Shafter Recreation executes a Takeover

The Shafter Recreation Department executed a "Park Takeover" last week, invading Shafter's Community Park at Gossamer Grove and turning it into a place of fun and games.

According to Shafter Recreation District Manager Phillip Jimenez, the Park Takeovers will take place all summer long, bringing a lot of activities to a different park in Shafter each week.

The event takes place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week. At Community Park, there were a lot of activities to keep the kids busy. There was a baseball clinic, put on by Coach Jacob Bill. Bill also put on a softball clinic.

For those wanting to dance, a Zumba class was taught by Brandi Root. Root has been teaching Zumba for over two decades, operating several different classes through the Recreation Department, classes for those in grade school to seniors.

There was a bean bag toss game at the event, as well as a big arts and crafts area, too.

Jimenez said that he got the idea for the Park Takeover from his childhood. Jimenez said that when he was younger, both of his parents worked, so they had to figure out what to do during the day. "I feel like programs like this are imperative to help out parents in the Shafter community because of my own experiences."

Jimenez also said that he cherishes those memories and said that he still talks about them. "This is something that I am wanting to give back to the community. My staff and I are really buying into the vision, and this is one of the goals that we need to reach."

Next week, the Park Takeover team and kids will be at Rodriguez Park from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. For more information, call the Recreation Department office at 661-746-3303.