the community might donate, Collins said.
“I think there’s a fair amount of grassroots support for it,” Collins said.
The second, smaller layout would be located closer to the back of the park and near a parking area.
He said the cost of the dog park would depend upon its size, but expenses could exceed $50,000 for such items as water fountains, park benches, and hundreds of feet of fencing.
The two proposals presented Thursday both include a large area for all dogs and a smaller area for small dogs.
One layout that would be closer to the Oak Ridge Turnpike would be larger, Collins said. Since it would have more fencing, it would cost more, Collins said.
But there are pros and cons to each site, he said. For example, the second location closer to the back of Big Turtle Park would be closer to parking spaces but would require the city to run a longer water line.
Collins said any recommendation developed by the Parks Board would still have to be considered by the Oak Ridge City Council.
