Valley Parks and Rec, reflecting back and looking forward

BY KADIE TAYLOR

THE LAFAYETTE SUN

VALLEY — Looking back at the growth of Valley Parks and Recreation in 2025, Director Jon Neal said he is proud of what was accomplished in  in the seven months since he moved to Valley and began working with the organization, and he looks forward to continued growth in 2026.

Neal said when he began his role in June of 2025, many locals were enthusiastic about suggesting ideas and hopes for Valley Parks and Rec. Keeping those projects in mind, Neal said he really focused on the everyday and seasonal program additions he could provide to encourage family fun and meet community needs.

“I focused on the things that we can attack and that we can control on a daily basis,” he said. “Mainly, the amenities of our current facilities and [their] look and cleanliness. So, we really attacked in the first several months, the aesthetics of our parks and making sure that we have a proper mowing schedule. We spent a great penny on pressure washing the entire exterior of the facility here. We have remodeled a few spaces here in the community center itself and made sure that our admin portion of everything is handled more fluidly.”

Along with continuing to creatively cater to community fun through events and programs, Neal said Valley Parks and Rec will also make signing up for events and utilizing facilities as easy as ever — with an addition expected to come in early February.

“We are actually going to be rolling out a brand new software here in the next month or so, called Rec Desk,” he said. “[With] that software, you’ll be able to go to a website that’s based out of Rec Desk, and you’ll be able to go and register for any programs we have, rent facilities we have as well as check calendars and dates available. It’s all inclusive, very interactive and easy to maneuver.”

Looking forward to 2026, Neal said he is already planning and adding exciting new programs, from cinema days to summer camps.

“We’re definitely going to offer a few more new programs [in 2026],” he said. “We’re going to do Boutiques at the Ball Field, Cinema and Center Field, a Touch a Truck Day, as well as a plethora of summer camps. So if you have any kids in the area, we’ll be able to offer summer camps. The camps will alternate between a sports camp and another camp, like a STEM Camp, Cake Decorating, Lego Camp, etc. So all eight weeks here during the summer, we’ll have something for everyone. We’ve got some bigger projects; we’re going to work on a rock garden outside the Senior Center, probably do a few aesthetic things on the Rails to Trails, but then the big one is we’re actually going to repurpose the softball field at Langdale City Park.”

With many in the community looking to work on health and fitness goals in 2026, Neal said the Valley Community Center is a welcoming place for all fitness levels and offers a variety of options to help locals on their health journey.

“What’s very unique about our rec department is we’re welcoming,” he said. “Sometimes it’s overwhelming to say, ‘I would like to start going to a gym, but I don’t know where to start.’ Some gym options seem overwhelming, but we’ve got the family touch here. We welcome everybody, whether they want to walk for exercise in the hallway or up on the walking track, or want to get an actual lift in or do some exercise on the bike. We have everything for every age group. We’ve got our Silver Seakers classes for our seniors, and our afternoon fitness classes with fabulous instructors who would love to see their classes grow with new faces. We would love just to see more people from the community coming out here, exercising and trying to reach their fitness goals.”

As he looks forward to watching Valley Parks and Rec grow and continuing to work in his new home, Neal said he is thankful for the people who have made his new role so positive.

“Everybody has just been so welcoming and nice, and that makes me want to attack [adding new programs and completing improvements] even harder than I already wanted to, because these people are growing to be like family,” he said.

For more information and to stay up to date on new events and programs, visit Valley Parks and Recreation on Facebook.