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Show THE SENTINEL Thursday. April 29. Fun is what recreation is all about by Robert Mickekoo Sentinel Staff When asked to describe his philosophy, Cottonwood director Dick Guthrie settled back into his chair and thought for a monent. "I guess you'd have to say I Heights-recreatio- ..L.!L. Buuscnoe A 10 a me i l n . squeaung wheel" theory," he offered. "The recreational needs of a community have to be voiced first. You find out what they want and you give it to them." If the growth of new recreational facilities and the success of the associated programs are any yardstick, it is a philosophy that makes sense to this unicorporated community of over 35,000. Cottonwood Heights residents have, on several occasions, voted higher taxes to provide these services wnat tney got includes guess you'd hove to soy subscribe to fhe 'squeaking wheer theory," he offered. The recreafono needs of a community hove to be voiced first. You find out what they wunnt Brut vau ntvm It tt tham !' "1 three parks; the Cottonwood district. He first got involved when he volunteered as the coach of his nine year old son's little league baseball team. Later he became the president of the league and it was his turn to convince others to do the volunteering. p. formed. Guthrie began as the district's first employe, a parks manager. He became director of the recreation center in 1972. There nave been several additions to the Spa, each preceded by a public survey and a bond election. First came a whirlpool and racquet ball courts followed last year by an outdoor 50 meter pool, a 10 meter diving tower and diving pool, and an rink, a $3.3 million project. "The true test is at a bond election, where the people actually open up their pocketbooks," he stated. "It's gratifying to see that people think enough of what you're doing that they would opt for higher taxes." ice-skati- It's even more gratifying when the people doing the voting are also your friends and neighbors. Guthrie has been a part of the Cottonwood Heights community for 26 years. His children were in wff 19" it if 1,200 enrolled 100 Association miJJ I'M 1' But, Dick and his staff are also finding that they are not only ''fTl responsible for a lot of dollars, but "My wife is o very patient woman, but I don't think she'd stand for me running five baseball leagues," he laughed. for an increasing number of area kids as well. Of the 25,000 to 30,000 people that live in Cottonwood Heights, over 12,000 are school aged children. Because of that fact, staff has tried to make sure kids aren't treated as second class (I citizens. "We treat them plying across the center's new ice rink. Guthrie has been the director of the center since 1972. Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center director Dick Guthrie watches ice skaters ' day." Because of the pressures new programs can create, Dick has made it a little bit tougher for anyone with something new to get it past his desk. "You may think this is terrible, but I really don't listen to people the first time they come in," Guthrie explained. "I figure that if they feel strongly enough about a program and if there's enough interest in it, they'll come back again. When they come back a second and a third time, you have to listen to them. It's all part of that 'squeaky wheel' theory. Once a new program has been started, Dick and his staff stay with it only until it has caught on or become then they quietly bow out "My wife is a very patient woman, but I don't think she'd stand for me running five baseball leagues," he laughed. "self-generatin- g" ., . is well over the 450 mark today as organizations that got underway largely with volunteer help and are still run that way today. "We just provide the facilities and the logistical support,' Guthrie said, "mat way your tax dollars go further." Starting a new program, said Dick, is "like kicking an ant hill. Suddenly a whole new group of people Dick and his staff never knew existed are flooding into the center or the area's parks. "When we first opened up the new outdoor pool the number of people using the facility increased by over 1,800 a day," he stated. "Since we opened the ice rink, we've had about 1,500 more a m ri n at 10 p.m. says Sandy council 33 ssgssJ $5 Week 910 Week MICROWAVES WASHERDRYER NiMlrwds sioWeek Week Mfet I "Neighbors All," a program sponsored by the Jordan District's bilingual program, will be held at West Jordan High at 7 p.m. Friday night. Among those involved in the program are (front row, left to right) secretary Carrie Lopez and president Brenda Pena; (middle row) Japanese exchange students Miyako Tolani, Sayuri Kobayashi, and Yoshiko Ichihara; and (back row) Mrs Edith Melendez and Danny Martinez. 'Neighbors All' set for Friday officers are named at Oakdale Montoya, annual program of the David Nez, end Ann Jordan School District's Sekeret from Jordan. School PTA officers for iv "The issue was decided once," said a spokesman for the group, "and now we hear that the council has changed its mind, even before the 10 p.m. turn off time has been tried." The original turn off was 11 p.m. Guest speakers were named as Victor Roblez, Jordan High School. a graduate of the is University of Notre The program designed to promote Dame and chief engineer cultural awareness and for Otto Behner, and to the Hulberto Saenz, pay a of training specialist at achievements a and outstanding minority Hercules students. Hosts for the University of Texas evening of entertainment and awards will be West Jordan students Carrie Lopez, Brenda Pena, and Danny Martinez. , Among the students that will be honored are Virgil Pinto, Audrey Boone, Danny Martinez, Carrie Lopez, Brenda Pina, and Neilani Wilson from West Jordan High; Cynthia Atine from graduate. however, is a long time. Usually, after a few weeks they come back and, most of the time, with a better attitude. It's amazing how x well they take discipline and the parents have been very good to support us." With Dick so busy with what's going on now, sometimes it's a bit hard to look to the future. He reported that future plans often differ depending on whom you talk to. The aquatics coach would like to cover the 50 meter pool and the ice rink manager feels they could keep a second rink busy, but with the district already bonded at capacity, no major capital improvements will be considered for another three years. "We have first class swimming, and racquetball programs and a super new ice arena," Guthrie noted, "but, in the near future I'd like to start some good diving and weightlifting programs and maybe Nautilus move in some equipment." As far as his own future, he said he told his wife that he wants to stay at Cottonwood Heights until he's about 70 then retire and go to work in one of the parks doing landscaping. "I aged three years getting that new pool into operation last summer, but I never had so much fun in all my life." And fun is what Dick Guthrie and recreation are all about. TRAINED CHEVROLET TECHNICIANS CAN SAVE YOU were elected at a special meeting held at the school last Thursday. with the Along elections, students from 1982-8- TIME AND MONEY Oakdale's first grade classes put on a musical story program. new officers The included Vera Richie president, Terri Packer president elect, principal Owen Harrison second Ruth Well f HIKG IN COUPON OFFER EXPIRES MAY oECup 15, 82' SpoeSaD third vice president, - Scheduled as entertainment numbers will be songs and dances by Japanese exchange students, Russian and Indian dances by a group of Midvale Middle School students led by Howard Johnson, Spanish dance by the first grade students of Debbie Vigil Brighton; Rebecca of Crescent Elementary, Lucero from Valley and a group from the High; Song Lam. Teresa of Utah Melendez, and Susan University Spanish Choe from Alta; Tim performing dances. and just like our own kids," Guthrie continued. "If they're doing something bad and they keep doing it, we'll kick them out and sometimes we tell them it's forever. Forever, OUR but neglect can be. Oakdale Elementary will be held this Friday evening at 7 p.m. at West tribute Periodic Maintenance Isn't expensive. . . PTA bilingual department, Stacy Itudy The public, especially Vasquez from Bingham; John Rubalcava. Chau families, is cordially Victor invited to como out Naguyen. Quezada. and Klvira There will be no charge deLaCruz of I Micros!; for admission Harper, liitiSlinllrS ja before Sandy City Council, April 13, to protest the possible change in turn off time of the park's lights. By unanimous vote, the council time at voted to keep the turn-of-f 10 p.m. A "straw" vote taken the week before had expressed the council's desire to change to a time. 10:30 p.m. turn-of- f Levanstrug, HI? fife ' CONSOLE r Residents living near the Bicentennial Park appeared "Neighbors All" an and Linda 25" COLOR It wouldn't surprise anyone to find out his wife, JoAnn, already feels Dick is putting enough time in on the job as it is. According to Guthrie, his day usually starts at around 7 a.m. and ends between 5:30 to 6 p.m. Dick met bis wife at church, which was a little strange, he said, because he hardly ever went to church. The couple have three children, daughters Bobbi Jo, age 27, and Susan, 25, and a son Lee, Park lights off that The true test is ot o bond election, where the people actually open up their pocketbooks," he stored. "It's gratifying to see that people COLOR TVs $5 1 memberships for area residents are kept at about $125. kids the first year and think enough of what you're doing that they would optjor higher taxes.",. 7 "users' fees." Yearly family boys and girls; and the Youth Basketball Page grandsons, Lynn and Nicholaus. With a million dollar a year operating budget, recreation has become in business big Cottonwood Heights. From the beginning Dick and the district have operated under the idea that taxes should go as much as possible for capital improvements or new facilities. Programs and other operating costs are recouped through Heights special improvement Volunteerism is still a very Heights Recreation Center with indoor and outdoor swimming and important part of the Height's set-uGuthrie pointed diving, exercise equipment, recreation to of success the the girls' Bonne tt whirlpool, racquet ball courts, and Ball softball league which now ice rink; numerous tennis courts; involves between 500 and 600 and four playgrounds. young ladies; the AYSO soccer are . The programs equally that started with four, 12 program one varied: four baseball leagues, and now caters to teams player football league, one soccer league, two girls' Softball leagues, an age group swim team, and a new figure skating club. AIT were made possible by the formation of a special service district back in 1968. It was at that time the first board of trustees was . g the first classes to go through Mountview Elementary School and Butler Middle School, then Butler Jr. High. "We were among the first people to move into the Greenfield Acres subdivision," he recalled. "It was the only place we could afford to live." At the time Dick was working as a mailman for a $1.65 an hour. The family's finances were so tight and the area so new, they did not have phone service in their home. In spite of Guthrie's occupation, there was no direct mail delivery. Guthrie decided that a change was in order, so he enrolled in the University of Utah and studied landscaping. Back then recreation was a hobby and landscaping the occupation instead of the other way around. It was this love of. landscaping that led to his work as lacks manager in the Cottonwood 22, 1982 There are also two new Kathy Christensen fourth vice president, Maud Richardson secretary, and Maurine Bryner treasurer. Sandra was the Madsen chairman of the elections committee. a hundred Over students from the first grade classes of Sidney Carpenter, Athena Gregory, Myrna Miller, and Chyrle Nelson took part in the program, which was under the direction of music specialist Jane Nelson. The program was designed under an "Uncle Remus" type theme and indudrd four separate musical skits. U Cnly I M Mjvtfmtiiti NecetMry cars without air conditioning. Consult your (4 CYLINDERS) I For mostmanual for recommended maintenance intervals. Sixes Eights I slightly higher. GM 5 owner's A NOW AT QIVEQTC: CE1EUY0LDS BUY THE COUNTRY WAY 12741 SO. 17C3 KZST - QIYE3TC FK:::X 254 -3tel OMttUAunr SERVIC! PARTS KEEP THAT GREAT GM FEELING WITH GENUINE GM PARTS. 11 |
