Adult Programs
Adult Basketball
RPAR hosts a men's and women's basketball league each year in April. The minimum age for basketball is 18 years of age and the team fee of $230 per team and is due the Wednesday before the league begins. The team roster is due prior to the first game of the season. Team members who are not residents of the City of Ruston are required to pay an additional fee of $10.00 per participant. However, the maximum out-of-City fee per team is $50.00.
For scores and schedules, go to www.quickscores.com/ruston.
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Aerobics
Aerobic exercising can provide a variety of benefits in a relatively short amount of time with a little dedication and a good crisp workout. The benefits are tremendous, strengthening muscles (including the heart) while reducing blood pressure, stress and cholesterol. Wouldn't you be willing to give up an hour twice a week to gain all of these benefits?
Classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 6:00 pm in the McLane Recreation Center. To take classes for one month, the cost is only $20. For more information or to sign up, please call 255-5800.
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Annual Furry Fun Walk
It may have been March, but it felt like the Dog Days of Summer as more than 200 local canines and their owners invaded Cook Park to participate in the Fifth Annual Furry Fun Walk. It was a barking success!
The annual event was the largest in the five-year history, which includes a walk along the trail in the park, gifts, playtime for the animals and a raffle for the animals and their owners. The event has been popular in the past, moving from our office complex to Cook Park a year ago to create a better environment for the dogs. The open area of the park allows for more playing and socializing for the pets.
This year several local organizations were on hand to participate in person. Ruston Animal Clinic brought two goats to enter into the mix with the canines. Also on hand were 4 Paws Rescue, Pick of the Litter and Ruston Animal Control. While the Parks and Recreation Department is the primary sponsor of the event, it would not be possible without the support of several local and national businesses. RPAR would like to thank the following local businesses for their support of the event:
Community Trust Bank, O'Neal's Farm & Garden, Pick of the Litter, Raising Canes, Ruston Animal Clinic, Tommy's Fee Store and Tractor Supply. We also thank our national sponsors.
Ruston Parks and Recreation holds two events annually for our furry friends. The other is later in the summer as the K-9 Pool Party is scheduled to be held after the Municipal Pool closes to the public in August.
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Flag Football
RPAR facilitates a men's adult 7 on 7 fall Flag Football League that begins the week of September 12th and finishes before the holiday season begins. You must be at least 18 years of age and the team fee of $230 is due by Wednesday, September 7th. Team members who are not residents of the City of Ruston are required to pay an additional fee of $10 per participant. However, the maximum out-of-city fee per team is $50. If you are not currently on a team, sign up as a Free Agent and get drafted by a team. Our Free Agents List can be found at www.quickscores.com/ruston along with schedules, scores and waivers.
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Home Run Derby
The Home Run Derby is hosted during each of our regular softball seasons. The women swing from field #1 and attempt to hit a pitched ball over the 200 foot fence and the men swing on field #2 and try to hit over the 300 foot fence. Each participant will receive a maximum of 5 outs or 12 swings, whichever comes first. Foul balls and swinging strikes will count as outs. The ball must travel over the softball field fence to be considered a home run. The event is free and we present a best male and female hitter with prizes. For more information, contact the RPAR office at 255-5800.
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Softball
Grab your stick, leather and lids and get ready for another season of softball. With a men's league, a church league, and a coed league scheduled for the summer and the fall, there are plenty of opportunities to show off your abilities on the diamond. Games begin the week of May 2nd and then August 29 for the fall league. You can register in our office at 605 James Street. Team fees and waivers are due the Wednesday before the start of the league.
Games are held at the J. C. Love Softball Complex, 400 Ball Park Road and schedules, scores, standings and our Free Agent List can be found on Quickscores.
For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation office at 255-5800 or email us at RPAR@Ruston.org.
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Spanish Classes
Fun and easy Spanish I and Spanish II courses are now being offered through the Ruston Parks and Recreation Department.
Spanish I introduces students to volcabulary, simple sentences, and basic conversational needs while Spanish II moves past the basics and prepares students to have fluent conversations. The classes will be taught by Michelle Guzman and Laura Chicola.
Michelle, a graduate of ULM, spent summers in Mexico and has previous teaching experience in local schools. She has hosted many Spanish summer camps for elementary and high school students, and it looking forward to helping students learn Spanish. Laura works for the local school board as a translator and English tutoring for parish schools for Hispanics.
Spanish I and II will be offered September 7 - January 15 and January 15 - May 26. Classes will be limited so call today to sign up. Also, classes will be divided up into age groups.
For more information, contact the RPAR office at 255-5800 or email Michelle at spanlessons@yahoo.com. Priciing is $10 per class with (3) sessions per week for a 16-week course. Private tutoring is also available for $15 per session. All sessions will be held in the McLane Recreation Center, 605 James Street.
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Start to Finish 5K Training
Dreams of reaching the finish line start with this program, training beginning runners to accomplish a 5K run (3.1 miles). Learn about running form, injury prevention, increasing speed and distance and choosing the proper equipment. Training begins at the McLane Recreation Center, 605 James Street.
Classes are on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and runners add a third day on their own time. Each session is nine weeks and the fee is $85 per.
This training opportunity is offered three times a year depending on the yearly race schedule.
For more information, contact Maryanne Smith at 243-7727 or via email at mdavissmith@gmail.com.
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Tap Dancing
Looking for a way to stay young? Then dance, it does a body good! Dancing has been proven to provide both physical and psychological benefits. Last but not least, dancing will lift your spirits by activating the brain’s pleasure circuits. Tap dancing is a theatrical dance that uses basic yet precise rhythmical foot movements and the Dixie Dancer add their entertaining choreography which makes the class enjoyable. Consider, flat stepping to the McLane Recreation Center on Fridays at 11:00 am to tap dance your way to wellness. The fee is $25/month and the first class is free!!
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Tennis Lessons
RPAR offers tennis lessons on our Municipal Tennis Courts. Phoebe Thomas, a native of Lake Charles, is available to teach private and group tennis lessons. She is a junior Modern Languages major at Louisiana Tech and has been playing tennis for 10 years.
Thomas played competitively on her high school team as well as with the junior circuit. Tennis is one of her favorite activities and loves the competiveness and the drama of the sport. It is something that she has loved and enjoyed for many years now and enjoys getting to share her passion with others.
To contact Phoebe with quesitons or to schedule tennis lessons, please contact her at 337.540.3734 or via email at phoebe.thomas@gmail.com.
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Zumba Dance Classes
Let's face it, working out can be healthy, rewarding and beneficial. Working out can be lots of things, but it's never been known to be an exhilarating experience…UNTIL ZUMBA!
The Zumba® program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. The goal is simple: Zumba wants you to want to work out, to love working out, and to get hooked. Enthusiasts of Zumba achieve long-term benefits while experiencing an absolute blast in one exciting hour of calorie-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate for life! The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body while burning fat. Add some Latin flavor and international zest into the mix and you've got a Zumba class!
Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 pm in the Bobby James Gym. The cost is only $1 per class per person. But don't let the low fee fool you - this IS a great workout!
In June 2011, we introduced Aqua Zumba to the community. This Zumba option is performed in the Municipal pool where splashing, stretching, twisting and even shouting, laughing, hooting and hollering are often heard during class. Integrating the Zumba formula and philosphy with traditional aqua fitness principles, Aqua Zumba blends it all together into a safe, challenging, water-based workout that's cardio-conditioning, body-toning, and most of all, exhilarating beyond belief.
Classes are held each Monday and Wednesday at 5:30 pm thoughout the summer. Again, this class is only $1 per person.
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Zumba Gold
Due to the demand, Ruston Parks and Recreation Department has brought back Zumba Gold fitness class. The Gold classes are held on Mondays at 8:30 A.M. in the Bobby James Gym and costs only $1 per person per class.
According to Zumba.com, Zumba Gold is a lower-intensity Zumba class designed for active older adults, deconditioned participants, or other populations that need modifications for success. Zumba Gold incorporates the basic Zumba steps (merengue, salsa, cumbia, and reggaeton) and modifications of these steps to effectively address the anatomical, physiological and psychological needs of the older active adult as well as other deconditioned populations. Zumba Gold class is a safe, effective exercise and an absolute blast!
The class is taught by Stephanie Hart, a licensed Zumba Gold instructor so, you are in good hands!
For more detailed information, contact the office at 255-5800 or RPAR@Ruston.org.
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