Village of Albion kicks off summer parks program on June 26

Photo by Tom Rivers: Summer park supervisors are pictured from left, front row: Hailey Crawford, Miranda Smith, Emily Harling and Nikki Creasey. Back row: Javon Jones, Nick Andrews, Faith Bennett, Nick Harling and Amari Jones. Five more park supervisors will be joining the team.

ALBION – The Village of Albion will be running its summer parks program for six weeks, beginning June 26 and ending Aug. 4.

The program will be based at Bullard Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free to children. The kids must be registered with immunization records submitted. Albion follows the state “Safe Parks Program” regulations.  Once the immunization records are turned in, each child will receive a free Park Recreation T-shirt.

Bullard has been improved in recent years with a new Splash Pad, pavilion, and bathrooms. A disc golf course just went in, and Recreation Director John Grillo said he expects a pickle ball court will soon be added.

The park supervisors will lead children in many games and activities, including GaGa Ball, arts and crafts, Cam Jam, Capture the Flag, and other sports. There will also be a bowling trip to Oak Orchard Lanes.

There will be a tennis clinic the week of July 3-7. The park program will also host a countywide carnival on July 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The annual senior citizens picnic is scheduled for Aug. 1 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Javon Jones and Amari Jones are back as park supervisors. They joined the others for an orientation  with Grillo on Thursday.

The Jones brothers said they enjoy getting the kids to be active. They said the job takes patience and leadership.

Some days last summer there were close to 100 kids at the park. The Jones brothers said they liked when there were large groups of kids.

“Those days were the most fun,” Javon Jones said.

Grillo has been leading the parks program for nearly 50 years as the Village of Albion recreation director.

“I still have a passion to help children grow and to provide a fun and safe summer for them,” Grillo said. “I enjoy using my experience as a recreation director, teacher and coach to help young adults learn from this profession.”

Grillo said he is proud of the recent park improvements that have made Bullard a bigger attraction for the community.

“I am very fond of Albion and want to see Albion become a well-rounded community,” Grillo said. “There is a splash pad, walking trail, GaGa pit, ball fields, picnic areas, a new disc golf course, amphitheater, where we host the Summer Recreation Program.”