Comments (0) | |

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009

Longtime director Dodson has real passion for recreation

If there’s anyone in Georgia who knows parks and recreation, it’s James Dodson of Warner Robins.

The director of the Warner Robins Recreation Department has been involved in some capacity with recreation since his high school days in the early 1970s.

As one of seven children in his family, including a twin sister, the Peach County native grew up near Warner Robins’ Memorial Park, frequently playing football and baseball outside with his friends.

“The times were different,” said Dodson, a 1974 graduate of Warner Robins High School. “Kids were outdoors a whole lot then.”

Dodson, 52, said he used to watch the park’s maintenance crew go by his house and decided the job might be something he would be interested in someday.

He officially started with what was then a combined city/county recreation department, based at Ted Wright Park, as a scorekeeper and maintenance man in 1973.

Even while attending Fort Valley State University, the business administration major worked year-round in recreational activities back home. As a full-time job in 1978, Dodson took charge of the rec department’s baseball and softball programs.

Although Warner Robins has grown substantially since he first began working in recreation, Dodson said many of the same programs remain, and the department’s sense of closeness has remained a constant.

“It’s no different today. We’re all like family,” he said in an interview last week.

When Dodson first started in the department, there were five full-time and two part-time employees. Today’s center, with offices headquartered along bustling Watson Boulevard, employs 17 full-time staff members and a host of part-time workers.

Dodson was appointed interim director of what was then a city and county recreation department in December of 1989. His role within an active city department is a people-oriented career he finds satisfying and fulfilling.

“I enjoy what I do, I really do. I think if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here as long as I have,” said the grandfather of four.

But his path almost took a different turn at a young age. His father had worked at Magnolia Park Cemetery for 30 years, leading the youngster to look toward mortuary school. Dodson even worked part-time doing lawn work and washing cars at McCullough Funeral Home in Warner Robins.

However, parks and recreation was where he wanted to be, he said. His involvement has included coaching just about every youth athletic program offered.

Last November, Dodson was elected president of the Georgia Recreation and Park Association. The organization, founded in 1945, seeks to support and promote recreation industries throughout the state, and serves as an advocate for quality recreation and parks at the local level, according to its Web site.

Dodson first became affiliated with the nonprofit group in 1978, serving on the board of trustees beginning in 2003. Among his goals this year, he said, he would like to meet with state legislators to sponsor a children’s outdoor bill of rights, which would promote children getting outside and becoming physically active.

He plans to travel to each of the state’s six other districts, attending quarterly meetings, and represent Georgia next fall at the National Recreation and Park Association’s annual convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Dodson sees his role on both the local and state level as not only working with people of all ages and from all walks of life, but also helping to improve quality of life. He hopes his state position will be a positive influence for others seeking to enter the profession.

“I’m excited about it,” he said of his new role. “My peers have seen fit to elect me to this position and I certainly want to do the best job I can.”

Recreational activities

The city of Warner Robins operates the main recreation building, which features administrative offices, an activity room, gymnasium, youth center and ceramics shop. There are also a dozen parks throughout the International City that host a multitude of playgrounds, picnic sites, courts for volleyball, basketball and tennis, baseball and softball fields, and swimming pools at Fountain and Sewell parks.

In 1993, the Senior Activity Center became part of the recreation department, and now boasts an active program, spearheaded by Joyce Hutcherson.

Senior activities include a popular annual health fair and winter surprise party, social and arts and crafts clubs, and exercise, ceramics and woodworking classes, among other opportunities. The senior center also hosts the annual Georgia Golden Olympics.

City recreation activities are open to anyone. Families who wish to participate in youth or adult sports pay at one of three levels, which consist of city, county or out-of-county fees, depending on where you live.

Summers programs include baseball and softball. Other popular sports include football and cheerleading, along with track, blast ball, T-ball, volleyball and basketball. And there’s a little-known fencing club, which practices at the Watson Boulevard facility.

In 2008, the recreation department served more than 2,770 children in its youth programs and hosted more than 90 teams during its spring and fall men and women’s softball leagues.

With an annual budget of $1.64 million, Dodson’s job as director includes managing expenses for personnel and benefits, along with operations and capital costs.

Although Dodson said he realizes that many city facilities are getting older, the department is doing what it can to spruce up around town.

Last year, four tennis courts got new lighting and resurfacing, and Fountain Pool received a few upgrades.

So what has the director taken away from his years working with so many people in a community-oriented position?

“I’ve learned that the public demands a lot from you, and you give what you can at the end of the day,” Dodson said. “If you give all that you can give, you let it go or it will get the best of you.”

Dodson added that qualities that make one successful in his line of work are flexibility, problem solving and having a listening ear and appreciative and caring attitude.

“The most important thing is treating people the way you want to be treated. That goes a long way,” he said.

To contact writer Jenny Gordon, call 923-3109, extension 240.