Registrations for spring programs offered through the New Canaan Recreation Department already are close to filling up if they haven’t sold out already, officials said this month.
As of the Parks & Recreation Commission’s March 9 meeting, 144 of 188 slots for adult tennis clinics had been taken, according to Interim Parks & Rec Director John Howe.
“People are wanting to be out–it’s wonderful,” Howe told members of the Commission during their regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.
“I know I am looking forward to having all these programs,” Howe said. “It’s pretty exciting that there’s so many people that want to participate in all of the different ones.”
The comments came during Howe’s regular update to the Commission. “A lot of the programs are either close to being filled up already or are filled up,” he said.
Interest in outdoor sports and activities soared amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Recreation officials reported that tennis permits for New Canaan’s public courts were up 70% 2021, while revenues generated through selling paddle tennis permits and passes exceeded $70,000 last season, against budgeted sales of $46,000.
In the current paddle season, the town had sold 642 permits as of the Parks & Rec meeting, Howe said, up from 574 last year.
“So we are going in the right direction,” Howe said.
He added that the Recreation Department had added more money in its proposed spending plan for next fiscal year to accommodate the demand for town programs, and anticipated receiving approval from town funding bodies.
Passes for the Steve Benko Pool in Waveny Park go on sale April 4, Howe said.