New Recreation Director in Soda Springs

Jessica Thurman is taking on no small task as she steps into the Recreation Department director position in Soda Springs.  Thurman spent her school years in both Soda Springs and Bancroft, so she’s pretty familiar with the role that the recreation department plays in the lives of young athletes within the community.  As someone with experience in the emergency medical field, she is also familiar with how important both physical fitness and safety are.  Her background within the county puts her in a good position to assume the rec director position, one that can at times involve a lot of juggling, to mix the metaphor.

“I’m excited to get into it,” Thurman said.  There is a lot to be done moving forward in order to meet the needs of the city and county’s various stakeholders in the rec world.  City rec involves opportunities for participants from the very young to the very less young, although Thurman would also like to increase and expand options for seniors.

“We don’t really have a lot in place as a rec department for seniors, which I think would be good,” Thurman said.  

The idea is one of many that Thurman may explore in the coming months.  The first order of business, though, is to start preparing for the upcoming rec seasons, and the centerpiece tournaments held at the City Park for the Fourth of July.

“That’s our biggest single event of the year,” Thurman noted.

Mayor Robinson mentioned in April that once a director was in place, he would like to hold a public meeting for the discussion of rec department issues in order to begin coordination between the city and the Rec Foundation, which has offered to help the city out in whatever ways it can while the new framework gets ironed out.

It’s a lot to take on, but Thurman expressed a lot of optimism.  “I’m ready!” she said.

As proof, the Adult Women’s Volleyball League tournament has just wrapped up, and the “Block Heads” are your champs! 

We wish Jessica well in her new endeavor, and can’t wait to see what’s next for rec!