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Phillips named Bryant parks chief |
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Tuesday, 13 May 2008 |
The Bryant Parks and Recreation Department has its first superintendent.
Derek Phillips, 34, a native of Arkadelphia, was recently named to the position. “I am excited about the opportunity to serve the citizens of Bryant,” Phillips said. “I am amazed about the opportunity and the future possibilities in the parks department and look forward to expanding on those.” Phillips spent the past five years with the Hot Springs Boys and Girls Club. He supervised sports programs, coaches, staff and volunteers. Prior to that, Phillips worked for six years with the Arkadelphia Parks and Recreation Department. He supervised youth and adult sports programs and helped organize the Twin Rivers Festival. His responsibilities at Bryant will include track meets, the punt-pass-kick program, tennis lessons tournaments, Easter egg hunt, movie night in the park, teen night at the pool, other sports programs and the Mills Park swimming pool. Parks Director Jeremy Lemons said the department hopes to have most of these programs installed by 2009. “I look forward to being involved and doing whatever I can to help with all the outstanding groups in Bryant,” Phillips said, “including the school system and the Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce and other civic organizations.” Lemons said Phillips could possibly oversee other recreational activities when the city’s new community center is completed at Bishop Park, including youth and adult basketball leagues and tournaments, banquets, teen dances and lock-ins, aquatic programs, summer camp and more. “Derek fits exactly what we were looking for in this position,” Lemons said. “I think that the citizens of Bryant are going to be very happy with what he is going to bring to this department.” Phillips graduated from Arkadelphia High School and attended Henderson State University there. He is a member of Kiwanis International. |