Park Board votes to resurrect its youth basketball program

After a one-year absence, the Greencastle Parks and Recreation Department is planning the return of its youth basketball program.

A plan to resurrect the basketball program was outlined Thursday night by Park Director Rod Weinschenk, who was forced to cancel the season last December when confusion with a competing program helped curtail registrations for the park league.

After approximately 20 years of continuous recreational youth basketball competition, first as a YMCA-sponsored program and then under the auspices of the City Park Department, the league was put on hold for the 2012-13 season.

Two years after having 300 Greencastle youngsters participate in recreational youth basketball for children in grades 1-6, only 68 registrations dribbled in last fall, far too few to create age-appropriate teams and conduct any kind of league.

Weinschenk wasn't about to let that happen again, and recently conducted a pre-emptive strike, meeting with Greencastle Community School Corporation officials, including Supt. Dawn Puckett, High School Principal Russ Hesler and new GHS Athletic Director Greg Hill, he said.

"I can report that we have the full support of the Greencastle Community School Corporation," Weinschenk told the Park Board during its one-hour meeting at City Hall.

Support of the program by the GCSC is invaluable not only because the park league relies on the gym facilities at Greencastle schools for its practices and games, but because it also depends upon the schools to help get registration forms into the hands of parents.

"We're received a lot of positive comments," Weinschenk said of those who have learned of the effort to revive the program.

Currently he is working on getting commitments from parents who previously were actively involved as volunteers in the organization and operation of the program.

And to avoid any potential confusion with another basketball program, the Park Board urged Weinschenk to prominently list and promote the league as the Greencastle Parks and Recreation Department Youth Basketball Program.

"I talked to people who thought they were signing up for your program last year but signed up for the other one," board president John Hennette told Weinschenk.

Plans call for basketball practices to begin around Thanksgiving, the park director said. Games would then commence on the second Saturday in January with league play ending on the final Saturday of February.

"We will get flyers out as soon as possible," Weinschenk said, indicating he wanted the board's approval first since the program was not listed on the department's schedule.

He said fees would be $50 per player ($55 for any late registrations) in grades 1-6.

Meanwhile, the fee for youngsters to participate in the My First Shot basketball program for kindergarteners is $35.

The cost to sponsor a team in the park league will be $120.

Board member Tim Trigg made the motion to resurrect the youth basketball program and approve the fees as presented. Votes from Beva Miller, Cathy Merrell and Hennette made it unanimous.