Palisades Recreation Sports Programming Makes Strong Gains

Participation in adult and youth sports programs at Palisades Recreation Center over the last five years show an increase in almost all programs, according to a report released by the Pacific Palisades Parks Advisory Board on July 24.

Recreation Director Erich Haas said he was really shocked about basketball participation. In 2008, there were 63 kids playing co-ed winter basketball compared to 1,250 in 2013.

For girls basketball, there were 63 participants in 2008 and 784 in 2013.

"That's amazing," Haas said. "No one can every say we don't have gender equality."

The youth basketball programs have also collected the most cumulative revenue since starting at the recreation center, with winter basketball taking in $182,500 and girls basketball taking in approximately $114,475 in 2013, respectively.

For flag football, Haas added there were 79 in 2008 and 3018 by 2012. T-ball and five-pitch softball had 79 participants and 380 by 2013, taking a slight dip from 2011.

The seven adult programs range from line dancing to badminton to Tai Chi Chuan.

The nine children's programs include the increasingly popular sports day camp, preschool day camp and preschool clubhouse.

Haas added they are changing the summer programs so that only twice a year the Department of Recreation and Parks will put out brochures, only for summer/fall and the other for winter/spring. Haas said the Palisades Recreation Center is trying to increase its exposure, adding to its 3,100-person email list.

For more information, visit the center's website or on Twitter.

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