A Profile of Merle Simons
February 05, 2008 |
City Services
The Director of the Recreation Department, Merle
Simons, has been working out of the little Rec office
in the gatehouse at the entrance of Mackay Park since
1990.
Our Rec Director has an impressive academic résumé, having received a Masters from Columbia University while continuing on to her doctorate there. Merle is a widely respected professional, having served as Chair of the the NJ Recreation and Parks Association Awards Committee for four years. In that capacity, she heads the professionals who go across the state grading facilities and granting awards to the very best in a variety of categories and classes. Merle has also served as past president of the Bergen, Passaic, Hudson County Recreation Association.
The Englewood Department of Recreation offers a dizzying array of programs and activities for youth, families and seniors. The Recreation Department has something for everyone: family outings, cooking instruction, violin lessons, self-defense classes and a slew of sports activities like skating, skiing, hockey, tennis, golf, flag football, soccer, cheerleading and weight training. There are even computer classes for children ages 3 - 7. And the department is always open to more suggestions.
In fact, according to Merle, "A lot of our programs are inspired by residents and what they are passionate about."
For instance, cooking classes for kids were started by a sophomore at the Academies, while outdoor cooking classes were initiated by a woman who wanted to teach the culinary arts in our parks. An accomplished young Englewood violinist, Joel Harmon, offered to teach the instrument to our youth and now has a number of students. Simons also cites flag football as yet another example of a resident's initiative.
Englewood has made a serious investment in Recreation, as the department has a budget of $1 million to fund salaries, transportation, pool maintenance and the like. Merle has programs running all over our City and, at times, utilizes spaces found in schools and churches. But Merle does have a "wish list." Here are her top three:
1. A multi-purpose room that would always be available for programs.
2. A multi-purpose field for soccer, football and lacrosse.
3. A skate park like that found in Tenafly. Merle has already received a petition of 148 signatures that supports this idea.
To find Department of Recreation programs that might be just right for your family, a complete schedule can be downloaded from their web page at the City of Englewood website.
Our Rec Director has an impressive academic résumé, having received a Masters from Columbia University while continuing on to her doctorate there. Merle is a widely respected professional, having served as Chair of the the NJ Recreation and Parks Association Awards Committee for four years. In that capacity, she heads the professionals who go across the state grading facilities and granting awards to the very best in a variety of categories and classes. Merle has also served as past president of the Bergen, Passaic, Hudson County Recreation Association.
The Englewood Department of Recreation offers a dizzying array of programs and activities for youth, families and seniors. The Recreation Department has something for everyone: family outings, cooking instruction, violin lessons, self-defense classes and a slew of sports activities like skating, skiing, hockey, tennis, golf, flag football, soccer, cheerleading and weight training. There are even computer classes for children ages 3 - 7. And the department is always open to more suggestions.
In fact, according to Merle, "A lot of our programs are inspired by residents and what they are passionate about."
For instance, cooking classes for kids were started by a sophomore at the Academies, while outdoor cooking classes were initiated by a woman who wanted to teach the culinary arts in our parks. An accomplished young Englewood violinist, Joel Harmon, offered to teach the instrument to our youth and now has a number of students. Simons also cites flag football as yet another example of a resident's initiative.
Englewood has made a serious investment in Recreation, as the department has a budget of $1 million to fund salaries, transportation, pool maintenance and the like. Merle has programs running all over our City and, at times, utilizes spaces found in schools and churches. But Merle does have a "wish list." Here are her top three:
1. A multi-purpose room that would always be available for programs.
2. A multi-purpose field for soccer, football and lacrosse.
3. A skate park like that found in Tenafly. Merle has already received a petition of 148 signatures that supports this idea.
To find Department of Recreation programs that might be just right for your family, a complete schedule can be downloaded from their web page at the City of Englewood website.
