Community leaders continue to work on goals with the Healthy HometownSM initiative, powered by Wellmark.
This week, during a review with Nevada’s Healthy Hometown steering committee, Assistant Parks and Rec Director Rhonda Maier shared exciting news about healthy changes to the SCORE four-plex concessions menu and the Fawcett Aquatic Center concessions menu. She also talked about several new recreational opportunities for residents.
Healthy food choices
Looking at food offerings in the community is part of Healthy Hometown’s “eat well” component. Maier said with no concessions at the four-plex or aquatic center last year, due to COVID, the off-year was a good time to revamp and “really look at what our choices are” at the two concessions stands.
With help from Healthy Hometown’s Aaron Swanson, a community health manager, and Jenny Weber, a registered dietitian, a review of past offerings at the stands took place.
“We came up with some good ideas of things we think will sell, while keeping some of our best sellers (from the past) on the menu,” Maier said.
Among the new offerings at Parks and Rec concessions are the following:
- Protein-packed breakfast sandwich
- Part-skim cheese sticks
- Gatorade Zero
- Fairlife protein chocolate drink
- Grilled chicken sandwich
- Gatorade protein bar
- Fresh fruits
- Carrots and Ranch dressing
- Apples with peanut butter
- An ‘ants on a log’ kit (celery, peanut butter, and raisins)
- Protein KIND bars
Maier is also looking to offer a “homerun combo meal” for ballgame evenings and weekend tournaments. The meal will combine several healthy options at a special combo price. “The hope is to offer this at a good price that allows people to get a healthier meal, and we’d vary the options in that meal from week to week.”
Both stands will continue to offer past favorites, like candy bars, hot dogs, nachos, etc., and at the aquatic center, ice cream treats.
“Ice cream is one of our best sellers at the aquatic center,” Maier noted. A healthier Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich will be offered along with other favorites.
The four-plex concessions stand with its new offerings will soon open. Games and tournaments start mid-April.
New recreation activities
Another Healthy Hometown goal is to create new activities for people to “move more.” Maier has lined up two new “move more” activities, pickleball and sand volleyball, in addition to the Kids Camp and kickball activities, which were new offerings last summer.
Sand volleyball will be offered in a Sunday league this summer when the aquatic center is open. The sand volleyball court is located inside the aquatic center, just west of the main pool. “Kids can swim, while parents are playing volleyball,” Maier said.
Maier, herself, has joined the pickleball Facebook group. “Pickleball has become really popular … We’ve been holding some indoor pickleball, but will start an outdoor league soon.” The outdoor league will play on the tennis courts at SCORE.
Kids Camp and kickball will be offered again this year.
Registrations for these new programs and other summer programs will begin in April.
Register for programs on Parks and Rec’s ABC Sports camps website. https://info.abcsportscamps.com/nevadaiowa.
And as always, follow the Nevada Parks and Recreation Facebook page for other announcements.
–Written by Marlys Barker, City of Nevada
