Isle of Palms Spring 2016

12 / 28

10
in everything from Zumba to dog training to learning to
speak Italian.
And then there are the seniors. In addition to an ar-
ray of activities, the “Keenagers,” those 50 and older, get
together on Wednesdays for a covered-dish lunch. If they
don’t feel like walking from the parking lot to the building,
staffers will give them a ride from and back to their cars in
a golf cart.
“I tell my staff to treat the seniors like they would treat
their grandparents,” Page said.
People who don’t live on the Isle of Palms can use the
Recreation Center for a nominal extra fee, while visitors to
the island pay a walk-in fee.
“We are a tourist destination, so we cater to those folks
as well,” Page pointed out, adding that many who don’t
live on the island full-time are surprised at the extent of
IOP’s recreational opportunities. “People who visit say it’s
a really nice facility. They comment that ‘We don’t have
this where we come from.’”
In addition to the many activities offered at the Isle of
Palms Recreation Center, the Recreation Department holds
an array of special events, including an Easter egg hunt,
Doggie Day, Music in the Park, the Holiday Street Festival,
the IOP Beach Run, Ghostly Tide Tales, a Halloween carni-
val, a community wellness fair and various activities during
Island History Month. The Department also runs the sand
sculpting contest held during Piccolo Spoleto.
All this is accomplished with a staff of only six full-
time employees plus Page: Assistant Director Karrie Ferrell;
Recreation Supervisors Andy Sinwald and Aaron Sweet;
Community Specialist Holly Norton; Parks and Facili-
ties Specialist Rick Daugherty; and Robert Asero, who is
responsible for the maintenance of the grounds.
“It amazes me what we do,” Page exclaimed. “These
guys work hard.”
She pointed out that around 300 youngsters participate
in youth sports programs at the Recreation Center and
that an estimated 12,000 people come through the center
in one form or another over the course of a year. Page, a
breast cancer survivor, obviously is glad she chose recre-
ation over hospital work.
“It’s fun. I can’t imagine doing anything other than
what I do,” she said. “We make people happy. I love what I
do, and I love the people of the Isle of Palms. The fun part
is that we’re able to cater to our residents. For example, if
someone forgets to sign up his kids for basketball, we can
just call him up and remind him.”
To learn about all the Isle of Palms Recreation Department
has to offer, visit
|
This Used to be
His Playground
As a young
boy, Jimmy
Carroll wiled
away many a
day at the public
playground on
the Isle of Palms.
Today, as an IOP
councilman and
the chair of the
city’s Recreation
Committee, he is
making decisions
that affect a
critical aspect of
life on the island.
In the 1960s, when only about 300 people
lived on the island, Carroll’s mom, Kathryn,
served as recreation director. When the
playground, located on 27th Avenue, was in
need of a new sliding board or a swing set, the
Ladies Playground Auxiliary held a fundraiser to
help pay for the equipment.
Today, IOP’s Recreation Department, with
Norma Jean Page at the helm, is headquartered
on a seven-acre complex that offers activities for
people of all ages.
“It’s come full circle for me,” said Carroll, who
was recently appointed to his second term as
Recreation Committee chair.
He pointed out that the Isle of Palms’ first
recreation building was donated to the city and
moved from Sullivan’s Island.
He added that he and fellow committee
members Carol Rice and Ted Kinghorn now are
tasked with “bringing before the Council the
goals Norma Jean wants to achieve.” To Carroll,
that’s an important job.
“The Recreation Department is the center of
the Isle of Palms,” he remarked. “It’s critical. It’s
what makes a community a community. That’s
what brings people together.”
Photo by Brian Sherman.