New Recreation Director Has High Hopes for Jasper

The new Jasper County Recreation Director, Ira Warnock, comes with 28 years experience in recreation, most recently in Walton County.

“I came to Jasper County because I love a challenge. Also, I’m here for the kids and everyone involved in this program should be also,” said Mr. Warnock.

“I think we can all pull together and make this a better place. Our Board is behind me and we need the county commissioners to get on board and help us out. I understand that about $200,000 of SPLOST [Special Purpose Local Option Sales Taax] money is earmarked for us and we need that to upgrade the fields. Our most pressing need is for irrigation.

“Once we get some irrigation in here and get the fields in shape I can bring 50 to 75 teams in here on a weekend and bring in some revenue, but we need our fields in shape to do that.”
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Some other goals of Mr Warnock’s include the nearby pond and a playground. “We need to clear off and make a nature trail around the pond. I believe we can get a grant for that and have fishing rodeos for the kids. Also, this is the first park I’ve ever seen without a playground for the kids who are too young to compete on the field. We need a sponsor to step forward and assist us with that project.

“We hope to get started on our football field next year, but once again, we need irrigation for that to happen. We already have three bids out on getting irrigation right now and we expect to get them back and present them to the county commission and get it done by mid October.

“We want to keep our goals realistic, but from day one our plans are to improve every day. I appreciate all the volunteers and the coaches, and I expect to get more when people see what we’re doing.”

Activity at the park includes: All Stars T-Ball which began last weekend; seven and eight year olds this weekend in Newton; 9 & 10 year olds in Monroe on June 27; 11 and 12 year olds in Warner Robbins on July 20; 13 and 14 year olds in Barnesville on July 20 also. Girls softball is scheduled for July 9-12 in Perry.

Football and cheerleading registration is going on now and will be extended through July 20, with the season scheduled to begin August 29.