City Of Greeley
 

Greeley Recreation Blog

We are NOT in Kansas anymore…


5/24/2013 Send Feedback


Tornados can be devastating. We are reminded by the recent (and not so recent) severe storm related tragedies that have come to pass; not only in our state but across the Nation. The minute you think “It can’t happen to me” is the minute you are putting yourself and others at great risk. Though more rare in Colorado than other states, tornadoes do happen and are still capable of causing great damage when populated areas are in their path. The best thing anyone can do during a severe storm is take warnings seriously.

 

The difference between a tornado WATCH and a tornado WARNING:

A tornado WATCH means that current atmospheric conditions are ideal for the formation of tornadoes. Storms that prompt this type of alert are usually accompanied by damaging winds, severe hail, lightning and heavy rain or flooding. You should be alert, keep an eye on the sky and listen to local radio/TV stations.

 

A tornado WARNING means that current atmospheric conditions did produce a tornado within the warning area. A tornado warning does not necessarily mean that a tornado is on the ground or has touched down at all; it may be present in the form of a funnel cloud. So just because you don’t actually see a vortex doesn’t mean it’s not there. It’s not like the movie Twister, so don’t wait until you see cows and barns whirling through the air to take cover.

 Don’t let your eyes fool you! Warnings are issued by people trained to recognize the signs and indications that a tornado has formed.  If a WARNING is in effect for your immediate area, take cover ASAP.

 

Most people injured or killed by tornadoes are those that didn’t hear the alert. It is wise to have a weather radio with battery backup in case of power failure or rare “midnight” storms. Remember that tornados can form very quickly under the right conditions, so there may not be any warning at all. That is why it is important to be able to recognize the signs yourself.

 

 Tornado WARNING signs (include but are not limited to):

 

• A very dark or greenish-tinted sky.

• A dark low-hanging cloud called a Wall Cloud

• A funnel cloud (spinning vortex up in the clouds)

• High winds and large, flying pieces of debris

• If you are not sure, take cover just in case



According to the City of Greeley’s Emergency Operation Plan, Weld County is identified as high risk for tornado activity. Greeley has no outdoor tornado sirens to warn the public in the event of a tornado.

Each building in the Culture, Parks and Recreation Department (CPRD) has a designated area for patrons to take cover from severe weather. This may be a basement, a reinforced hallway, or locker rooms in some cases. CPRD staff has undergone emergency training in the event of a severe storm. If you are outside participating in a recreational activity, enter the nearest building and follow instructions. Stay away from windows, and exterior walls. If finding an interior wall or shelter isn’t possible, get to the lowest place you can find. Make sure to crouch, protecting the back of your neck with your hands.


HELP! The Kids Are Out of School! What do we do?


5/14/2013 Send Feedback

For some, it’s one of the best days of the year; for others, the worst. That day is MAY 22nd, and SCHOOL’s OUT FOR SUMMER! Kids are happy, businesses are happy and teachers are very happy. However, parents and employees of ever-so-popular kid summer hang-outs might be a little frazzled.

As a parent, you have responsibilities and also important choices during the summer. Choice #1: You can make sure your kid’s summer break days are filled with constructive, enriching activities to keep them busy.  Or choice #2: You can send them away somewhere, anywhere just so you don’t have to do the babysitting. Hopefully you pick choice #1. If choice #1 seems like too much work have no fear, the City of Greeley Culture, Parks, and Recreation Department is here! We can help keep you and your children safe, busy and out of trouble without breaking your summer activity piggy bank.

“Idle hands are the Devil’s playthings.” Ok, that saying may be a little bit too extreme but you get the picture. From experience and statistics I can tell you the type of kids most likely to get into trouble over the summer months. These are kids that have too much time, and too little structured activity to fill it. When they become bored, they start to stray from good, clean fun and begin to dabble in the dubious. Kids with little or no adult supervision tend to do the same. I’m not saying hold your 13-year-old’s hand, I’m just saying check in with them during the day. Meet up for lunch, bring them snacks, and make yourself available! Though it might sound like a great idea to drop your children off at the Greeley Family FunPlex every day for 8 hours, they will grow tired of this. You should always be just a phone call away.

Though the FunPlex is a positive and safe environment, it’s not the only option for summer fun. Variety is the spice of life! Check out the Greeley Recreation Center’s climbing wall, the Greeley Ice Haus skating rink, or the Rodarte Community Center’s Fun in the Sun program or basketball camps. There’s always something fun going on at these great facilities. A lot of them offer ongoing summer courses for both kids and adults. You can enroll your little ones in ice hockey camps, music lessons, dance, karate, boxing, and even summer camps at the museum. They will learn, stay active and have fun at the same time. Meeting new friends is a given. Most of these activities will cost you less than $10 a day, plus they will keep your children safe, busy and happy.

                During the day, be sure to check out our outdoor pools and FREE splash parks starting May 23rd. Visit www.greeleygov.com/rec for details, hours and prices. During the night, watch a movie with friends and family at our Neighborhood Nights events. You can bring blankets, a picnic dinner, or just snacks. Enjoy the pre-show events such as a performance by the Old Town Puppet Company, hula hooping to Dr. Seuss classics, balloon animals, and even face painting.  Then kickback and watch the featured movie of the night while the stars shine above you. Neighborhood Nights happen on Fridays at different Greeley parks each week starting July 5th. Check out our website for a complete schedule.   

Whatever activities you try this summer, remember your choices as a parent can be more important than you think. They can mean the difference between a happy, safe summer for your kids or a dangerous, delinquent one. You be the boss and choose!

Mentioned in this Blog-

Family FunPlex  www.familyfunplex.com

Greeley Recreation Center  www.greeleygov.com/Recreation/GreeleyRec

Rodarte Community Center  www.greeleygov.com/Recreation/Rodarte

Neighborhood Nights  www.greeleygov.com/Festivals/NeighborhoodNights

Outdoor Pool/Splash Parks  www.greeleygov.com/Recreation/Aquatics

Classes/Programs/Camps  www.greeleygov.com/Recreation (click on the Recreation Connection cover on the right)

The Greeley Ice Haus  www.greeleyicehaus.com


Ahhh.(“Ah-CHOO!”) It’s spring!


4/25/2013 Send Feedback

It’s spring time in Colorado; the birds are chirping, the trees are budding, the people are sneezing...what?! Yup, it’s that time of year for allergies to start up again. Sneezy, Dopey, Grumpy (and itchy!)  are more than just a few dwarves in the forest if you suffer from seasonal allergies. If you’ve been enjoying a nice break from watery eyes and runny noses, the nicer weather can mean more time inside for some of us. But there are other ways to find relief; read on…

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s report Spring Allergy Capitals 2013, Colorado Springs and Denver rate worse than average on the pollen scale. Average is considered 300 grains/cubic meter air daily. (Greeley is not officially on this list because they do not consider it a “major city”.) The good news is that Denver and Colorado Springs are below average (1.04 medications/patient) when it comes to taking allergy medicine. Does that mean that there are a bunch of un-medicated Coloradoans running around miserable with uncontrolled sneezing and a Kleenex bill that’s through the roof? Maybe…but most likely people are finding more traditional ways of dealing with their allergies.

For example, you can reduce inflammation by eating more Omega 3 Fatty Acids (fish oil, flaxseed oil, walnuts) rather than taking an anti-inflammatory pill each day. (www.healthwerks.com/news/57-top-10-ways-to -reduce-allergies)

 

Exercise! Believe it or not, studies show that exercise may help with many symptoms of seasonal allergies. When your body “heats up” as you break a sweat, it helps to loosen congestion in the sinuses and chest. Drinking water (even without exercise) is a must as well. But beware! If you are an outdoor fitness guru, you may want to check the pollen count before your daily jog. Since running means aspirating more than normal, you may end up snorting more pollen than you would otherwise.

Check out Your Diet! Those of us sensitive to our environment might also be sensitive to what we eat. Even if you don’t think you have a food allergy you might, and you can also develop one at any time regardless of how many times you have eaten that item in the past. People who are allergic to grass pollens may also react to foods such as tomatoes, peanuts, wheat, apple, carrot, celery, peach, melon, eggs and pork. Also those allergic to ragweed may be sensitive to foods in the Cucurbitaceae family such as cucumber and melon. (www.helthweks.com/news/57-top-10-ways-to -reduce-allergies) Sometimes eliminating these foods can help reduce the severity of environmental allergens.

Know Your Pollen Count! If you can stay inside more on the days pollen count is extremely high, you will feel better. You can find the daily pollen count in the Greeley Tribune, or on websites such as www.pollen.com. Usually the peak time for pollen exposure is around 5am to 10am. 

 Some other tips/tricks:

-Use a saline solution nasal rinse (“neti pot”) to rinse pollen/irritants from the nasal passageways (find @ your local drugstore).

-Keep an allergy diary so you know what remedies work for you.

-Try acupuncture (shown to relieve symptoms of hay fever especially). 

-Don’t mope! If you try some of these tricks, the great outdoors may not be as big and bad as it was in the past. Enjoy some of the activities the City of Greeley Culture, Parks, and Recreation Department has to offer this spring (…and bring your neti pot!).

 

*Indoor*

May 12th – Mother’s Day Skate

Greeley Ice Haus 12-1:30pm

 

-Visit the Ice Haus, FunPlex, or Recreation Center  where you can rock climb, swim, play ball and more!        

 

-Sign up for classes or activities. www.greeleygov.com/rec

 

-Cosmic Skating at the Ice Haus; great music and fun lights!        

 

*Outdoor*

Centennial Celebration @ Centennial Village Museum

May 25-27 10am-4pm

 

-Swim outdoors at Centennial Pool, Discovery Bay Waterpark, or any of Greeley’s amazing splash parks! 

All open starting Thursday, May 23rd

 

-Play a round at Boomerang Links or Highland Hills golf course. Or try your hand at miniature golf at the Family FunPlex. Open dawn to Sunset!                                                                 

 

 

       

 

 

 


1 - 3 Next