“At Parks & Rec, the focus is on fun, healthy activities and participation,” says Jay Guelfi, the department’s director. “The idea of our programs is to introduce kids to new things, to get them interested and to make sure they all have the opportunity to participate.”

This fall and winter, youth and adults have plenty of options to choose from, including tennis, flag football, basketball, soccer, skiing, baseball, softball, golf, fishing and volleyball.

New this year is an adult women’s pickup soccer league for ages 35 and up. “We’re working hard to provide more programs for adults,” Guelfi says. Adult pickup volleyball has become very popular, he adds, and men’s pickup basketball always sees high participation.

Sports aren’t the only offerings on the schedule. Programs dedicated to chess, art, Legos, filmmaking, computing, interview prep, babysitting, public speaking and etiquette also are planned for the fall.

For a unique mashup of sports and science, the STEM & Play: Basketball program combines cognitive thinking with physical activity. “This program was really popular in the summer, so we’re continuing it in the fall,” Guelfi says. “It’s not just playing basketball — it’s understanding the science and the physics behind it.”

Flag football, which is a co-ed, non-contact league for youth in Grades 4-8, also has been a sought-after program. “We consider Sunday to be football day, just like in the NFL,” Guelfi says. “For 2 1/2 hours in the afternoon, the kids practice, then they play, and then they’re home for dinner.”

Guelfi adds that the department is very excited about the Fruit Street fields replacement project being completed in time for fall sports. Parks & Rec also is in the planning stage for pickleball courts, with construction expected to begin next spring.

Unlike competitive private programs, Guelfi says Parks & Rec’s offerings are designed so that anyone can participate. “Whether it’s to exercise your body or your mind, to be with friends or to meet new people, that’s always the focus,” Guelfi says. “It’s never about competition. It’s always about participation and fun.”

For more information, visit hopkintonrec.org or call 508-497-9750.

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