GbRC participation numbers continue the upward trend

By Keith Lippoldt

klippoldt@gbtribune.com

In what begins to sound like a broken plate, the number of participation for the Great Bend Recreation Center continues to exceed the figures from previous years. As every month, the GbRC Executive Director Chris Umphres announced the statistics for the previous month at the board meeting of March.

In February, 2,238 people were inscribed in programs that were sponsored by the Leisure Commission. The total participation for the month was 10,534 and 3,957 spectators from this total number. A total of 1,405 hours of supervised activities were offered for the month. A year ago in February, 2,132 people were enrolled in programs with participation of 7,143 people and included 1,451 spectators.

In January 2025, 2,283 people were inscribed in programs sponsored by GbRC. The total participation for the month was 10.002 and of this total number were 4,226 spectators. Last year, 2,046 people were enrolled in programs with participation of 9,358 people and included 4,463 spectators.

In retrospect of December 2024, 3,671 people were inscribed in programs that were sponsored by the REC. The total participation for the month was 12,919 and this total number was 5,482 spectators. In December 2023, 3,564 people were enrolled in programs with participation of 10,588 people and included 4,347 spectators.

When Umphres was asked about the increase in the numbers, he was very free for his employees and the updated facilities with which they had to work.

“We have a very good staff,” he said. “Shane (sports director Sandberg) did a great job in sports. He is very organized and uses the facilities well. Garet (Enrichment/Activity Center Director Fitzpatrick) and Megan (water and marketing director Hammeke) are experienced and know what needs to be done. In addition, the improvements that we have made with the facilities attract more participants and the spectators come out to observe them. “

Enrichment report

The enrichment courses at the school locations after the school continue and will run in mid -April. No classes will take place during the spring holidays.

The following is a list of enrichment activities offered in March:

• Preschool – music magic

• Family – Imagination Playground, Storywalk Adventures, Mama & Me Princess Tea Party, this and this craft and painting with mom.

• Elementary – artistic adventure, art academy, painting Lounge, 3 C, kitchen crew, penguin buddy and animal painting Safari.

• Adults – oil and acrylic painting, line dance, stopping bleeding and homemade bread.

During the spring holidays for USD 428, additional programs are offered, including the programs for children's day. On March 18, the participants can explore the nature center of the dillon and play laser tag or bowling in the alley in Hutchinson. On Thursday, March 20, there will be a tour of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Hays. These two activities apply to students in grades 1 to 6 and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The REC will again hide 20 plastic lizards around the veterans Lake and the My Backyard playground for the annual Spring Break Lizard Hunt. If you find one of the lizards, return it to the activity center for your price. The lizard hunting season will open on March 14th and run until March 18. In the veterans Lake, no lizards are hidden in the dog park or in the water, and no lizards will be higher than 3 feet behind the floor.

Enrichment, water report

Several adaptive activities were planned for February, but some were canceled due to the winter storms. Highlights for the month were bowling, Valentine's Day and Valentine's Day, warm welcome class, Snowman Stack Craft Class, afternoon -Matinee film and coffee and craft class.

The activities in February included fit for life, lunch stretch, yoga, cardio explosion, chair yoga, suspension training, Tai Chi, rhythm ride, spin strength and February -spin and sculpture.

Sports report

Adult basketball 3 in the 3 -league is half of the regular season. There are still three regular weeks of the season and will play our post -season games on Sunday, April 13th.

The Spring Adult Volleyball leagues are currently in the meeting. 24 teams took part in 2023 and 2024. In 2025 there are 28 teams. The big leap comes from Wednesday Coed Spiking League.

According to Sandberg, 2.5-3.5 league runs on Tuesday evening in the City auditorium. As soon as this is complete, you will start a 4.0 league for the more competitive players in the city.

Another season of pickleball courses has completed with Debbie Munz, which teaches these classes.

The Lil 'Ballers Instructional Basketball program returns on March 25th and will go for four weeks on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Games last week will switch from April 15 and 17 from the activity center to the City Auditorium.

The eSports Open Play came back this year on Tuesday and Thursday in February with over 20 participants.

Summer planning is now taking place and GbRC works according to another schedule of the activities. This includes the search for teachers, the booking of day trips, the search for organizations / trainers outside the city who come to Great Bend to offer participants, projects and other preparatory tasks new opportunities.