SPRD plans full slate of events

Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) is planning a full slate of events through 2019 - under the direction of events coordinator Shannon Rackowski.

Several events were canceled last year, and Rackowski left the organization in the midst of organizational turmoil. SPRD has stabilized under the leadership of Interim Executive Director Courtney Snead, and Rackowski has returned to stage the events.

"I came back because Courtney asked me if I'd consider coming back and working with SPRD in some fashion," Rackowski told The Nugget. She is working on "resurrecting all the events that got cancelled."

Rackowski is currently working on a May Summer Kickoff event, where SPRD will gather with partners in the community to share information and celebrate the beginning of the events season.

She also hopes to add a new event each year. This year, that will be Sisters Senior Fitness Games, set for June 1. SPRD will partner with other parks and rec outfits throughout Central Oregon to stage the games in Sisters, focusing on activities for people aged 62 and up.

The annual Crest the Cascades ride will return on June 14-15, with the start moving downtown to the Village Green.

The Glory Daze Car Show, which was cancelled last year, will be back in July, with new groups coming, including a 1930s car club and a Jeep expo.

The popular luau will return on August 8, with Kurt Silva headlining the music offerings.

SPRD will partner with Sisters Kiwanis on a Homebrew Festival on August 24, and a Senior Health Fair is scheduled for October 18 at the Sisters fire hall. The events season will close with the Happy Girl Half Marathon on November 1-2.

Rackowski said SPRD is actively seeking volunteers for all events. E-mail her at [email protected] or call 541-549-2091.

The events coordinator is in the thick of planning for all of the activities.

"It's quite an undertaking," she said. "More than I seem to remember in the past!"

It's all worth it though, as she sees the community response to seeing SPRD back in the saddle again.

"Everybody's excited," she said.