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A Walk in the Park

Learn about the Hannibal Parks & Recreation Department's parks and facilities.

Posted May 15, 2012 @ 11:48 AM

"Puss in Boots" Saturday in park

By Mary Lynne Richards

The first Movies in the Park will be Saturday night in Huckleberry Park with a showing of “Puss in Boots.”

The Movies in the Park series is hosted by the Hannibal Parks & Recreation Department.

The movie is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. There is no admission charge. Those planning to attend are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs. The Ramp Park concession stand will be open.

The other Movies in the Park will be June 16 with “Cars 2” and Aug. 11 with Kung Fu Panda 2.”

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Posted May 07, 2012 @ 03:57 PM

Runners taking part in Hannibal Cannibal training

By Mary Lynne Richards

More than 40 people took part in the Couch to Cannibal training Saturday morning at Riverview Park.

Hannibal Parks & Recreation and the Hannibal Cannibal are sponsoring a Hannibal Cannibal training program: at 8 a.m. Saturdays until June 30.

The Couch to Cannibal program is very similar to the Couch to 5K running plan but includes a few more hills to simulate the Hannibal Cannibal which takes participants up and down Lover’s Leap.

Local jogger Bob Wathen, along with members of the Hannibal Parks & Recreation and YMCA staff, are leading the training.

Each week a step-by-step schedule will be posted on the Hannibal Cannibal website, the Hannibal Parks & Recreation web site and at the top of the Soap Hollow Trail in Riverview Park. Training plans for completing a 5-K and a 10-K in time for the July 7 Hannibal Cannibal will be available.

All Saturday training runs will start at the top of the Soap Hollow Trail.

Contact Mary Lynne Richards at Hannibal Parks & Recreation, mlrichards@hannibal-mo.gov, 573-221-0154; or Bob Wathen, thewathens@charter.net, 573-406-2960.

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Updated Apr 27, 2012 @ 03:46 PM

Hannibal fourth graders help plant tree

By Mary Lynne Richards

Fourth graders helped plant a tree at Dulaney Park for Arbor Day Friday.

The fourth graders from Eugene Field and Holy Family School helped plant a dawn redwood. The Hannibal Tree Board, Department of Conservation and Hannibal Parks & Recreation Department sponsored the event.

Ed Tamerius, Tree Board president and ex-forester, explained that planting a tree isn't as simple as just digging a hole and throwing the tree in it. He explained to the fourth-graders how to choose the right type of tree, location and planting time. He asked the children to help him shovel and apply mulch and taught them how important trees are to our environment.

Hannibal has been named a Tree City USA every year since 2000. The Tree Board has helped plant more than 250 trees in Hannibal since it first started in 1998.

The first Arbor Day took place on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. It was the brainchild of Julius Sterling Morton (1832-1902), a Nebraska journalist and politician originally from Michigan. He was President Grover Cleveland's Secretary of Agriculture.

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Updated Apr 27, 2012 @ 03:28 PM

Willow Street Community Park getting upgraded

By Mary Lynne Richards

The Willow Street Community Park has recently received a facelift, with other improvements being planned.

The Hannibal Parks & Recreation Department maintenance workers removed tons of pea gravel and replaced them with engineered-wood fiber. The substance looks like wood chips but is safer and lasts for more than 25 years.

Officials with the nearby Willow Street Christian Church had expressed concern that the pea gravel might be thrown at cars and air-conditioning units next to the playground.

Willow Street Community Park is located at 404 Willow St. This 2 acre neighborhood park offers green space, ballfield and playground.

Plans to locate some benches at the ballfield and install some newer playground equipment are in the works.

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Posted Apr 19, 2012 @ 04:22 PM

Senior Expo brings in large crowd

By Mary Lynne Richards

More than 450 people attended the fifth annual Senior Expo Thursday at the Admiral Coontz Recreation Center in Hannibal. There were 60 vendors.

The theme of the expo was Seniors Build Communities, said Stacey Nicholas, RSVP director. “Senior adults are always looking for activities and services that help the community,” she said. “They received a lot of good information as they walked around.”

Vendors who had been at the expo all five years had special ribbons at their booths, like Beth-Haven and James O’Donnell Funeral Home. New vendors included Organo Gold Coffee, Advanced Home Care, Tom Boland Ford and American Home Health.

Tom and Becky strolled around the expo, greeting visitors. RSVP provided food at the canteen. Door prizes were provided by vendors and area businesses.

Tammy Heimer of HMD Mobile Diagnostics said the expo gave her a chance to explain the mobile x-ray unit that allows patients a more comfortable setting for diagnostic checkups. “It’s such a good chance to meet with senior adults in a relaxed setting and tell them what we do.”

Senior Expo is sponsored by Hannibal Parks and Recreation, RSVP at Douglass Community Services, NECAC, Experience Works, the Marion and Ralls County Health Departments and NEILS.

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Updated Apr 12, 2012 @ 01:36 PM

Sign up now to receive a free jersey from British Challenger Soccer Camp

By Mary Lynne Richards

The deadline to sign up for the British Challenger Soccer Camp and receive a free jersey is April 20.

The camp is June 4-8 at the Norfolk & Southern Sports Complex next to Clemens Field.

The Hannibal Parks & Recreation Department is sponsoring the camp.

Challenger British Soccer Camps are staffed exclusively by coaches from Great Britain who are selected and trained specifically to teach youngsters. The curriculum has been created to maximize children’s contact with the ball and to provide the maximum opportunity to learn.

The camp schedule is: Ages 3-4: first kicks, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.; ages 5-6: mini soccer, 10:30 a.m. to noon; ages 7-9, half day, 9 a.m. to noon; ages 10-17, half day, 1 p.m. to 4.

All players will receive a free camp ball and camp T-shirt, personal player evaluation and soccer poster.

Anyone who registers online April 20 receives a free British soccer jersey.

To register sign up online at www.challengersports.com and for more information contact the Hannibal Parks and Recreation Department at (573) 221-0154.

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Posted Apr 11, 2012 @ 04:44 PM

Senior Expo sure to have something for everyone

By Mary Lynne Richards

The fifth annual Senior Expo will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 19, at the Admiral Coontz Recreation Center in Hannibal.

There will be about 55 booths, including HMD Mobile Diagnostics. Tammy Heimer of HMD said the expo gives her a chance to explain what the company does. “Many people don’t understand what we do,” she said. She looks forward to the chance to tell senior citizens about the mobile x-ray unit that allows patients a more comfortable setting for diagnostic checkups.

The theme of the expo is Seniors Build Communities, said Stacey Nicholas, RSVP director. “In the current climate of political campaigns and budget debates, it easy to forget that senior adults provide a variety of services that build our communities.”

There will be free door prizes for the first 300 visitors. Prizes will be awarded during the event and meals and snacks will be available.

Senior Expo 2012 is sponsored by Hannibal Parks and Recreation, RSVP at Douglass Community Services, NECAC, Experience Works, the Marion and Ralls County Health Departments and NEILS.

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Posted Apr 10, 2012 @ 11:04 AM

Ann Dorsey Hodgson Memorial Park an undiscovered treasure

By Mary Lynne Richards

Ann Dorsey Hodgson Memorial Park, located at Rock and Section Streets in downtown Hannibal, is an undiscovered treasure.Ann Dorsey Hodgson Memorial Park is located at Rock and Section Streets.

This 11-acre neighborhood park offers a half basketball court, barbecue grill, shelter and picnic tables and open green space.

The park cannot be reserved; it is available on a first come, first serve basis.

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Posted Apr 05, 2012 @ 11:16 AM

Pitch Hit & Run contest open for girls and boys

By Mary Lynne Richards

The Hannibal Parks & Recreation Department is sponsoring the Pitch Hit & Run contest April 21.

The event starts at 9:30 a.m. at Huckleberry Park and gives youngsters ages 7-14 the opportunity to showcase their pitching, hitting and running abilities.

Aron Lee, supervisor for Hannibal Parks & Recreation, encourages boys and girls to sign up. “This really emphasizes the fun element of baseball and softball,” he said. “Everyone gets a chance to compete.”

Participants will compete in three aspects of baseball/softball:

• Pitch: Participant is tested throwing strikes to a designated “Strike Zone” target

• Hit: Participant hits a ball off a stationary tee for distance and accuracy

• Run: Participant is timed, starting from second base, touching third then touching home plate

Baseballs and softballs and tees are provided, but participants must bring their own bats.

Competitors compete in four age groups: 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14. Age is determined as of July 17. The winners in the All-Around, Pitching, Hitting and Running categories advance from each age and gender group.

Boys and girls compete separately and participants have the opportunity to compete in four levels of competition including Locals, Sectionals, Team Championships and the National Finals at the MLB All-Star Game, which is in Kansas City in July.

National Finalists will receive an all-expense paid trip to the All-Star Game July 8-10 .

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Updated Apr 03, 2012 @ 09:15 AM

Lots of kids enjoying scavenger hunt!

By Mary Lynne Richards

Hannibal children, along with visitors to Hannibal, will have the chance to explore the Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse, the Cardiff Hill Overlook, the steps to the lighthouse, and the trail in a different way.

The Hannibal Parks & Recreation Department has developed the Lighthouse Trail Scavenger Hunt to encourage visitors to the HPR sites.

The Scavenger Hunt list is available online at

http://www.hannibalparks.org/parks/mark-twain-memorial-lighthouse/

and at the HPR office at City Hall, 320 Broadway; the Hannibal Convention & Visitors Bureau office at 505 N. Third St.; Hannibal History Museum, 217 N. Main St. and Paddlewheel Popcorn, 121 N. Main St. Paddlewheel Popcorn is offering a prize for completing the scavenger hunt.

Mary Lynne Richards, assistant supervisor for marketing and planning, created the scavenger hunt. “My kids love scavenger hunts and I thought it was a great way to encourage visitors to explore our parks and sites.”

The scavenger hunt starts in front of the Tom and Huck statue at North and Main Streets. The questions involve the steps and trail to the lighthouse, the gardens and grounds at the Cardiff Hill Overlook, and the lighthouse itself. It takes about 30 minutes to complete.

Deya Schanbacher took her children. “It was so much fun,” she said. “It’s so nice just to have something to do downtown. We had never explored the Cardiff Hill Overlook, so it was good that we had to chance to go there.”

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Marylynne

Mark Lynne Richards is assistant supervisor in charge of marketing and event planning for the Hannibal Parks & Recreation Department.

A Walk in the Park

Learn about the Hannibal Parks & Recreation Department's parks and facilities.

"Puss in Boots" Saturday in park

Runners taking part in Hannibal Cannibal training

Hannibal fourth graders help plant tree

Willow Street Community Park getting upgraded

Senior Expo brings in large crowd

Sign up now to receive a free jersey from British Challenger Soccer Camp

Senior Expo sure to have something for everyone

Ann Dorsey Hodgson Memorial Park an undiscovered treasure

Pitch Hit & Run contest open for girls and boys

Lots of kids enjoying scavenger hunt!

Contributors

Recent Posts

"Puss in Boots" Saturday in park

Runners taking part in Hannibal Cannibal training

Hannibal fourth graders help plant tree

Willow Street Community Park getting upgraded

Senior Expo brings in large crowd

Sign up now to receive a free jersey from British Challenger Soccer...

Senior Expo sure to have something for everyone

Ann Dorsey Hodgson Memorial Park an undiscovered treasure

Pitch Hit & Run contest open for girls and boys

Lots of kids enjoying scavenger hunt!