
| July 2010--RC Parks and Recreation |
|
Every month we bring you a local organization that focuses on working with our youth here in the Black Hills. This month Black Hills FOX reporter Amanda Weber highlights Rapid City Parks and Recreation programs and their commitment to kids. From June to August the Rapid City Parks and Recreation Department offers programs and activities for kids ages 2 and up. Their programs include indoor swim lessons, tennis, basketball, hockey, golf and they even take kids along on group adventures through the Black Hills.
Recreation Division manager Doug Lowe says it's amazing how many kids have lived in Rapid City and haven't ventured out. Doug Lowe says, "Sometimes you don't enjoy what you have in your area. Tourists come in all the time and enjoy the Black Hills and I think sometimes we take it for granted what we have here in Rapid City, and I think that's what some of our programs do too is allow us to demonstrate to the kids that there is a lot to do here in Rapid City and also in the Black Hills."" The Rapid City Parks and Recreation programs focus on getting kids off the couch and out living a more active lifestyle." Lowe says, "Especially nowadays with the era of video games and stuff like that, kids get lost in their house and they don't know how to play and I think that Rapid City recreation provides a big opportunity for kids to get away from the TV, get some exercise, and have some fun." The parks and rec department wants every child to have the opportunity to participate.Many of the programs can range in price from 10 to 50 dollars. If a child can't afford to participate the parks and rec department offers scholarship money so no one is left out. Lowe says, "There are kids that are signed-up for one program and next thing you know they are signed-up for 10 or 12 programs." Close to 300 kids in the Rapid City area are currently active in the programs. And Lowe says to see the joy on the kids' faces makes it all worth while. Lowe says, "When kids are out in our programs sometimes you wonder, 'Oh man, is it worth it?' But it's the smiles on their faces - and this goes with all programs that involve kids throughout Rapid City - you look at the smiles on the kids faces and you know it's all worth it." The Rapid City Parks and Recreation programs are committed to kids. Amanda Weber |

