When Catherine DeShambo took over as the East Lansing Parks, Recreation and Arts Department director last August, she knew she would have a vital role in the community.
“I like to think that we’re [parks, recreation and arts department] that connective tissue to help our community lead healthy, happy, strong [lives],” DeShambo said. “We provide that opportunity for connection with each other.”
Prior to working at the department, Deshambo has worked for the city of East Lansing for ten years. She has a background in community education, environmental services and general education.
The parks, recreation and arts department has a wide range of responsibilities including maintaining the parks and trails, hosting various workout and art classes, offering childcare through the schools and running festivals and events for the city.
DeShambo credits her success as department director to her staff.
“We have just the best and most talented staff. They’re so good at what they do, their talent is equal to their passion for what they do,” DeShambo said. “They really believe in the goals and objectives of connecting the community.”
The department is working to make changes within different programs and events that create a more inclusive environment for everyone to take part. They have incorporated all-gender restrooms as well as signage translated to Spanish for those who do not speak English.
Justin Drwencke, administrative services coordinator for the department since Oct. 2019, said he is proud of these alterations to their work in creating a safer, more inclusive community.
“Over the past couple of years, what I’ve noticed is a really strong commitment to looking at all of our programming and all of our events to make sure that we are making them as inclusive as possible,” Drwencke said. “Making sure we are considering all of the needs of the attendees in order to welcome everyone in the community into our programs and events.”
Assistant director of the department, Wendy Wilmers Longpre, is responsible for project management, grant writing and long-term planning.
“I love the variety of the types of things I get to do on a daily basis,” Longpre said. “It’s everything from the nuts and bolts of putting together construction projects, to interacting with the public, attending public meetings, planning for new activities or facilities. You see regular progress being made.”
The department recently held its Family Fun Day on June 18. The event was held at the Hannah Community Center in East Lansing to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the facility.
“To celebrate that [the community center anniversary], we put together a committee of our staff to plan some really fun activities for the community,” DeShambo said. “They’ve been planning that for close to a year.”
Activities at the event included a bike, stroller and wagon decorating contest, painting, games and food.
“It [Family Fun Day] was just hugely successful,” Longpre said. “That’s really a great example of the role that parks and recreation plays in the community, in terms of bringing people together and giving them opportunities to meet each other and socialize.”
During the same weekend Family Fun Day was underway, Drwencke was putting together the annual Summer Solstice Jazz Festival as festival coordinator. Over two days, 20 bands played, funded by donations alone.
“The unique thing about the East Lansing Jazz Festival is that it’s completely free to attend,” Drwencke said. “A lot of other festivals and events in the area, you may need to buy tickets ahead of time in order to support the cost of that event.”
The department is not slowing down with activities and events for the summer. They host a weekly farmers market at Valley Court Park in East Lansing and they are gearing up for their summer concert series. This event takes place every week for six weeks starting July 8 in downtown East Lansing.
DeShambo said her team is also planning for the reopening of the aquatics center in East Lansing.
“It [the aquatics center] has been closed for two years because of COVID,” DeShambo said. “We have a little delay in our opening right now. The construction that was supposed to be wrapped up about a month ago is not quite done yet. The construction companies are also having staffing issues, just like many others.”
The parks, recreation and arts department staff helps bring together members of the community through nature and activities they host.
“If we didn’t have any parks or greenspace we suffer individually as well as culturally and socially,” Longpre said. “Parks do everything from giving a location for wildlife and plants to a location for people to be active to meet and interact with their community members.”
Image provided by Justin Drwencke for City of East Lansing
Summer Solstice Jazz Festival 2022, East Lansing