Recreation Center Grand Opening, Jack-O-Lantern Contest, and Fountain Avenue Fall Festival  

 Everyone is invited to attend the grand opening celebration for the Paducah Recreation Center located at 1527 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.  The celebration will be Saturday, October 29 at 4:30 p.m. with the Fountain Avenue Fall Festival following from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m.

To allow a safe route for a hay ride and for people to safely walk through the neighborhood from the Paducah Recreation Center to Lang Park, roads will be closed to through traffic during the festival including one lane of Fountain Avenue, Harrison between Fountain Avenue and Harahan and Madison between Fountain Avenue and Harahan.  North 16th Street will be closed between Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and Monroe.

On display during the grand opening celebration will be the entries from the jack-o-lantern contest.  Carve your pumpkin and bring it to the Parks Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 28.  The first pumpkin is free to enter.  Each additional pumpkin entry will be $1.  The top five jack-o-lanterns will receive prizes.  Come view the winners and vote for your favorite during the grand opening celebration.

After the grand opening celebration enjoy the Fountain Avenue Fall Festival with free activities throughout the neighborhood until 8:00 p.m.  The Paducah Recreation Center will host a Halloween Costume Contest and a Scarecrow Building Contest.  Margaret Hank Memorial Cumberland Presbyterian Church will have face painting and trunk or treat.  At Lang Park, enjoy free food including hot dogs, drinks, chips, and other treats.  There will be a hayride that travels a square block beginning and ending at Lang Park.  Then at dusk, families can relax on the grass at Lang Park and enjoy Movie in the Park.   The movie will be “Monsters, Inc.” which is rated G.  

About the Paducah Recreation Center:  This summer the City finalized the purchase of the Recreation Center which is the former  Margaret Hank Memorial Cumberland Presbyterian Church Life Center Building  The building includes a gymnasium, meeting rooms, kitchen, stage, and restrooms.  Recently the City upgraded the facility to include a new gym floor.  With the acquisition of the Recreation Center, the City will no longer lease the Jetton Gym.  The Recreation Center will be available to rent for banquets, basketball tournaments, and more. 

The air-conditioned and heated Recreation Center will be open six days a week, Monday through Saturday.  It will host classes, sports leagues, educational seminars, programming for senior citizens, and various special events.  The Recreation Center will have game tables, an indoor mobile mini golf course, shuffleboard mats, and pickleball equipment.  In November there will be the following activities

 Coed Futsol (Soccer), Volleyball, and Dodge ball

Seniors on the Move Walking Program

Ballroom Dancing for Seniors

Yoga and Pilates for Seniors

Open Gym for Seniors and for Adults

Homework Hour for K- 5th graders

Kids in the Kitchen

Kids Fit Program

After School Open Gym

Teen Activity Night

Recipe Swap and Cooking Demonstration

For more information about the Paducah Recreation Center, contact the Parks Services Department at 444-8508.  For more information about the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood, contact the Planning Department at 444-8690.

Dog Ordinance:  As a reminder, pets are allowed at city-sponsored community events; however, for the public’s safety, the City’s dog ordinance lists three requirements.  The dog must be  

1. licensed by McCracken County Animal Control or by any other state or county;
2. restrained by a leash or other lead that is no longer than three feet; and
3. restrained by a muzzle.

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