We want to have a rec department that’s also about adults and older people as well.”

Tim Dunbar

PORTSMOUTH — Swing a racket, draw a card or adjust a boom — there’s something for everyone in the Recreation Department’s new catalog.

Recreation Director Tim Dunbar is getting the word out about the department’s catalog, which details a host of activities this spring and summer.

“People can go right to the website now, Portsmoutri.com, and click on the ‘Recreation Department’ and print out the entire catalog themselves,” he said.

(You can view the entire catalog here: http://bit.ly/22e4k1j.)

Mr. Dunbar said about 3,000 copies of the catalog are being printed and they’re being sent to local schools and key businesses “so everyone has one.”

One of the highlights of the catalog is a new five-day summer camp, which will run in two sessions starting June 27, six weeks in all. For ages 5 to 14, the cost is $40 per day or $150 for the week. The department will be offering some scholarships to help families with the cost.

“The headquarters will be at Sandy Point beach, but we’ll be having field trips, storytellers, things like that,” said Mr. Dunbar.

Children will have the opportunity for daily swimming, as well as volleyball, soccer, baseball, kickball, games and arts and crafts. There will also be G-rated movies shown on Mondays and Fridays.

Making a comeback this year are sailing lessons, also at Sandy Point Beach.

“We’re offering eight different classes. That was always a big draw in past years,” he said.

There will also be a bigger swim lesson program this year.

“Last summer we started swimming lessons and that’s back in a big way,” said Mr. Dunbar. “Last summer we had six sessions and we’ve really expanded it into 16 sessions.”

Summer karate lessons will also be offered, as a first-degree black belt will teach kids ages 5 to 12 Tang Soo Do, the national art form of Korean. These classes will be held at Portsmouth Middle School.

The new ELITE Tennis program pairs up instructors Tina Schroeder and Randy Osga, who will run a tennis camp for children and teens, and also provide lessons for adults. They’ll also offer sessions of “pickleball,” a paddle game for all skill levels and ages.

“We’ll very excited to have teamed up with Elite Tennis with Tina Schroeder and Randy Osga,” said Mr. Dunbar. “They founded the tennis company and are running it through the rec department. They’re the first of hopefully many groups we hope to bring up through the rec department banner.”

Students can also keep their minds by taking advantage of the Recreation Department’s free tutoring and enrichment courses in various subjects — “anything kids can get a jump on or brush up on for the summer,” said Mr. Dunbar.

Not everything offered is for children, as an adult rummy tournament will be held in the picnic area of Sandy Point Beach. “We want to have a rec department that’s also about adults and older people as well,” said Mr. Dunbar.

The success of the summer program will determine whether or not the Recreation Department offers something similar in the fall. “We’ll wait to see how this goes,” said Mr. Dunbar, adding that he’s got other ideas for new programs in mind. “I’m looking to get flag football going. That’s on the rise around the country.”

Glen Farm update

Mr. Dunbar also gave a brief update on the special events fields at town-owned Glen Farm, which was a subject of controversy at a recent Town Council meeting.

Mr. Dunbar had originally recommended a plan to offset the estimated $17,000 it costs annually for the fields’ upkeep by charging each local sports league a yearly fee of $300, plus $3 per child enrolled in that organization.

At a council meeting Feb. 22, however, dozens of people representing various local sports leagues came out to oppose the plan. 

They argued that they had never paid to use the fields in 20-plus years and the town shouldn’t start imposing a new fee on their athletes, the vast majority of whom live in town. They also argued they already invest funds and manpower into field maintenance.

Mr. Dunbar said he and Town Administrator Richard Rainer got the message.

“We’re not touching that for now. Right now we’re just concentrating on working with them,” said Mr. Dunbar, noting that he wants to set up an online schedule so everyone can see what fields are available and when.

He also has a team of Bryant University students who are helping him create standard operating procedures to address the special events fields and how the town does business with groups that want to use them.