All posts by Deborah Huffman

Uncategorized

Celebrate Takoma Festival Is This Saturday – May 18th

Join us as we celebrate the vibrant cultural diversity that the City of Takoma Park and its residents have to offer at the  Annual Celebrate Takoma Festival on Saturday, May 18 on Maple Avenue  from 4:00-7:00 p.m.

This family festival block party held in front of the Community Center and Piney Branch Elementary School will feature crafts, entertainment, music, games and food from all over the world.  Takoma Park is the true definition of a “melting pot” with residents form Ethiopia, El Salvador, and Guatemala, just to name a few. This event offers a social benefit to Takoma Park and brings the community together to celebrate the diversity the City is known for.

Celebrate Takoma fosters community pride, teaches people new things and strengthens relationships unbound by a resident’s place of birth. We hope to see you there!

In order to make the event a safe one, Takoma Park Police will have road closures and no parking signs in the festival area.  Bus routes will be effected during the road closures.

For more information please visit https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/recreation/celebrate-takoma-festival/

 

News

Monster Bash is this Saturday! (Rain Plan in Effect)

Monster Bash is coming to Takoma Park on Saturday, October 27 at Takoma Park Elementary School

The Takoma Park Recreation Department staff has prepared a host of events that are designed for the entire family.  Due to the impending weather, Monster Bash will be held inside Takoma Park Elementary School. The Annual Costume Contest and Parade will weave through the school beginning at 2:00 p.m. We will end the festivities with the Costume Award Ceremony and Celebration in the gymnasium and a corn maze in the multi-purpose room.

Limited parking and walking to this event is encouraged. Additional parking will be available at PBES and TPMS.

Due to moving the event indoors, all previously advertised road closures will be lifted.

Space is at a premium but we are excited to celebrate with you!

News

Takoma Park Recreation Center Gymnasium & Fitness Room closing beginning Wednesday (06/27)

The Takoma Park Recreation Center (7315 New Hampshire Avenue) will be closing the gymnasium and fitness room beginning Wednesday, June 27 through approximately Sunday, July 1 for gym floor renovations.

During this time New Ave Adventure Camp participants will meet at the Recreation Center daily and will be transported to Piney Branch Elementary School for camp, returning to the Recreation Center each day by 4pm.

News, Uncategorized

Celebrate Takoma: The block is hot in our little melting pot!

 

UPDATE: Due to the  inclement weather today (5/19),  the Celebrate Takoma Festival will be moved inside Piney Branch Elementary School.   While no parking restrictions will still be enforced,  Grant Avenue and Maple Avenue will not be closed to traffic .

What is a festival?  A festival is an event celebrated by a community focusing on a specific characteristic of that community and its cultures. Celebrate Takoma fits this definition to a tee!

Takoma Park is a patchwork quilt of diverse people with their own varying cultures and backgrounds. This is what makes our community so special. Where else can you experience Latin American, West African, Middle Eastern, European, and so many more cultures in under 3 square miles?

Join us on May 19th from 4-7 pm as we honor all these amazing cultures at our annual festival, Celebrate Takoma! Now in its 6th year, this community festival sponsored by the City of Takoma Park Recreation Department, will turn Maple Avenue into a fun and lively micro melting pot.

This festival, held between Philadelphia and Lee Avenues,  features music, dance, food, games, children’s crafts all from around the world. There will also be representatives from different community groups and businesses from around the City, and the annual presentation of the Azalea Awards. The Azalea Awards will be presented to volunteers and activists who have been selected as the year’s best at improving life in the greater Takoma community.  Black Masala will kick off the event with a sampling of international music and the steel pan band Panquility will close out Celebrate Takoma with the shake-shake-shake percussion, which is always a fan favorite!

Celebrate Takoma fosters community pride, introduces people to new cultures and strengthens relationships between residents and neighbors alike. It leads to new friendships and allows for a community that is strong in diversity to come together as one. So bring a lawn chair or blanket and joins us for an evening of unity and fun!

For more information including street closures visit https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/recreation/celebrate-takoma-festival/

News

Winter City Guide is here!

The City of Takoma Park’s all inclusive City Guide is the best way to learn about all the great classes available and events happening in Takoma Park. Sports, arts, library events, classes, and concerts… it’s all in the City Guide!

The 2017 Winter City Guide was delivered in the December edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. It is available at City facilities and online.

Registration for Recreation Department programs begins:

  • Thursday, Dec. 15 at 8:30 a.m. for TP residents
  • Thursday, Dec. 22 at 8:30 a.m. for non-residents
News, Takoma Park Newsletter

Early Registration for Takoma Park Residents

By Apryl Motley

Beginning with registration for winter recreation department classes on Thursday, Dec. 15, Takoma Park residents won’t have to worry as much about spaces filling up as fast in some of the more popular programs, such as the ones for seniors. They will register a full week earlier than non-residents, who will be eligible to register for classes on Thursday, Dec. 22.

“We started looking at implementing this policy about a year ago based on the popularity of our programs and classes, which increasingly are full and have waiting lists,” said Takoma Park Recreation Director Gregory Clark. “There needed to be a mechanism in place so that residents would have the first opportunity to participate since we are supported by City tax dollars.”

Before coming to Takoma Park 10 years ago, Clark worked in Prince Georges County where early or preferred registration for residents was already in place. “This practice is used in other jurisdictions in our area and around the country,” he said.

Residents can take advantage of preferred registration both online and in person. Residency is based on having an address within the City limits. To confirm whether you are a City resident, visit takomaparkmd.gov/news.

Registration will be available both online and in person.

This article appeared in the November 2016 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

News

Recreation Department registration opens Monday, August 15, 2016

Registration for the Fall Session of classes will begin Monday, August 15 at 8:30 AM, online as well as in person (unless otherwise noted). Don’t wait to register, some programs fill up fast! Most 55+ classes fill within the first hour. For more information, please visit the Recreation section of this website. A complete list of fall offerings can also be found here.

Online registration requires an ActiveNet account to be set up in advance with a valid email and password.