Pembroke is getting back into the recreation business. In a hurry.
Leading the charge is Linda Warburg, who was hired in May to run the city’s recreation and leisure services -- which include a swimming pool, Miller Teen Center, a baseball field, some tennis and basketball courts and the Tommy McCormick Play Park.
“One of the first quotes I heard when I got here was ‘there’s nothing for kids to do here,’’ she said. “And I thought, let’s make something for kids to do, even if it’s just having pickup games in the park.”
It’s been more than that.
The teen center, which is a joint effort between Pembroke and Bryan County Family Connections, was recently redecorated by teens and is open for business. The pool underwent renovations and is now open five days a week. It’s also available for pool parties during the weekend. There’s a summer lunch program on weekdays from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for Pembroke kids. And there are things for adults, too --- art classes and aerobics, swimming lessons and more.
Even the baseball field is getting spruced up after Pembroke chipped in $2,500 in a public-private partnership with travel ball coaches who say they will bring tournaments to the city and help grow recreational sports.
Eventually, Warburg hopes to see organized sports played in Pembroke -- though not in competition with Hendrix Park in Black Creek, officials say.
“This is for kids who can’t get to Hendrix Park because they don’t have transportation,” Warburg said. “We’re trying to make this into a community play area, a place were people can go that is safe and drug free. We’re trying to get the community back into being a community again.”
Pembroke councilmember Angela Reed, long a driving force in bringing recreation to the city, had praise for Warburg and promised a continued commitment to recreation.
“Linda’s wonderful. I’m excited and very happy to have her here,” Reed said. “And we’re here for the long haul. We’re here to give 120 percent and have been from the beginning. We’re committed to bringing a recreation department back to Pembroke, so y’all come on out.”
For more information about pool hours, costs or Pembroke Recreation Department programs call 653-4484 or 653-4533.
Leading the charge is Linda Warburg, who was hired in May to run the city’s recreation and leisure services -- which include a swimming pool, Miller Teen Center, a baseball field, some tennis and basketball courts and the Tommy McCormick Play Park.
“One of the first quotes I heard when I got here was ‘there’s nothing for kids to do here,’’ she said. “And I thought, let’s make something for kids to do, even if it’s just having pickup games in the park.”
It’s been more than that.
The teen center, which is a joint effort between Pembroke and Bryan County Family Connections, was recently redecorated by teens and is open for business. The pool underwent renovations and is now open five days a week. It’s also available for pool parties during the weekend. There’s a summer lunch program on weekdays from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for Pembroke kids. And there are things for adults, too --- art classes and aerobics, swimming lessons and more.
Even the baseball field is getting spruced up after Pembroke chipped in $2,500 in a public-private partnership with travel ball coaches who say they will bring tournaments to the city and help grow recreational sports.
Eventually, Warburg hopes to see organized sports played in Pembroke -- though not in competition with Hendrix Park in Black Creek, officials say.
“This is for kids who can’t get to Hendrix Park because they don’t have transportation,” Warburg said. “We’re trying to make this into a community play area, a place were people can go that is safe and drug free. We’re trying to get the community back into being a community again.”
Pembroke councilmember Angela Reed, long a driving force in bringing recreation to the city, had praise for Warburg and promised a continued commitment to recreation.
“Linda’s wonderful. I’m excited and very happy to have her here,” Reed said. “And we’re here for the long haul. We’re here to give 120 percent and have been from the beginning. We’re committed to bringing a recreation department back to Pembroke, so y’all come on out.”
For more information about pool hours, costs or Pembroke Recreation Department programs call 653-4484 or 653-4533.