Parks and rec director eager to resume normalcy

BIG STONE GAP — In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic sidetracked a lot of projects. The town’s parks and recreation department was no different.

“I just want to get kids back out and playing,” said Gary Harris, the director of the department. “That’s what I miss more than anything.”

Harris has worked for the parks and recreations program for eight years and has been the director for two. He named many of the sports that the parks and recreations department facilitates.

“We lost all of the youth sports,” said Harris. “I feel like the kids are the ones that got hurt because they haven’t had anything to do, and I feel like as the parks and recreation department it’s our job to have things for kids to do.”

Harris said that the parks and recreation crew has been keeping busy by doing a lot of maintenance work.

“We have been doing things like working on the flower beds, working on the Greenbelt. There is a lot of maintenance because we have 10 parks. A lot of people don’t realize how much we actually have.”

Harris began to name the activities the department either facilitates or assists.

“We typically host a cornhole league every Sunday at Carnes Gym. We do a youth basketball league. We do Mardi Gras in the Mountains. Spring youth soccer. We have a Saint Paddy’s Day festival which ties in with the Union half-marathon.”

An Easter egg hunt, Great American Cleanup, assisting with multiple 5K runs, soapbox derby, the July 4 Extravaganza, Kids Fishing Day, a haunted house and Boo and Brew Steak Cookout are just a few of the many activities that Harris named. However, all of the activities have been cancelled.

One activity that has taken place is Greenbelt in Lights. “We’ve managed it this year by appointments,” Harris said. “There have been a lot more people walk the Greenbelt this year than I’ve ever seen, but there have been a lot more lights than we have had in the past, too.”

Harris referred to Greenbelt in Lights as the highlight of the year. “I guess because of COVID, people just wanted to get out in a safe way,” he said of the increased activity on the walking trail.

Harris said that the parks and recreation department is always looking for something new to do and is always making improvements. Whether they are running the program or doing behind-the-scenes work, Harris is proud of his team and what they bring to the town. “The parks and rec crew is the glue that holds this together in this town.”