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North Georgia families enjoy year-round recreational opportunities at this Jefferson sporting hot spot. On a hot July day, the shouts of middle school boys and girls echoed on the slight breeze. Ignoring the almost noon sun, they kicked the soccer ball up and down the field, running at full speed. When the practice session ended, the players headed toward the sideline and a welcome drink. On the adjoining field, 7 and 8-year-olds energetically played kickball until they, too, took a water break. “I like kickball best,” said Haley Williams. Fess Parker preferred freeze tag. Ethan Bell and Ethan Jones agreed with Fess. While middle school pupils and the younger children spent the morning on the playing fields, another group headed out on a field trip. In addition to outdoor play, campers swim three times a week, said counselor Ashley Thompson. The first camper arrives around 7 a.m., with an official check-in time of 9 a.m. The last camper doesn’t leave until 6 p.m. It was a typical morning at Jefferson Parks & Recreation’s summer day camp, held at the one-and-a-half-year-old recreation center on Old Pendergrass Road. The number of people—both children and adults, city residents and anyone else—taking part in the department’s programs continues to increase. “We’re already out of space,” said Parks & Recreation Director Ben Dillard, noting that every room in the building was occupied, with storage space at a minimum. “Children and adults come from as far away as Athens and Winder for our programs.”
Working with the state Department of Natural Resources, walking trails are being built. Through grants and Gateway Computers, there will be a computer lab, and soon the department will compete in the Hershey’s Track and Field program. With adults taking part in the Silver Sneakers exercise program, self defense classes, arts and crafts and spirited basketball games in the gym, space is at a premium. Dillard’s dream is an expanded building, an indoor swimming pool and more ball fields at the complex. “It’s a $10 million dream,” he said. Last year Dillard inaugurated the Sea Dragons, a summer swim team that keeps kids involved until they are 18. Swimmers excelled in their meets and this year the team added more participants who also fared well in the state meet. Once the outdoor city pool closes, the team disbands. The department’s fall offerings include soccer, baseball, football and cheerleading. “We’ll be creative and divide the fields with a temporary fence,” Dillard said.
Turning his thoughts to the department’s revenue and expenses, Dillard noted that in the 2007 budget is $650,000. He has submitted a $1.3 million draft budget for the 2007-’08 fiscal year, with the department bringing in $750,000. Since SPLOST funds would add another $150,000 for capital items, Jefferson taxpayers would only assume $400,000 of the total expenditures. “That’s $50,000 less than the taxpayers funded last year although the budget has doubled,” Dillard explained. So, the question is: Where is the revenue source? Where is Dillard’s alternate funding source? Turn your radio to 1620 AM during the day and Radio Jefferson is on the air. Or go online to www.radiojeffersonga.com and hear the program live through the Internet feed. Not only does the city-owned radio station give the city a voice, Dillard pointed out, it offers the department an opportunity to raise revenue. The community radio station begins broadcasting each weekday morning with Dragon Drive Time from 7 to 9 a.m. On a recent morning radio chat between Dillard and University of Georgia intern Cole Gardner, the duo discussed the state’s budget surplus, the state selling license tags with other university logos and overcrowding in Jefferson’s schools. Later in the day there might be a gardening show, a real estate discussion with a local realtor, perhaps a cooking show. All hosts are local volunteers or college interns. Shows, which last for an hour, will hopefully be sponsored. Rates vary depending on time and subject matter. For example, for $2,500 a business can sponsor Jefferson Dragons Football On Air, as games will be broadcast live. The sponsor will get credit at the beginning and end of the game, plus commercials aired live during the game. Other sports would cost a sponsor lesser amounts—$900 for Dragons Softball On Air, $650 for Lady Dragons Volleyball On Air, and so on. “Beef ‘O’ Brady’s has signed on to sponsor a talk with the coach,” Dillard said. A variety of daytime programming rates is available by visiting www.radiojeffersonga.com “It cost us $80,000 to turn on the switch,” Dillard said. He expects annual advertising revenue of $250,000, possibly more. With an anticipated $125,000 in costs, the parks and recreation department should see a healthy profit from Radio Jefferson. “It’s a closed market and we have no competition,” he said. “We’re providing information to the community and income to the ‘rec’ department,” he pointed out. The station, the only one in the country operated by a recreation department, became available online July 10, before going on the air Aug. 1. Using a series of 20 unobtrusive, low-power antennas, none more than 10-feet high, the station’s signal carries approximately 65 square miles. Dillard, who has been at the department’s helm for two years, previously operated the largest Pop Warner organization in central Florida and the Metro Orlando Girls Club. Moving home to Georgia, he worked in Carrollton and Carroll County recreation departments before moving to Jefferson. Dillard and his wife have five children, ages 9 through 20. In his short tenure, the department’s offerings have soared—from baseball to yoga and everything in-between. He has added four tee ball fields to the one field on Old Swimming Pool Road. Seeing the need, Dillard has inaugurated “Before the Bell” at the recreation complex. It offers working parents of kindergarten through eighth grade pupils a safe place for their children weekdays before school. “Every $10 spent on a child can mean no jail, no rehabilitation,” Dillard said. The Jefferson operation is affiliated with the Sports Illustrated Good Sports Program. A policy manual was developed and a recreations commission established. All programs are zero-tolerance. Before a child can register for any program, parents must go through a mandatory parent orientation class. “I work for the people of Jefferson,” he said. “And we offer services on a par with any agency in the state.” He noted that the staff believes in “what we are doing” and takes the time to get the job done. “Staff” includes six full-time and 150 part-time employees. “I hope to make a change in a child’s life,” Dillard said.
Gail Ellen Daly, a long-time reporter for the Chronicle, a daily newspaper serving northeast Connecticut, recently moved to Jackson County with her husband. They live in Apple Valley with their horses.
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Jefferson Rec’s
Although it was summer, the pace goes on year-round. A theater program is about to get underway; women’s boot camp has proven popular. And of course, there are fall and winter sports for all ages.
The 100-acre recreation complex has recently gained 35 additional acres—a donation from a developer who bought the adjoining property. “They had to provide open space and that was the open space,” Dillard explained. “Our property goes all the way to the (Middle Oconee) river.”