InTucker Magazine

Ask Rip – May 2018

Rip Robertson is the first Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Tucker. He takes the job with years of experience in Parks and Rec, as well as Public Works. Rip is a former Military Intelligence Analyst for the U.S. Army and is active with the Army Reserve.

Since I joined Team Tucker late last year, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and talking with folks from all over the City and surrounding areas. These people can be very different, but their questions are often the same. As this edition of InTucker gets us ready for summer, I would like to take the opportunity to answer two of the most common questions I’ve received, both relating to summertime. The first question, of course, has to do with summer camp. As you’ve hopefully heard by now, Tucker’s Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a summer camp for students ages five to 14.

This is an all-day camp in partnership with the YMCA that will take place at Tucker Recreation Center. We established a strong partnership with the YMCA folks in our after-school program this winter and we are excited to continue that partnership into the summer.

Students will be able to swim, play sports, do arts and crafts, as well as engage their minds through educational activities. This is being offered at a cost of $95 per week, a price that includes a hot lunch and snack each day. Parents can drop their students off as early as seven o’clock each morning knowing their child will be safe and receive the best possible care.

The second question I’ve gotten is about the pool at Kelley Cofer Park. We know, just as you do, what a true asset this pool is to the Tucker community. But it can be better. And in Summer 2018, it will be better.

In addition to basic maintenance upgrades, we are contracting with Aquatics Management Inc. to provide lifeguards and handle day-to-day operations of the pool. One of the reasons we are so excited to partner with Aquatics Management Inc. is their commitment to safety. Each morning, their lifeguards will offer free swim lessons to any children who have paid admission to get into the pool. I want you to read that again: FREE swim lessons. And it’s all with the goal of keeping our children safe. The pool opens on Memorial Day and admission will be $5.00 for folks 12 and older, $3.00 for children and seniors. Annual passes will be available (call us for information and pricing). I really expect that this summer, more than ever before, Kelley Cofer Park will be the place to be to beat the heat in Tucker.

Finally, we’ve spent a lot of time building and improving programs for our children and our seniors. I want to make sure that our adults know that we’re working on programs for them, as well. We have entered into an agreement with ZogSports to bring coed kickball to Henderson Park and coed softball to Kelley Cofer Park starting in June. Men’s basketball and coed volleyball leagues will begin in July. You, your friends, your coworkers and anyone else who wants to get active and have some fun this summer can sign up on our website, tuckerga.gov/parks.

Oh, and when we mention those parks, they are now officially “Tucker Parks”. We assumed responsibility from the County on April 10 and we are looking forward to having our parks family-ready for the summer.

You’ve heard us make some big promises about the level of service you’re going to receive in your Tucker parks and at the Recreation Center. With all these great activities and partnerships happening this summer, I hope you’ll see that we are working to make our Parks and Rec Department second-to-none.