City of Ventura Parks and Recreation

On this #TeamMemberTuesday we want to congratulate Recreation Supervisor Chip Tarelton on receiving his 20-year service award. Chip has been with the City for 33 years, 8 years as an hourly employee, 5 years as a coordinator, and 20 years in his current role. Chip oversees our youth sports programs, including VYBA (Ventura Youth basketball Association), tennis, sailing, afterschool sports and activities, volleyball, and Lacrosse. He also spent 5 years as Recreation Supervi...sor for both Youth and Adult Sports, which included overseeing the Corporate Games, adult basketball, adult softball, and adult soccer. Chip's passions include coaching volleyball, and he previously coached football and basketball. He also enjoys playing golf. Chip, thank you for your 33 years of excellent service to the City of Ventura, and our residents!

Do you love playing FIFA 21? Do you wish you were in an eSports league to show off your skills? Registration ends tomorrow, January 12, for our new FIFA 21 eSports League. Participants play every Saturday afternoon against another competitor from Ventura County. To learn more and to register, visit: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com//search/detail/12723

Looking to get fit in 2021? If you are, check out our small group and private tennis and pickleball lessons available at Juanamaria and Camino Real Parks. To learn more, visit https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/1774/Tennis-Pickleball

The Westpark Community Garden is located adjacent to the Westpark Community Center. The 21 garden plots provide spaces for community members to grow their own fruits and vegetables. The garden has been renovated twice since it was originally added to the site. In 2013, a nonprofit group built a patio, shed, and boxes for new garden plots. In 2018, the garden was expanded, and new fencing was installed. For more information about the Westpark Community Garden, contact Recreation Coordinator Anita Diaz at 805-648-1895.

Playground update, see below.

Registration is now open for our virtual youth Anime, Cartooning & Comic Creation class. You’ll draw and sketch as you create your own characters inspired by anime and popular cartoons. Learn about developing cartoon storylines, design, coloring, and lettering as you create your own comic book. For more information, visit: https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/642/Classes-Programs

Happy Birthday to the Ventura Aquatic Center (VAC). VAC is officially 15 years old! Since opening, more than two million guests have visited the Aquatic Center to participate in programs such as Swim Lessons, Lap Swim, Water Exercise, Open Sim, Dive-in Movies, Recreational Swim, and team sports. We look forward to serving you and providing programs that encourage our community to stay active, have fun, and become water safe for many years to come! Check out this photo from our grand opening in October 2005 it's one of our favorites. : )

Deck the halls with holiday cheer! With the historic Olivas Adobe currently closed due to the pandemic, we are unable to host our annual Candlelight Tour. Instead, our Parks and Recreation team, along with the Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters (OAHI) and CAPS Media Center have created a short video celebrating seasonal traditions practiced by the Olivas family. Stay tuned, because on December 12th, we will share the video on Facebook. For more information, visit https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/648/Olivas-Adobe.

Ventura, there are strong winds today and a Red Flag warning in place. Smoke may be visible right now on the east side of town due to a brush fire in Santa Paul...a. Currently, there is no threat to Ventura. Some residents may receive PSPS alerts from Southern California Edison. Please review the emergency checklist below. Register for VC Alert emergency notifications by texting VC ALERT to 313131 and follow instructions. To sign-up online, visit: www.readyventuracounty.org/vc-alert/ Stay informed at www.vcemergency.com or call the emergency hotline during active incidents at (805) 465-6650. Information is provided in English and Spanish online. Create a Ready, Set, Go! family emergency plan with meet up checkpoints and emergency contacts. Download a guide here: https://bit.ly/3g1ZTAP For Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) information or to register for alerts from Southern California Edison, visit sce.com/PSPS or call 1-800-611-1911. Build an emergency go-kit for your home and car with important documents, medication, phone chargers, and flashlights, should you need to evacuate quickly. Plan ahead by bringing loose, lightweight objects inside, such as lawn furniture, holiday decorations, and garbage cans. We are in this together. Stay safe Ventura!

It's #FloraFactFriday! Did you know that bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant in the world? Yep, that's right, it can grow up to 35 inches in a single day. For information about our community Gardens, visit https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/696/Community-Gardens #gardeningisgreat

Today’s the first day to drop off gifts for our Santa to a Senior program. To learn more about this fun program, visit our senior services webpage: https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/669/Senior-Programs

It's a great day for history! Today we present our fifth episode in our Heart of Ventura County historical video series. In this episode, Docent Bob Sandler shows us the Olivas Adobe herb garden, which contains medicinal and edible plants and represents the types of plants grown by the Olivas family. Make sure to watch it to the end when Bob shares some recipes for you to try at home. Stay tuned because next Thursday, we will learn about the Olivas Adobe in the 1890s from Rebecca Olivas. For information about the Olivas Adobe, visit https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/648/Olivas-Adobe

On this #TeamMemberTuesday, we want to congratulate, Recreation Coordinator Janine Cobian for 15 successful years of service with the City of Ventura. Janine has been involved in many projects with the city, including developing and overseeing multiple sports and specialty classes like tennis, pickleball, youth soccer camps, VYBA, and beach volleyball. Additionally, she was vital in helping develop our Independent Contractor standards. Janine is always ready to take on new challenges, and she does so with a smile on her face. In her free time, Janine enjoys spending time with her two children: Kyle who is attending college in New York and Tyler, who just completed graduate school at UCSB, and her husband Oscar, who works for Patagonia. They enjoy playing volleyball together and traveling.

Hey Ventura! We would like to share a big thank you to the businesses and organizations participating in Corporate Games In-A-Box! We are excited to see what participants will do with the boxes. Now companies across Ventura County are actively engaged and their employees are participating in fantastic activities while maintaining social distancing and following all the COVID Guidelines issued by the County of Ventura.

It's a great day to enjoy a city park. This video was taken at Thille park. Please remember to enjoy parks and playgrounds responsibility. While you're at the park, play it safe by wearing a face covering, maintaining your space, and washing your hands before and after your visit. For updates on city parks visit https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov//City-Parks-Beaches-Facil #ParksMakeLifeBetter

It's #FloraFactFriday! Did you know that colorful blooms aren't the only reason that butterflies love your garden? They are drawn to the fragrance and nectar of your flowers. According to the Smithsonian Institute, new types of popular flowers have been bred for enhanced color and size, but have often lost their fragrance in the process. So weeds, like dandelions and clovers, are more likely to draw butterflies into your garden. Butterflies also hate pesticides, so if you... like visits from butterflies, limit or eliminate pesticide use. For information about our Community Gardens visit https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/696/Community-Gardens #GardeningIsAwesome

Calling all history enthusiasts! Today we present the fourth episode in our Heart of Ventura County historical video series. In this episode, Francesca (Pancha) Olivas Suytar, the fourteenth child of Don Raymundo and Teodora Olivas, shares what it was like growing up as a child in the mid 1800s at the Olivas Adobe. You'll also get to see some of the original furnishings that are still in the Olivas Adobe today. Stay tuned because next Thursday, we will learn about the Olivas Garden from Bob Sandler, the docent that cares for the garden. For information about the Olivas Adobe, visit https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/648/Olivas-Adobe

On this #TeamMemberTuesday we want to give a shout out to Aquatics Facility Operator (AFO), Wayne Hatch, for 20 successful years of service with the City of Ventura. At the beginning of his career, Wayne worked in the Public Works Department as a member of the Facilities crew. For the last 15 years, he has been working for the Parks and Recreation Department as a certified AFO and lead worker for the Ventura Aquatic Center. Wayne keeps our City pools running safely and ensu...res they are chemically balanced and equipment is maintained. Wayne is also the lead worker for the Parks Facilities Maintenance crew and assists with scheduling the repair and replacement of all lighting and amenities in City parks and hardscapes. Wayne is reliable and always willing to help his peers and community members. In his free time, Wayne enjoys spending time with his wife, 2 kids, and 3 dogs. He also enjoys wakeboarding, snowboarding, and golf.

It's a great day for a visit to a city park. While you're at the park, play it safe by wearing a mask, maintaining your space, and washing your hands before and after your visit. For updates on city parks and beaches, visit https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov//City-Parks-Beaches-Facil #ParksMakeLifeBetter

It's #FloraFactFriday! Did you know that talking to plants can help them grow? It's an old gardeners' tale, but studies have shown that vibrations like music, or the sound of your voice can affect plant growth. For information about our Community Gardens visit https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/696/Community-Gardens #GardeningIsGreat

Calling all history enthusiasts! Today we present the third episode in our Heart of Ventura County historical video series. In this video, Ampara Espinoza Olivas describes life at the busy Olivas Adobe in the 1860s. Stay tuned for next week's episode where you will meet Francesca Olivas Suytar, the fourteenth child of Francis Olivas. For information about the Olivas Adobe, visit ... https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/648/Olivas-Adobe

Get your surf on with Ohana Surf Camp Fall Break Surf Camp! Camp takes place October 26 30 from 9am to 3pm, at Marina Park in Ventura. For details and to register visit: http://apm.activecommunities.com/vent/Activity_Search/12699