Henry County Parks and Recreation Annual Report 2012 ADMINISTRATION The Henry County Parks and Recreation Department is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all the citizens of Henry County by providing quality recreation and athletic programs, opportunities, special events, facilities and amenities. In addition, our Therapeutic Recreation programs offer the special populations residents of Henry County the opportunity to participate in competitive sporting events as well as organized outings, socials and creative activities that enhance emotional, spiritual, social, physical and cognitive abilities. This annual report provides an overview of the accomplishments of Henry County Parks and Recreation for the calendar year of January 1 through December 31, 2012. There are 27 parks located throughout Henry County that are maintained by Parks and Recreation, five city parks and one state park, all of which are strategically located throughout the county to be just minutes away for residents to enjoy. We also operate historic sites as a great way to get out and learn about our heritage while exploring nature. The Parks and Recreation Department consists of 1,300 acres of park land featuring 66 baseball and softball fields, 13 football fields, 15 soccer fields and 22 tennis courts. It also boasts 8.4 miles of walking trails, 28 playgrounds, a dog park, paintball complex, BMX track, disc golf course, roller hockey rink, a Sunshine Field complex, an Event Center, and even a recreation center that features an indoor walking track, two basketball courts and several classrooms. The Jason T. Harper Event Center hosted numerous events including: Taste of Henry in April, Pet Expo, and the Miles for Meals Walk. The Extension Agency held a Farmer’s Market June through October. Day Camps utilize this facility during the school breaks and the summer. Nash Farm Park has been home to festivals, weddings, sporting events and the like. As a former Civil War battlefield with rolling green pastures and fields, what better place to host the Battle of Atlanta Cross Country Meet, which took place on September 22. More than 40 high school and middle school varsity and junior varsity teams converged on Nash Farm with nearly 1,500 athletes competing for the top spot in a 5K cross country competition, appropriately dubbed the Battle of Atlanta, drawing teams from both North and South of I 20. Local teams who competed and co- hosted the event were Eagle’s Landing High School, Luella High School and Union Grove High School. On the cross country circuit, Nash Farm is noted as the most spectator-friendly for an event like this and has gained a reputation as one of the best cross country venues in the nation. Nash Farm’s open terrain makes it ideal for cross country trails. Collegiate teams hosted conference meets at Nash Farm and this year Emory University hosted its D3 Regional Meet there. In addition to Emory University’s Division 3 Southern Regional Cross Country which met on November 10, the next cross country event that was to be held at Nash Farm was the Golden Eagle Invitational, which was held on October 13 and hosted by Eagle’s Landing High School. Henry County has benefited from Nash Farm Battlefield Museum due to the tax dollars generated from heritage tourism. This hidden gem boasts an average of 250 visitors each month, the majority of which are from out of town—some from as far away as England, Switzerland and France. Only a small percentage of visitors are from the Henry County area. To honor the anniversary of the opening of Nash Farm Battlefield Museum, Friends of Nash Farm Battlefield and the Georgia Civil War Commission have collaborated to create a fun filled day for the entire family on February 11, 2012. And the best part is that it is FREE! Some of the attractions are artillery and weapons demonstrations that include firing of the weapons; an art exhibit by Martin Pate; an authentic Confederate currency display; and a Speaker's Symposium with college professors and renowned historians discussing topics pertaining to Georgia and the War Between the States, and much more. The Locust Grove Recreation Center is used for Therapeutic Recreation Programs and events throughout the year. The facility was rented out for several birthday parties, reunions and weddings in the Sanctuary. There were also 17 Therapeutic division special events. The Sanctuary is used each Sunday for Anchor Church services. The Locust Grove Event Center was used for wedding receptions and events throughout the year. During the week, the facility is used for the seniors to visit with each other and offered two meals each day. A Memorial Day Service was held at the Veterans Wall of Honor on Monday, May 28 in observance of the men and women in our military who paid the ultimate price for America’s freedom. This year’s service was hosted by Detachment 1339 Marine Corps League. The Guest Speaker was Captain Tommy Clack, a Vietnam Veteran who did two tours of duty in Vietnam, both with the 2/27 Infantry (Wolfhounds) of the 25th Division. The Memorial Day service also included a presentation of the colors by the Ola High School ROTC, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael A. Brown. Henry County Commission Chairman Elizabeth ‘B.J.’ Mathis provided the welcome, and a wreath was placed at the Wall of Honor by E. Jack Turner, a veteran of World War II and Jim Joyce, a Vietnam Veteran. The National Anthem was sung by Chloe Glover from Union Grove High School and Randy Rawlings with Bugles Across America played TAPS. The invocation and benediction was given by Marine Corps League members Jesse Pruitt and Luke Edmondson, respectively. The Historical Military Museum located in the red barn at Heritage Park is a treasure trove of historical military memorabilia. It houses and displays various uniforms, medals, vehicles, arms, books, photos, histories and other artifacts, dating from World War I up through present times. The museum has just recently added a library and reading room that features dozens of handmade dioramas depicting various scenes of World War II. The artistic displays were created by Hampton resident Garth Kocher, who has been a military modelist for more than 30 years. Kocher, a veteran of the United States Air Force, created the models true to scale from scratch. The dioramas depict various scenes from the war, except for combat scenes. They are displayed in cases throughout the new library, with authentic front pages from the Atlanta Journal Constitution, featuring a story that corresponds in some way to what is depicted in the model. The library room was created by a local Boy Scout who was looking for an Eagle Scout project to complete. It features freshly painted walls, new carpeting, comfortable new furniture as well as more than 200 military themed books and periodicals. The Veterans Day ceremony that has long been a tradition on McDonough Square was moved to the Veterans Wall of Honor at Heritage Park. The ceremony took place on November 12, 2012, on the plaza of the Veterans Wall of Honor. The event was hosted by the American Legion, Posts 55 and 516, both of McDonough, and sponsored by Henry County Parks and Recreation. Henry County marked the 71st anniversary of the Empire of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor Naval Base with a special ceremony that was held on Friday, December 7, 2012 at the Veterans Wall of Honor in Heritage Park. This is the second year Henry County has commemorated this “date which will live in infamy,” and the event is being hosted by the Andrew McBride Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Helen Busbin , Regent, Andrew McBride DAR Chapter provided the welcome address, while the Honorable Judge James T. Chafin III was the keynote speaker. Patriotic music was sung by Juli Gilbert and Jim Houston of Bugles Across America performed Taps. Detachment 1339 Marine Corps League “Henry County Leathernecks” presented the colors. A wreath was laid in memory of the soldiers at Pearl Harbor by WWII Veteran, Mr. E. Jack Turner, escorted by Jim Joyce, Command Sergeant Major, U.S Army (Retired). HCPRD continued to sell bricks for the Veteran’s Wall of Honor throughout the year. In 2012,424 4x8 bricks and 17 12x12 bricks were sold. This monument hosted the Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day Ceremonies. Approximately 5,000 people visited the Veteran’s Wall of Honor as well as the Heritage Military Museum. Henry County Parks and Recreation is known for its numerous innovative programs and variety of amenities, and has opened a Remote Control Racing Track at Windy Hill Park. Also at Windy Hill is a paintball complex and track for lawn mower racing and plays host to the Annual Kiwanis Club Fair. Home to the HCPRD Youth and Adult Basketball leagues, JP Moseley also offers Aerobics, Yoga, Gymnastics, Self-Defense, Line Dancing and Music classes. The variety of meeting rooms and newly refinished basketball courts have allowed JP Moseley to host various public events throughout the 2012 calendar year including: Wheel Chair Basketball Tournaments, Wheel Chair Hand Ball Tournaments, Bull Martin’s Basketball Camp, AAU Training, Youth and Teen Camps (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer, Thanksgiving and New Year). Private rental events such as birthday parties, family reunions, bridal and baby showers, Christmas parties and business training sessions filled out the calendar. Henry County officially opened the largest playground in the County, at J.P. Moseley Park. This playground was built with SPLOST funds and features separate sections for different age and ability levels, numerous swings and slides, including three huge tube slides, a climbing wall, swinging bridge, see-saw, spring riders, musical instrument stations, and other play areas.