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The Recreation Department of the City of Fairhope has grown steadily over the years and is looking toward the future, with ongoing improvements at the city’s 80+ acres of parks.
More than 5,000 children and 1,000 adults take part in various league activities in Fairhope throughout the year. The city maintains 26 playing fields for baseball, softball, soccer, and football, located at Stimpson Field, Founders Park, and Volanta Park (AKA Fairhope Municipal Park). Volanta Park is also home to the municipal football stadium, an 18-hole disc golf course, four tennis courts, an indoor & outdoor pool , batting cages, picnic pavilions, and barbecue facilities. Recreation Direction Eddie Boyett and his crew also maintain two play parks for children—Fairhopers Community Park and Toddler Park—and the popular parks on the bluff, at the beach, and at the municipal pier. Although the recreation department employees stay busy keeping the city’s parks and playing fields in shape, Boyett admits that the city’s sports programs depend on volunteers. “I’m just the hub at the center of the wheel,” he says. “All the volunteers, the league parents, coaches, and booster clubs, they’re the spokes that make the wheel turn. They put in countless hours, and they are the key to the great success of the recreation program in Fairhope.” Recreation Department Facility Usage & 5 Year Plan (Powerpoint) The City of Fairhope Recreation Department also received assistance from the Recreation Board. The board is made up of residents who are appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council for placement on the board. Members are: The Recreation Board meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm at City Hall. Fairhope PoolsThe City’s indoor/outdoor pool at Volanta Park completed a successful first year of operation in 2004. Currently, the pool offers a variety of swim programs and lessons as well as free swim. It is open seven days a week - Monday-Friday from 6 am to 6 pm; Saturday 10 am to 6 pm; and Sunday noon to 6 pm. The pool is also available during off hours for private party rentals.Pool programs include water aerobics; SwimAmerica youth lessons for ages three and up; and beginning, intermediate, and advanced lessons for adults. The pool is also home to FAST (the Fairhope Area Swim Team), with classes for ages 6 and under; 7-10 year-olds; and ages 11 and up; and is home to the Fairhope Middle School and Fairhope High School swim team (open to students in grades 7 and up).
Brittany Mikesic, pool programs coordinator and aquatics instructor, says the pool gets great use throughout the week. “Water Aerobics is the biggest draw and it’s a great program. It’s very individualized. You go at your own pace, so you get out of it what you put into it. Regular participants range in age from 40 to 85, and they have a lot of fun.”Mikesic said that even with the regular classes and lessons, the pool is always open for free swim. “During the school year, the best time to come is between 9 and 2 pm, but there are always lanes open for lap swimming.”The water in the pools is kept clean with a state-of-the-art ozone system instead of chemical treatments. “Because the pool does not have chlorine in it, it is a lot less harsh on your hair and skin,” Mikesic said.Short- and long-term pool memberships are available as well as daily walk-in rates. Senior discounts are available.For more information, call the pool at 990-0175. Fairhope ActivitiesInformation on the various sports league programs that are offered through the Fairhope Recreation Department is listed below. Other activities of the Recreation Department include:
Fairhope Parks facilities are generally open from sunrise to dusk, although the municipal pier is open 24 hours a day.Fairhope League PlayYouth Baseball Open to boys & girls ages 5 to 15. Two seasons. Registration and evaluations in late February and early March for games in April-June; and registration in August for games in September-October. Volanta Park. Contact: Tommy Faust, 928-1842. Visit the Fairhope Youth Baseball website
Open to girls ages 5 to 15. Registration and evaluations are in late February and early March. Games are played from April-June. Founders Park. Contact: Jennie Racine, 554-8115 or Ed Robinson, 928-6618. Visit Fairhope Girls Softball Fairhope Men’s Church League Open to members of churches within the Fairhope School Zone. Games played April-July. Stimpson Field. Contact (men) Tony Caminiti -- 928-0529. Youth Soccer Open to girls and boys, ages 4-15. Two seasons. Registration in March for April-May games; registration in August for September-November games. Founder’s Park. Contact: Dennis Sherrin -- 928-2443 or Victor Teumer -- 928-1992. Visit the Fairhope Soccer website Youth Basketball Open to boys and girls ages 5-14. Registration and practice in November-December for January-February games. Volanta Park Gymnasium. Contacts: Danny Ford, 463-8775. Fairhope Area Swim Team Open to boys and girls ages 5-14 who already know how to swim. Registration in May with swim meets in June-July. Contacts: Tammy Kaurudar -- 928-3503 or Coach Brittany Mikesic at the Fairhope Municipal Pool -- 990-0175 Youth Football and Cheerleaders Open to boys and girls ages 7-12. Registration May 7, 14, 21 & 28; 9:00 am - 11 am at Baseball Fields. Registration ends July 30, 2005. No Late Registration. For more information for age groups contact:
Tennis League play and lessons are available at the City of Fairhope Municipal Tennis Courts for all ages. For information, call 990-0174.
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