The Tyrrell County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 3 decided to continue operating the county’s parks and recreational programs through an appointed seven-member commission.

Recruitment began at once for four new members to join the Parks and Recreation Commission (PARC) in managing basketball, baseball, softball, T-ball and soccer for county youth.

Each PARC member receives a $50 monthly stipend, the same as with other appointed boards. Members are actively engaged in providing total sports programming for county youths. They also coordinate concessions, and some members attend and participate in all activities as coaches or program directors.

However, the three remaining PARC members — Brandy Mann, Amanda Hall-Fleming and Bill Sawyer — “are not in a position to continue operations as in the past,” county manager David Clegg reported.

Clegg told the county commissioners in July that the games serve nearly 300 children, with expenses last fiscal year at $69,282 and revenues of $13,000.

Last spring PARC reported that 88 youngsters (ages 4-12) signed up to play basketball.

By ordinance the county commissioners created a recreation commission in 1977, and its appointed members have always operated its programs. The name was changed to Parks and Recreation Commission a few years ago.

Section 4 of the ordinance states that, “The Parks and Recreation Commission shall provide, maintain, operate and supervise the public parks, playgrounds, athletic fields and recreation centers and other recreation facilities owned or controlled by the Board of Commissisoners or leased or loaned to the Parks and Recreation Commission by the owners thereof. The Parks and Recreation Commission shall have complete supervisison of the facilities and activities provided and conducted on or in connection with the parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, and recreation centers provided, and shall have the power to conduct any form of recreation or cultural activity.”

Persons interested in working with youngsters in sports activities as members of the Parks and Recreation Commission should contact board clerk Penny Owens at 252-796-1371 or email pennyowens@tyrrellcounty.net before Nov. 30.