From the Director

Hello Shaker,

Summer is upon us and all is a buzz in Recreation summer preparation. The pool was thoroughly cleaned out and is being filled next week in advance of our May 28 opening date. If you see people in the pool over the next couple of weeks, these are summer hires who are being trained. Pool opening weekend is Memorial Day weekend and this day is celebrated by our summer pool regulars and we look forward to seeing all those smiling faces.

If you are around this summer, please join us for the Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade or for some of our other popular summer events. We appreciate a good time and festive gatherings and hope to see you in the upcoming months.

Be active. Stay healthy. Have fun.

Alex Nichols
Director

Recreation Programming

Basketball Open Gym

The Recreation Department is excited to announce the launch of a new pilot Basketball Open Gym program. This program will take place in the Woodbury Elementary Main Gym on Saturday afternoons starting May 14th from 1:15 - 2:30 pm for grades 3-6 and 2:45 - 4:00 pm for grades 7-12. Program times are subject to change based on attendance. This program is limited to residents of the Shaker Heights school district only. All players must sign in and provide identification. No parents, spectators, or guests will be permitted in the building. Basketballs will be provided by the department; players should not bring basketballs. Players will be permitted to enter the building no more than 15 minutes prior to the start of the program, and must be picked up promptly. The cost is $3 per session, and players should bring exact change. Questions? Contact James Garrett, Sports Program Coordinator, by email.

Memorial Day Parade

The Shaker Heights Memorial Day Parade is right around the corner! For those interested in participating, registration is open through Friday, May 13^th – don’t miss out on your chance to participate in this great Shaker tradition!

For all who plan on attending on Monday, May 30^th – the Memorial Day Ceremony will commence at 9 am on the City Hall front lawn and will include the placement of a wreath at the war memorial, a gun salute, and a brief ceremony of commemoration. Immediately following the Ceremony, the Parade will begin at the intersection of Van Aken Boulevard and Lee Road and will proceed east to the Van Aken District in the westbound lane of Van Aken Boulevard. Join your family, friends and neighbors as we celebrate and commemorate the holiday along with our Shaker community. For more information and to register to participate, visit bit.ly/ShakerParade. Questions? Contact Eric Sarley, Community Events Coordinator, by email.

Thornton Park Pool Information

The Thornton Park Pool will be opening soon! Our aquatics team is hard at work getting ready for an exciting 2022 season, and we cannot wait to welcome the community back to the Thornton Park Pool!

If you have not yet purchased your summer pool pass, please be sure to do so by Monday, May 23^rd as that is the final day to receive the discounted pre-season rate. Pool passes may be purchased online, or by phone at 216-491-1295, or in person at the Thornton Park Front Office during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 5 pm).

Registration for group and private swim lessons is available online, and more information about Thornton Park Pool operations can be found at bit.ly/thorntonpool.

Upcoming Recreation Department Special Events

The Recreation Department has plenty of special events scheduled for the warm summer months – save the date for these upcoming fantastic outdoor events!

Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade – Monday, May 30^th
Ciclovia at the Colonnade – Saturday, June 25^th
Fourth of July Pool Party at Thornton Park Pool – Monday, July 4^th
Shaker Recreation Concert Series at the Van Aken District – Wednesdays, July 13^th through August 10^th
Dive-In Movie at Thornton Park Pool – Friday, August 12^th
Doggie Dip at Thornton Park Pool – Saturday, September 10^th
Touch-A-Truck at the Van Aken District – Saturday, September 24^th

For more information, visit the Special Events Page on our website.

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To view a map of all the parks and playgrounds in Shaker Heights, click here.