CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Parks and Rec. Director Anne Selness said the futsal courts in West End Park have become a popular new attraction in Marshalltown. The 13th Street Committee is working towards offering food vendors during futsal games. The two organizations plan to continue their collaborative efforts.

Summertime means more people are outside enjoying the recreational opportunities in Marshalltown’s 22 parks.

“Summer programs for Park and Rec are going great,” Parks and Rec Director Anne Selness said. “The aquatic center is open, Summer Blast, Camp Marshalltown and Live Wires and Sparks are very busy, with most camps full.”

Selness said her staff has been busy planting flowers in the various parks.

“People can check out the beautiful new flower beds in Riverview Park, designed by city horticulturist Kristin Titus,” she said. “Mega-10 Park’s Children’s Discovery Garden has been planted, so stop by and take some family pictures.”

In addition, new, more accessible sidewalks have been installed at Mega-10. The park’s gravity rail is not operating smoothly, and new bearings for the wheels will be installed in the near future, to correct the problem.

Selness said one of the most popular project so far this year was the completion of the upgrades to the Skateboard Park, 821 S. 6th St. A grant from the Marshalltown Community Foundation, in the amount of $20,000, made the revamping possible. A pump track was installed, as well as a graffiti wall.

“If anyone would like to paint a mural or other designs on the graffiti wall, Parks and Rec will supply the paint,” Selness said. “The design may not last long, but it would give kids and adults an opportunity to try a different painting technique.”

Parks and Rec frequently collaborates with service clubs, agencies and other organizations to help fund its projects and supply volunteers.

The 13th Street District Committee has taken steps to help broaden the appeal of West End Park. Neil Dalal, who serves as chair of the committee, said the organization has been pleased with the traffic that has come to the district, thanks to the installation of the futsal courts there last fall.

“We want to do something to complement the futsal courts, so we are trying to select food truck vendors to draw in more people to the neighborhood and feed the people (attending the games),” he said. “We contributed $10,000 to the futsal courts, using the funds received by the Iowa Great Places Grant. We thought it would be a good use of grant dollars to help revitalize the courts into Iowa’s first outdoor lighted futsal courts. Never would we have imagined 60 or so kids playing on the courts in the first few weeks the courts were open.”

Parks and Rec recently installed new accessible sidewalks and a restroom in the park, with the goal of further boosting the park’s usage.

“We hope everyone is getting outdoors enjoying our recreational trails and parks. Look for some new and exciting classes in our fall brochure coming out in September,” Selness said.

To learn more, contact Selness at 641-754-5715, ext. 4. or aselness@marshalltown-ia.gov

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at 641-753-6611 or sjordan@timesrepublican.com