More events are on the calendar at Taylorville’s parks in the coming months.  They include Taylorville Memorial Hospital’s annual Glow Run 5K, more monthly senior lunches, and a youth fall baseball league.  The plans come amid new improvements at Manners and Jayne’s Parks.

The Glow Run 5K is scheduled for Saturday, July 25 at Manners Park.  Evan Mitchell, the recreation director for the Taylorville Park District, says kids and adults will each have their own run. 

The next monthly senior lunch will take place on Thursday, August 13 at noon at the Manners Park Dining Hall.  Pulled pork is the main dish for this one, but attendees are asked to bring either a side or a dessert. 

An 8U fall baseball league known as Twister Sisters is coming to Taylorville’s parks.  Mitchell says the summer weather and its forced postponements of games was part of the inspiration for this league. 

In other developments, there are new disc golf baskets at Jayne’s Park.  Mitchell says this came about after issues replacing the baskets at Manners Park – which are bolted to the ground – amid Christmas in the Park. 

New batting cages are up by one of the baseball fields well ahead of schedule.  Jeb Odam, who currently serves as Taylorville High School’s head football coach, led the project.  Odam has also been an assistant coach for the school’s baseball team and played the sport as a student. 

Mitchell also spoke on the latest regarding the planned construction of the Manners Park pool.  The park district is still awaiting a response from the Illinois Department of Public Health regarding the proposal, but they expect to begin demolition of the old pool in a few weeks.

Design renderings of the planned new pool are available on the Park District’s website, www.taylorvilleparkdistrict.com.  More information on upcoming events can be found at that site, as well.

Evan Mitchell appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.