SLCo Employee Wellness Wellcast
The SLCo Employee Wellness Wellcast is a fun, entertaining, and enlightening look at health and wellness. It breaks down complex health topics and interviews experts in the wellness field to help participants live healthier lives.
SLCo Employee Wellness Wellcast
Parks and Rec: More Than Just Kids' Programs
Join our very own, Brittany Parry, and Parks and Recreation, Bess Thompson, as they talk about the community and connection that is found at Salt Lake County recreation centers. Bess is a recreation center manager that has an insiders look on the overall health benefits that can be enjoyed if one just walks in and "checks it out"! After this listen, you are guaranteed to take a trip to your local county rec center for some fun!
Hello listeners, I'm Brittany Perry, one of your Salt Lake County Employee Wellness Program Coordinators and you're listening to the Salt Lake County Employee Wellness Wellcast, and this is the podcast that covers health topics and interviews experts in our community to help you, the participant, live healthier lives. Today we're diving into a super fun topic how parks and recreation programs help our Salt Lake County residents feel more connected, healthier and more satisfied in their communities. We are joined today by Bess Thompson, who has years of experience in promoting wellness through community recreation. Welcome, bess. Thank you so much for being here today. I, along with our listeners, would love to hear a little bit more about you and your role in Parks and Rec.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me. This is an exciting experience, a first for me to be a part of a podcast. I have been with Parks and Recreation for nearly 23 years and I'm currently the recreation manager at the Holiday Lions Fitness and Recreation Center, which means I just supervise the center and the staff customers as needed.
Speaker 1:That's wonderful, I love it. Yeah, that's great. In many different capacity it sounds like, and I can only imagine the work that goes into managing a rec center and all the things that go into it. I am curious if you would indulge us in telling us a little bit about what inspired you to work in this field or to continue to work in the field.
Speaker 2:So prior to coming to Salt Lake County, I was a health and PE teacher. I loved that, but going into public service in a different realm was based off my family. My dad has been a public servant for all of his career. When I knew that I wanted to leave teaching, I still want a job where I can wear shorts and tennis shoes and be active, so the coordinator positions were open. When I read the description, I'm like I'm a great fit for that. I can do that. Through high school and college I was a lifeguard and swim instructor and I knew that just chaos is. I just love it. It's um. Organized chaos is a gem so that's.
Speaker 2:I love that but shorts, tennis shoes and organized chaos. So that's my.
Speaker 1:That's like a party all the time. I love that that. That is so fun. Thank you for sharing that with us.
Speaker 1:I want to talk a little bit about our focus for today's Wellcast, and it's broadening this perspective of Parks and Rec, the offerings, but also who it's for and who can take advantage of the programs and the offerings. So I think when people think of parks and rec, I feel like they often think of like a lot of kids programs or youth soccer leagues and that is, I'm sure, a ton of the offerings. Right, that's phenomenal, that that's for our kids, but I'm sure there's plenty of opportunities for everyone. What are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 2:I agree we do have many youth programs, but there are a lot of programs for adults and that's 18 to 95. So we have like tennis is a nice example like how that is evolved into pickleball and now pickleball is this olympic sport, the. The increased requests for outdoor courts and indoor times to play pickleball has skyrocketed over the last 15, 20 years. Also, like lap swimming, over time has increased from what I have seen, like going back to high school, college, seeing the number of people swimming laps then versus what I see now, 30 plus years later. See now, 30 plus years later. Having activities that are across people's lifespan is a huge part of what recreation or parks and recreation does.
Speaker 1:That is beautifully said. I love that you use the word lifespan right. I think that goes along wonderfully with wellness in general. Is that different seasons of our lives we're interested in different activities and the levels of movement, or what we're able to do with our bodies in different seasons of our life. And what you just said so wonderfully is that there's offerings across a lifespan whether you're really into pickleball now, really into what you said like lap swimming. Then there's something for everyone which I think is wonderful.
Speaker 1:I also think that kind of speaks to this idea of working with what your body is allowing you to do at the time right. Not forcing a certain movement that you feel like you loved five years ago and you're still doing it, but maybe you don't love it as more. It's kind of that encouragement to say, hey, check out something different.
Speaker 2:Definitely Like. Yoga is a nice example of that too. That can be adapted to what your body physically can or cannot do.
Speaker 1:Anyway, it's just another yeah.
Speaker 2:I love that.
Speaker 1:Yes, it's perfect. Another yeah, I love that. Yes, it's perfect. These are perfect examples. Um, I also love that you talked about, like, the evolution of certain activities and programs and the level of engagements that you you're seeing with that. Do you have anything else to touch on as far as, like, evolution of parks and rec in general? That's a huge ask, that's a huge question, but just like off the top of your head, so I think the zap projects are a great example of the evolution of parks and recreation.
Speaker 2:so there are the original centers redwood, copperview, central city, juanis, copperview, central City, kiwanis, which has since been retired Magna, rec. So those are the original recreation centers you know 30 plus years ago. And then we had ZAP1, which built a slew of recreation centers, and ZAP2 built another slew. The number of amenities has increased across Salt Lake County over those past 25 years is phenomenal. And we have ZAP3 coming up where we can go back and reinvest in these facilities that are now 20 plus years old, so, and continue to offer wonderful programs to the communities, from the littles, you know, three years old, all the way up to our super seniors.
Speaker 1:Can you tell us a little bit more? If there's a listener out there that's never really heard of ZAP or what that acronym stands for, could you tell us a?
Speaker 2:little bit more about that. Yeah, so ZAP is Zoo, Arts and Parks and it comes up for vote every 10 years, where the community opts into paying a small percentage to invest into either parks or recreation centers but also the zoo and the arts, so it encompasses almost like the whole compass of wellness. See, you're inspired and you're moved emotionally or when you go to the zoo or the aviary and or just in awe of nature itself.
Speaker 1:I love that. Zap is the Zoo, arts and Parks. Is that correct, correct, perfect. And if somebody's interested in looking up, like Z in general, is this a salt lake county initiative or is there? Is that like a website or an app? I think I've seen this around.
Speaker 2:I'm just curious yeah, so there are zap banners around, but the salt lake county website is saltlakecountygov. And then ZAP that is where an individual can look up to learn more about the ZAP process and links to learn about applications and the calendar of events yeah, it looks like this is the hub of everything that you wanted to know about ZAP.
Speaker 1:Yes, that's perfect. Okay, awesome, I'm learning so many new things, right now.
Speaker 1:I love talking about evolution of Parks and Rec because I think that it shows the genuine love and interest for those that are utilizing the programs and services. This isn't something that we're going to offer and then there's no initiatives, or how can we continue to offer better services? Zap is a perfect example of that and that continual involvement. I'm curious. Going back to this idea of getting adults more engaged in programs, which type of programs have you seen adults respond to the most, whether it's like fitness classes, sports leagues, group hikes what do you see out there?
Speaker 2:From my work point of view, I have seen an increase in fitness classes, lap selling times and access. So like the number of lanes that are in a pool at a certain time, pickleball, like I said before, either indoor access or having more outdoor courts built in neighborhoods. But in my personal life it's been on the trails, you know, hiking along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, mill Creek, big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. The number of people that I've seen out definitely has increased over the past 15 years out on the trails.
Speaker 1:I love that we're huge advocates in employee wellness to get out and utilize that green space, right? There's studies show just the benefits of being out in nature and I love that that's what you're seeing as a professional in this field that people really are doing that. There was a I want to reference a project that was done back in 2024. It's called the 2024 Utah Wellbeing Project and it found exactly like what you're saying is that 83% of county residents recreated in city parks and 94% walked or biked in their neighborhoods. So I think that that's telling us exactly what you just shared. Right, people are getting out, they're utilizing their green spaces around them, and I think Utah is a perfect place to do that right, because it's so beautiful everywhere you go right the scenes of even just driving to the grocery store.
Speaker 1:You see these picturesque mountains in the background, I think that that's not often in other places, but we get that here in Utah, which is so lucky. Would you say that there are differences in these age groups, say like young professionals versus retirees and the use of recreation services?
Speaker 2:Definitely in the time of day that they use the recreation centers. So in every recreation center I've been in there's a different population that comes in at different times of the day. So, keeping that in mind as you know users of the facility but also managing it we're trying to make as many user groups happy as we can with the different machines that we have or the class offerings, and when those are it's a fun puzzle to you know do the best that we can for the different age groups that are coming in the center.
Speaker 1:For sure, and I think that just shows again your genuine care for the folks that are coming in. And if somebody did need like help in understanding services or what's offered at each site, they can just go walk up to the front desk and ask. I'm assuming.
Speaker 2:Oh, yes, yeah, the front desk staff at the recreation centers are very knowledgeable about what's going on in the center. You can share a flat plane availability, group fitness classes times. So there's and if if they need to reach out to help to get more specific answers, that this fulltime staff on site is also really willing to help and answer those questions for the customers.
Speaker 1:That's perfect. I think sometimes when we're trying something new, it can be a little intimidating to walk up and ask, and just knowing that you're going to be met with a kind face and kind answers, right, and saying, hey, you know what? What, that's, okay, I can help give you some more information, is always really reassuring, right for sure. So I kind of want to talk about this idea of recreation and community connection and this is really the heart of our conversation today that feeling of connection with your community and how parks and rec really does provide such a unique experience. Because I feel like once you step into a center and you're engaging in fitness classes or group activities, then it's building that sense of community, right, and I think that that is so beautiful.
Speaker 1:And I kind of want to, I want to ask you how participating in recreation helps adults such as ourselves feel more connected and satisfied in their communities.
Speaker 2:I believe that when you come into either a class or pickleball or lap swimming and you are next to someone that has a similar interest as you, it is a huge emotional impact and then from there these mini communities are created with the customers as a group. I've seen book clubs created from individuals in group fitness classes from individuals and group fitness classes. I've seen breakfast groups come together because they had a connection through a water aerobics class. Yeah, I hear pickleball players talk about their family events or world concerns and just commiserate with each other, and so you have this bond that started through recreation but it carries over to other aspects of your life, and to have that other people outside of direct family members that are there to care and support you is huge. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:I love this idea of like, kind of like a found family almost. And building that social connection right. That's another thing that just out, I think again automatically Parks and Rec. You think of physical activity, but there's a huge one that people don't necessarily see at first but definitely feel it once they start getting involved, and that's that social wellness right.
Speaker 1:Getting involved and building that social connection with other people. And I love what you social wellness right Getting involved and building that social connection with other people and I love what you just shared right that it can start here, joining a fitness class but showing up and being willing to meet a new friend or to talk to somebody new and then seeing where it goes from there.
Speaker 2:I think is so cool.
Speaker 1:So, going back to the Utah Wellbeing Project that I mentioned earlier, is that participation in recreation programs, city events and park activities was closely linked with higher reported levels of personal well-being, mental health and community connection. I feel like we covered what that can look like, but does that align with what you're seeing in our parks and rec centers? Just adding to what you had just barely stated. Oh, yes, yes.
Speaker 2:So when the pool is down and I'm just using this as one example, yeah, we'll have our our older customers will become so upset and angry about the pool. They can't get in the pool, they can't get in the hot tub, but where they're coming from is a place of either physical pain or emotional disconnection and it's coming out as anger. We have these conversations with upset customers. When we're able to identify that like, yes, we understand that this really does have a physical impact on your body and we will do, we'll do, we're doing everything we can to get the pool back up and running, so get everybody back in. When we're able to reflect with them on how big of an impact not having that pull is on them emotionally, physically and socially they calm down and become more supportive in the process of what we have to do to fix the pool or, you know, when we shut down the gym to refinish the floor for refinish the hardwood floors.
Speaker 2:the pickleballers and basketball players will also be upset because their emotional, fun, safe place is put on pause for a while. Anger and frustration. The better we're able to empathize with our customers but also make a nice connection with them, yeah, and that we know, that we understand what they're going through.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, that's. That's beautiful because it's this. Acknowledgement of this isn't just like, yes, it is pure fun, right, like this is so fun of all the offerings that are available to them, but it's so much more and I love that there's an opportunity of reflection, right, and acknowledgement on both ends. I think initially we engage in an activity hoping for increased levels of physical activity, but then again, like we just mentioned, is that there's so much more benefits that we're reaping by engaging in activities like increased resiliency or mental an aid in mental health or, you know, a safe community, a safe place to see friends and, like you had mentioned, commiserate right and just saying you know what I'm not the only one out there feeling this and this is my safe place and what a beautiful thing that Parks and Rec has developed in the program offering. So thank you so much for doing that. My pleasure. I want to ask you do you have any personal success stories or memorable moments where you saw a real transformation in someone's life because of a recreation program?
Speaker 2:Not necessarily through like a structured recreation program, but being in the center and making connections with individuals. Many years ago I was at the Copperview Recreation Center and there was a girl in junior high who was struggling. Her mom really wasn't engaging in her life. There was no dad to be mentioned, but I would talk to her about her grades and ask how school was, and I shared with her. I just want to see your report card. I report her, I want to see it and so you know holding her accountable to bring it in. Let me see it. So she did. Then she left junior high. I don't know what happened to her, but many years later there was a thank you note left for me at Copperview, just on a little post-it note that said thank you for showing interest in me. And it was. That was it and that was enough.
Speaker 2:And then here I overhear more stories that I'm actually involved in, one on one. But I hear the front desk team members share, or the customers share with the front desk team members the number of pounds they've lost due to coming in here and starting to exercise. Or the swimmers or the runners share their performance in triathlons or local races. And just knowing that we're the center is a part of someone else's success. Yeah, really cool. We have a front desk employee and I think he has lost 60 pounds since he started coming to the recreation center and then another 20 since he's worked, started working here and he's you know our local employee success story. But yeah, it's oh. And then we have Mr Googler, who is in his upper 80s, comes in every day to I don't know if he sits on the bike for 10 minutes or walks on the track, and then he'll walk out the back door and set off all the alarms, leaving the center. So we've gotten to know mr googler and now he communicates with the front desk and he stops by.
Speaker 2:He says open the back door for me and a staff member will walk out with mr googler and we'll just start chit-chatting about, you know, his, his late wife, or his kids, um, or his grandkids, and we so every buddy, we just have this little relationship with Mr Googler and you know he follows the rules now and he smiles when he comes in and everybody says, hey, mr Googler, like he's norman cheers. So it's kind of a little cute, um hi little success.
Speaker 1:I hope our our listeners tuning into this are smiling as hard as I am listening to these.
Speaker 1:I, I'm not gonna lie, I also teared up on your story that you shared about you know, just being there for, for the girl that needed somebody to show up right, just, honest and truly.
Speaker 1:It's just being there, right, being there, being that consistent place that is, um, building that community, welcoming people in and offering all there is to offer and saying you have a place here and you belong here, right?
Speaker 1:I think everyone is looking for that place of belonging and an easy place to immediately feel. That is at a Parks and Rec Center, and I could sit here and listen to those personal success stories in their own moments, and thank you so much for sharing that moments and thank you so much for sharing that. I do hope that, as a side note for those that are listening, if you are looking for maybe it is a way to get connected to your community, or maybe if it's personal and you're just wanting to get moving more, whatever that may be that you take interest in a Parks and Rec Center, as as Beth has shared those beautiful stories is that that, could that could be you right. You could build that connection and you just have to give it a chance right. Taking that first step can be really hard, and we're inviting you with open arms to walk into a Parks and Rec Center.
Speaker 2:Definitely.
Speaker 1:I have a couple of more questions that I want to throw your way, and I want to kind of talk about barriers and opportunities. I think they go hand in hand, right yeah, talking about access, what are some of the barriers that might prevent an individual, specifically maybe our adult population from participating in these kinds of programs that are being offered?
Speaker 2:Well, fees could be one, but also transportation for adults can be another. So those are the two that I identified the most easily.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, that's I. I again think it's important to recognize barriers so that you're not met with a surprise right when trying to get involved, so that we can make a good game plan on how we can, you know, aid ourselves with success the most. When you're talking about fees, can you tell us just like generalized what? I know that that differs from program to program, but what can the individual typically expect when looking into participating in a county program? Is there fees associated with everything? What is, what does that look like?
Speaker 2:Like, there's a day pass fees just to access the recreation centers, and those vary based on age and the size of the center. But once you pay, like a seven dollar day fee, you can go swim, you can be go to an aerobics class or use a fitness room or play basketball, so you could spend, you know, a good chunk of time in a recreation center doing a variety of activities. There's also the annual passes, either centerwide or countywide, and or center specific or countywide passes, and those the countywide pass is one flat rate for all of the recreation centers and that can be daunting. It's $350 plus the facility improvement fee, but that gives you access to all the recreation centers across Salt Lake County. So if you live, let's say, in Holiday but you work out in Magna, you can visit Holiday on the weekends, weekends, and work out at Magna, you know, before or after work or on your lunch break. So we're everywhere.
Speaker 1:You provide a great point that this is talking about accessibility, right, that it doesn't mean that you're stuck to one center, like you're saying. If you work and live somewhere completely different, you're not having to, um, you know, work around your schedule to say, okay, well, now I have to go back to where I live If I work in a completely different city, right, just, you know, take a lunch break and use the local one, right? I think that's a beautiful point to be made. I also think, um, this is a great spot to mention that the county, if you're a county employee and utilizing the discount pass as a county employee to utilize Parks and Rec, can you talk to us more about what that looks like?
Speaker 2:the ability to sign up for the recreation center pass and have the fees deducted from your paycheck on a monthly basis. So the easiest way to sign up for that and the best way is to stop by the main recreation office it's in South 4700 and sign up for the pass there and then it's automatically deducted deducted from your paycheck, so you hardly even miss it, my husband and I. He's also a county employee and we have it deducted out of his paycheck and I think we pay 17 a month, um, so he can use the fitness center at the government center. But then we can go out and use any recreation center on our own to um, because he also likes to swim at fairmont. So he'll work out at the rec center or work out the government center, run up to fairmont because he's a superman and and then run back to the government center to work. So the employee bus is the best thing for your buck by far.
Speaker 1:I couldn't agree more. Just going back to what you said is signing up for it. The easiest way to do it is to visit the government center in the south building, fourth floor, to sign up for that.
Speaker 2:Correct Room 700. Yep. The main recreation parks and recreation offices.
Speaker 1:Perfect, thank you so much. And then I also want to talk about the idea of again being able to utilize what makes sense to you, right? And if you have a particular service that is offered at one center and it's not available at another, you can bounce back and forth, right? Oh, yes for sure. So I think that also goes to talk about the uniqueness of the offerings at different locations. Correct, like there's something offered differently at your location versus another one, right? Yes?
Speaker 2:Very much so. Yes, we have some centers have outdoor pools that are open longer, like Draper and the Salt Lake City Sports Complex, and the Salt Lake City Sports Complex has its 50 meter pool, outdoor pool, stunning pool, and other centers don't have indoor pools and other centers have climbing walls and, um, like the list goes on and on, right and pickleball, and so there's yeah, we all have really cool amenities.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yes, you do. I want to revisit this. The point to be made about the price as well the fees that you were talking about is the cost of signing up for the pass through Parks and Rec is very minimal versus the cost that other private gyms or specific entities are offering. I myself, at one point in my life, have paid upwards of $140 a month for a CrossFit pass, which was absolutely crazy, I mean, and for me, for me, if you love CrossFit, I'm not knocking it right. If that works for you paying that much, great.
Speaker 1:But I just think it goes to show again that this is a very reasonable cost to be paid and, like you said, right, if you are a county employee listening or an adult designee and you guys haven't signed up for the past, you barely even notice it in that paycheck being deducted. So just want to make a point with that in that paycheck being deducted.
Speaker 2:So just want to make a point with that. Yeah, if you haven't visited one of your local recreation center, make sure you take in your 20% discount card and then the front desk can deduct 20% of your daily pass fee from the overall fee. So it is a little cheaper. If you just want to visit day by day, remember to take your 20% discount card in and then the front desk will deduct that 20% off the rate for the day pass.
Speaker 1:It's a perfect plug for that. This is wonderful. Look at how much cost savings you guys have the opportunity for savings. You guys have the opportunity for Awesome. Okay, well, I just want to um, I want to wrap up. Uh, this has been such a wonderful conversation and personally I've learned so much about the Parks and Rec and the impact that Parks and Rec has on our community really and truly.
Speaker 1:Um and I think this is a beautiful opportunity to recognize that it's so much more than just physical activity, right, the opportunity for improving your mental wellness, as well as that social connection piece too, which is really important. I love that. I love that. So, before we go, do you have one?
Speaker 2:thing that you would wish more adults or people in general knew about their local parks and rec department that it's okay to walk in the door and say, hey, what's going on. You know, tell me what's cool about this recreation center, or tell me what's cool about the park outside your door. There's these little hidden gems in all of our communities that are just waiting to be discovered and we're here for everybody. So please stop in and, you know, start a conversation with the people at the desk and walk around and just take a peek. See how many happy people there are in the centers.
Speaker 1:Oh, I love this. This is wonderful. Yes, walk up, ask, because, again, like we said earlier, you're going to be greeted with a hey, sure, let me tell you about this really cool location and the offerings, because it sounds like our Parks and Rec folks are proud of what they are offering, as they should be, because, again, like you said, there are hidden gems that are available in your community that may not be available in a different one, so check it out. I love that. For anyone listening who wants to get more involved, it's the encouragement of get out there and check it out right. There is no shame in just walking up and asking hey, what do you offer? What's cool about this? Or tell me why I should participate, because it sounds like there will be a list shared with you that will definitely encourage you to get more involved.
Speaker 1:You work at, and there's a recreation center closer to where you're working at. Take a lunch break, go over, check it out right. Utilize that lunch break, maybe get some movement in or participate in something fun during that time frame. I want to thank you, Bess, so much for joining us today and for all of our listeners tuning in. I want to offer Bess, do you have any last things you would like to share with us?
Speaker 2:We're just a happy, comfortable place. You know it's not spandex. And a pickup joint. It's a little work family, you know we have a work family and the customers have their group, little social groups. Yeah, they're pretty darn cool, so I love it.
Speaker 1:I love it. Yeah, it's comfy, it's a good place to be and I think that you'll feel that when you walk in right, it's that feeling to be felt. So, thank you again. So much. Best, it's been a pleasure speaking with you. I hope, for those that haven't engaged in your Parks and Rec services before, that this is a little shoulder nudge to do so. Right? A kind friend welcoming you to the Parks and Rec department to take advantage of all of these wonderful services. That is all that we have for you, listeners, today. We hope to catch you next month on our Employee Wellness Wildcast. And again, this is the podcast that reminds, reminds you of all of the wonderful offerings and resources that the County provides. But also we talk about those health topics, um, and interview those experts in our community to help participants live healthier lives. Catch you next time.