The Perinton Recreation & Parks Department had an impressive showing at the 2022 Genesee Valley Recreation and Park Society Conference.
Perinton brought home awards for Young Professional (Mike Clark), Above and Beyond the Call of Duty (Cora Hawn), Program of Merit (Pine Games), and Special Event (Erie Canal Bicentennial Flotilla).
Clark has been a Recreation Supervisor in Perinton since 2018. He is known as a hardworking and passionate employee who always has our community’s best interest in mind. Clark’s primary responsibilities include after-school program oversight, special events administration, fitness area oversight, aerobics and group cycling classes, and various other programs and events.
Clark’s determination to provide services to our community during the pandemic was evident from the very start. He understood the need to continue our programming and got to work initiating an after-school program for hybrid students, leading the Pine Games, modifying programs and events to meet COVID restrictions, meeting NYS standards for our fitness area, and more.
Cora Hawn has been a part of the Perinton Recreation team in many capacities for more than two years. She is a tremendous asset to the department and the Perinton community. Despite being a full-time college student, Cora is involved in all aspects of the Recreation Department. As FunZone supervisor, she is responsible for 40 children and five staff members at any given time. She was crucial in implementing the RecZone program during the pandemic and regularly works at the Pine Games in the Summer.
In 2020, the Rec & Parks Department created Pine Games, a free summer camp hosted at the Pines of Perinton in partnership with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. The two-day-a-week summer programming for school-aged children includes games, trips to the PCC, pizza parties, and guest presenters. About 40-50 children attend each session.
The 2022 Erie Canal Bicentennial Celebration Flotilla was a great community event to celebrate the Perinton section of the Erie Canal. The event took place on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Perinton Park. There were children’s games and activities, two live bands, food trucks, and a proclamation from Town Supervisor Ciaran Hanna and the Town Board. The main attraction was a Flotilla on the Canal. The boat parade replicated the Sesquicentennial Flotilla held in Fairport in 1962. The Flotilla showcased nine decked-out boats led by the Colonial Belle. Hundreds of Perinton community members lined the Canal to watch the event.
