The Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department's Feature Friday

Each Friday, the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department features something new for residents and visitors to learn more about. This week, we want to tell you a little about our winter trails. 

The Greenville Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department currently maintains approximately 8 miles of paved multi-use recreational trails. With many of these trails being only 3 season trails, you may wonder which trails can be used in the snowy months. Our crews work hard to keep just under 4 miles of trails clear in the winter.

Before the start of this winter, we revised our trail plowing map to add additional routes as well as a priority status. To see those trails, as well as other winter recreation options, check out our interactive Winter Recreation Map here: https://bit.ly/2PjtauS

And remember, our staff also helps with the regular snow plow operations. This means that that it may take us up to 72 hours after a snow event to have the trails cleared. So, please be patient. We promise to do our best to get the trails plowed as soon as possible!

To see more photos of today's Feature Friday or to see more posts like this, check out the Parks & Recreation Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/greenvilleparkandrec/

Snowman Building Contest

Don't forget to enter the Park and Recreation Department's Snowman Building Contest!

This contest is open to all Greenville residents. Participants should build their snowman in their own yard. We encourage all participants to add their own creative touches to make their snowman unique. Snowman possessing demeaning or inappropriate gestures, sayings, expressions, etc. are against the rules and will not be accepted. Winners of this contest will receive one free pavilion rental and bragging rights for a whole year!

The Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department's Feature Friday

Each Friday, the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department features something new for residents and visitors to learn more about. This week, we're starting our "Meet the Staff" series and we want to introduce you to Tony!

Tony is the Director of Greenville’s Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department and has served the Greenville community for nearly 18 years. Tony grew up in Milwaukee before earning his Urban Forestry and Forest Recreation degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Tony is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional and ISA Certified Arborist. As Director, he collaborates closely with many community groups like the Greenville Civic Club, Greenville Lions and Lioness Clubs, and Greenville Youth Sports to provide a variety of Park and Recreation opportunities to the community.

We asked Tony to tell us a little more about himself and here’s what he said:

Q: What inspired you to work in parks, recreation and forestry?
A: The biggest influence for choosing this career path is probably spending so much time in parks growing up. From pick-up games in neighborhood parks to camping in State Parks to family vacations to National Parks.

Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
A: Engaging with the community to determine and provide the desired services and facilities.

Q: As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: A Park Ranger in a National Park. I still hope to achieve that when I grow up!

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: Traveling with my family, camping, birding, hiking, biking, kayaking….Pretty much anything outdoors.

To see more photos of today's Feature Friday or to see more posts like this, check out the Parks & Recreation Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/greenvilleparkandrec/

Greenville Sanitary District residents, we need your help!

The Sanitary District has started a Leak Detection Program to help find possible water lateral leaks. Frequent sump pump usage when water tables are low, like in the winter, is a possible indicator of these leaks. We have created a survey to help us collect information from concerned residents living within the Sanitary District. Each survey will be reviewed by staff and, if necessary, further inspection will be completed.

If you live within the Sanitary District and believe your sump pump is running more frequently than it should, take our survey here: https://arcg.is/15j48K

The Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department's Feature Friday

Each Friday, the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department features something new for residents and visitors to learn more about. This week, with snow in the forecast, we want to tell you about the sledding hill at Jennerjohn Park. 

The sledding hill at Jennerjohn Park is located on the north side of the park and open daily from 7am – 10pm. Lights were installed a few years ago to illuminate the hill from dusk until the park closes so that the fun doesn’t have to end just because its dark!

Sledding can be done on both sides of the hill. The north side of the hill has a distance of 332 feet a slope that drops 35 feet. The south side of the hill is slightly smaller with a distance of 200 feet and while a slop that drops 22 feet. Both sides have a slope over 10% (a black diamond ski hill is over 40% slope!) making it fun for all ages.

To see more photos of today's Feature Friday or to see more posts like this, check out the Parks & Recreation Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/greenvilleparkandrec/

The Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department's Feature Friday

Each Friday, the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department features something new for residents and visitors to learn more about. Our Feature Friday comes to you with GREAT news this week. The ice rink at Jennerjohn Park is open!

With Mother Nature’s cooperation, our staff constructs an ice rink at Jennerjohn Park each year. This ice rink typically takes longer to open because it is built directly on the ground without a liner. This means that we need a significant amount of frost in the ground before we can begin. In addition, this rink is not sheltered from the sun so we need colder temperatures to make ice. Several thin layers of water are poured into a depression in the grass. Time is allowed between each layer to allow the previous one to freeze. This process can take several weeks, sometimes even longer if the weather is not in our favor!

The ice rink is located on the north end of the park, next to the sledding hill, and is open for use during regular park hours. New lights were installed last year that light the rink from dusk until 10pm when the park closes. It measures approximately 167 feet long, and 113 feet wide. Throughout the frozen months, our staff continues to resurface the rink the same way a Zamboni would. 

To see more photos of today's Feature Friday or to see more posts like this, check out the Parks & Recreation Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/greenvilleparkandrec/