Parks and Recreation holds quarterly meeting

Malta Parks and Recreation had their quarterly meeting on Tuesday, October 4. During the meeting several plans and results were discussed as what the department has done and will do in the near future as the group continues to create opportunities for the community of Malta.

The Parks and Recreation Board also voted to add Sarah Pagett as the board’s secretary, while also accepting Natalie Judd’s resignation as secretary so she could focus on her responsibilities as the Malta Parks and Recreation Director with Co-Director Julia Tatafu.

Directors Tatafu and Judd shared what the department has been able to do over the summer season which included an adult softball league and a fall youth soccer league.

The duo also presented several new ideas to the board including the “Tiny Tots Recreation Program,” which will start on October 18 for two to five year olds. The event will be held on Tuesday and Thursday morning from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Malta’s City Hall.

“We will start with free-time, free- play and welcome,” Tatafu said. “Then we will go down to the gym and do a whole bunch of activities with them, starting from the proper way to throw and catch.”

An example of the various games that the directors will play include hot potato.

“They will be getting some exercise, get a chance to socialize with other little ones,” Tatafu said. “The purpose is for the well-being of the child. We want them not only to develop socially but also be able to be active during the winter months.”

The program will be on a trial bases as the department is aiming to cooperate with local pre-schools in the area. The program will cost $20 for four weeks or $35 for eight weeks.

After Christmas the Tiny Tots program will likely go to a different set of days.

“We will change up the days, so everyone has a chance to participate,” Tatafu said.

Malta Parks and Recreation is also going to start up a six-week Dodge ball League that is scheduled to start on Thursday, November 3 and will conclude on December 15.

“It’s going to be a fun activity for kids on Thursday nights,” Tatafu said. “We are doing three divisions, including Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten from 4-5 p.m., from 5-6 p.m. will be first through third grade and 5-6 p.m. will be fourth through sixth grade.”

Tatafu and Judd will also go over basic catching and throwing skills. For those who may worry about safety, the balls that will be used are foam balls rather than the older rubber balls.

“It’s going to be done in a fun and safe environment,” Tatafu said. “It’s just something for our youth to do after school.”

Dodge ball will cost $10 per kid for the entire six week season.

Malta Parks and Recreation decided to cancel their Halloween Bash, scheduled for October 27, due to conflict with another local Halloween Party.

“We were going to do a Halloween bash and set up little activities for the kids,” Tatafu said. “But we found out after the meeting that the Boys & Girls will also be doing something similar and we don’t want to compete with them or take away from what they’re doing, so we ended up cancelling that.”

Malta Parks and Recreation will be hosting various workout classes for the community starting on Tuesday, November 1. The classes will be on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m.-10 a.m. Childcare will be provided.

The classes will follow today’s popular exercise videos. In November the theme will be T25 and in December the theme will be Insanity Max 30.

“We just encourage anyone who wants to come and get a good workout in,” Coach Tatafu said.

The classes will continue until April. Classes can be joined by purchasing twelve class punch cards for $15 without childcare and $35 with childcare. Additional child care cards can be purchased. For every child you bring in you get an hour’s worth of childcare.

“Natalie or I will be taking the kiddos upstairs to the dance-room and we will be doing activities with them while the moms and dads are getting their exercise on,” Tatafu said.

According to Tatafu, evening exercise classes will be a possibility in the future after being discussed in the meeting.

Malta Parks and Recreation is also looking to bring basketball into the fold in the form of camp or a little league after Christmas Break.

There was also talk of a possible American Ninja Warrior themed obstacle in the future.

Office hours for Malta Parks and Recreation are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The Adult Co-ed Volleyball League starts on Tuesday, October 18 and games will begin at 7:00 p.m.