Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department Archives

Christmas tree recycling available in Oak Ridge

Posted at 5:11 pm December 30, 2018
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Employees to assist with drop-offs on two Saturdays in January

The City of Oak Ridge has two drop-off locations available for citizens to recycle their Christmas trees after the holidays. Signs will be posted in both locations. The drop-offs are:

Big Turtle Park, 2525 Oak Ridge Turnpike (parking lot)
Solway Park, 205 Edgemoor Road (parking lot adjacent to the boat launch)

Trees will be accepted any time through the end of January 2019. On Saturday, January 12, and Saturday, January 19, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department employees will be on site to assist with unloading trees at the Big Turtle Park drop-off location from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Please be sure to remove all tinsel and decorations from Christmas trees before dropping them off for recycling, a press release said. Wreaths and garland will also be accepted, but no brush.

For more information, contact the Recreation and Parks Department by phone at (865) 425-3450 or visit their departmental website at orrecparks.oakridgetn.gov.

Tree lighting ceremony set for Nov. 30

Posted at 12:35 pm November 17, 2018
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The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department is teaming up with the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board to co-sponsor the Annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting. The ceremony is set for Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in A.K. Bissell Park. (Submitted file photo)

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department is teaming up with the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board to co-sponsor the Annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting. The ceremony is set for Friday, November 30, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in A.K. Bissell Park.

Everyone is invited to the outdoor pavilion stage located behind the Oak Ridge Civic Center for holiday music and refreshments, a press release said. New this year, the entire program will take place outside in the park (weather permitting). Guests are encouraged to dress appropriately. In the event of rain, the first part of the program will take place in the Civic Center gymnasium. [Read more…]

Reminder: Children’s Halloween Party is Friday

Posted at 11:13 am October 25, 2018
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Halloween Party 2017 Star Wars Family Costume (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

A reminder: The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the 2018 Children’s Halloween Party on Friday, October 26, from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. This annual event is now in its 36th year and will be attended by hundreds of local children and their families, a press release said.

Here is more information from a press release published earlier:

Activities will be planned for every room in the Oak Ridge Civic Center and a hay ride will be offered in Bissell Park, weather permitting. There is no admission fee for the event, but participation in most activities requires one or more tickets. Tickets can be purchased at the Civic Center. The cost is 25 cents per ticket or $5 for a pack of 20. [Read more…]

Children’s Halloween Party set for Oct. 26; game booth sponsors, volunteers needed

Posted at 7:42 pm September 26, 2018
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Halloween Party 2017 Star Wars Family Costume (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the 2018 Children’s Halloween Party on Friday, October 26, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. This annual event is now in its 36th year and will be attended by hundreds of local children and their families, a press release said.

Activities will be planned for every room in the Oak Ridge Civic Center, and a hay ride will be offered in Bissell Park, weather permitting, the press release said. There is no admission fee for the event, but participation in most activities requires one or more tickets. Tickets can be purchased at the Civic Center. The cost is 25 cents per ticket or $5 for a pack of 20. [Read more…]

Youth Advisory Board planning job fair for teens

Posted at 11:10 am September 3, 2018
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The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board is planning a job fair for teenagers on Wednesday, September 12. It’s scheduled from 1:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. in the Oak Ridge High School Café.

The event will introduce students to possible job opportunities and provide them with information on resume writing and interviewing skills. The event will also serve as an excellent opportunity for vendors to meet potential employees, a press release said.

Vendors that have already signed up include: Big Ed’s Pizza, Kroger, ASAP, RecruitWise, the Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge, and the City of Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department. Additional vendors are expected. [Read more…]

Puppy Pool Party is Sunday, Aug. 19

Posted at 4:59 pm August 3, 2018
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A dog enjoys the Puppy Pool Party at the Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host a Puppy Pool Party after the city’s Outdoor Pool closes for the season. The last day for open swim will be Saturday, August 18, from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. The puppy pool party will take place on Sunday, August 19, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

This is the third year for the puppy pool party, an event which marks the end of the summer swimming season at the outdoor pool. Owners may only wade in water up to knee deep and must clean up after their pet. Children are not allowed in the pool during the event. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge announces August hours for outdoor pool

Posted at 10:58 am July 27, 2018
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Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will extend open hours at the outdoor pool on Providence Road into the month of August. The schedule is as follows:

Monday-Friday: 100 meter lap swim, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.*
Monday-Friday: Kiddie/Shallow open swim, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.*
Wednesdays: After school open swim, 3 p.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Open swim, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

*The 100 meter lap swim and kiddie pool will be closed for a special event on August 1, 2018. [Read more…]

First Water Safety Day will have demonstrations on life jackets, water rescues

Posted at 5:36 pm June 20, 2018
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A first-ever Water Safety Day in Oak Ridge will feature demonstrations on boating and life jacket safety, open water rescues, lifeguard skills, and more, a press release said.

The Water Safety Day was announced by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department. It’s scheduled from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at the Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool.

Water Safety Day is a partnership between the Recreation and Parks Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, and Oak Ridge Police Department, as well as the Anderson County Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the press release said. [Read more…]

Drug Awareness Day is Saturday at Oak Ridge Pool

Posted at 11:58 am June 14, 2018
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The Sixth Annual Drug Awareness Day is Saturday at the Oak Ridge Municipal Pool.

It’s hosted by the Oak Ridge Chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks.

The pool is located at 172 Providence Road.

Drug awareness demonstrations will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the pool area Saturday. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool open Memorial Day weekend

Posted at 10:49 am May 15, 2018
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Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool will be open to the public over Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 26, through Monday, May 28, from noon to 6 p.m. each day.

This will be a soft opening over the holiday weekend, with the pool being closed for three days following Memorial Day, from Tuesday, May 29, to Thursday, May 31, a press release said. An open public swim will be held on Friday, June 1, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. The outdoor pool will then open for normal summer hours starting Saturday, June 2.

Events are planned throughout the summer, including movie nights, evening swims, swim lessons, Water Safety Day, and the end of season Puppy Pool Party, the press release said. A full calendar of events and additional details can be found online at http://orrecparks.oakridgetn.gov/. [Read more…]

Canceled: Atomic Dash Splash 5K & Family Fun Run

Posted at 4:45 pm March 19, 2018
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The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department has been forced to cancel a fundraising event and 5K family fun run planned for Saturday, March 31, due to low registration numbers.

Aquatics staff made the decision on Monday, March 19, and began notifying all those who had registered or expressed interest in the event, a press release said.

“We apologize for any inconvenience the cancellation may cause and hope to host a similar event in the future,” the press release said.

Please contact aquatics manager Vonda Wooten for additional information at (865) 425-3441 or by email at [email protected].

Egg Hunt is Saturday, March 24; volunteers needed

Posted at 1:26 pm March 5, 2018
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Photo by City of Oak Ridge

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the 2018 Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 24, at 11 a.m. Hundreds of children and their families are expected to participate in this annual spring event, a press release said.

More than 15,000 candy and prize-filled eggs will be hidden in A.K. Bissell Park with a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize egg in each age group, the press release said. This event will be held rain or shine, so participants should dress for the weather. If severe weather prevents hiding the eggs outdoors, they will be given away in the gym and prizes will be randomly distributed.

Families should arrive early and assemble in the Oak Ridge Civic Center gymnasium prior to 11 a.m. Participants will be divided into separate age groups and will be escorted to their respective hunt areas. The hunt is targeted for preschool-aged children (4 years old) up to fourth grade. [Read more…]