ELIZABETHTOWN — The Elizabethtown Kiwanis Club met at San Jose Restaurant and heard a presentation regarding Bladen County Parks & Recreation from Morgan King, one of three full-time staff members.
According to King, the county has three recreational facilities — the Bladen County Park located on Doug Evans Road (off U.S. 701 South); the King Street Gym in Elizabethtown; and the Grand Slam Batting Cages in Bladenboro.
King said Doug Evans Park features such amenities as playground facilities, two picnic shelters, basketball courts, two concession stands, football field, soccer field, walking trail, and four outdoor batting cages, among other things.
The King Street Gym is where the Bladen County Parks & Recreation hold its basketball program and the staff offices are also located there.
The Grand Slam Batting Cages feature four fully enclosed netted tunnels, two portable pitching machines and two Iron Mike pitching machines and a room for parties.
King also said the public can rent the facilities at the King Street Gym for two-hour blocks, the athletic fields at the park, the picnic shelters for half days or all day; and the batting cage party room for two-hour blocks.
Sports offered by the Bladen County Parks and Recreation include TOT Soccer ages 3-4, Flag Football ages 5-7, Cheerleading ages 7-12, Basketball ages 6-12, Blastball ages 3-5, Softball ages 5-16, and Baseball ages 13-14.
King said that by far the largest program the county offers is soccer. She said on average about 300 children take part in County Recreation soccer. King said that registration for blast ball and softball is under way. For more details on registering your child for these or other programs, call 910-862-6770 or stop by the King Street Gym located at 803 King Street, Elizabethtown (behind the Elizabethtown Town Hall).
Kiwanis President Jeff Futrell updated the club members. He said the mid-year Kiwanis conference was held this past weekend Kiwanian Michael Aycock attended. The next Kiwanis Conference will be held Aug. 8-20 in North Charleston, S.C.
He also noted that the International House of Pancakes restaurants will hold their annual National Pancake Day event on Tuesday, March 7, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Futrell said that Kiwanis International is a partner in the event. There are IHOP locations in Lumberton, Fayetteville and Wilmington.
Kiwanian Dr. Lisa Bryan updated the group on the recent Terrific Kids program which was held at the Elizabethtown Primary School on Friday, Feb. 17. “The Terrific Kids was a huge success. Sixteen kids were awarded certificates at Elizabethtown Primary School,” said Bryan.
“The kids were excited and the parents were excited. The teachers there have really driven this,” said Bryan.
Bryan also said that the scholarship applications have been sent to the high school guidance counselors and application packages are due in April.