By Pam Creech
Contributing Writer
Local high school student Dylan Vitt constructed his Eagle Scout project — a gaga ball pit — at the Wrightsville Beach Park. A small group of family and friends helped him assemble the pit Sunday, May 3.
“There’s 24 boards. … They had to put it together,” said Katie Ryan, Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Program Supervisor, during the May 4 Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting.
The new gaga ball pit will be one of the attractions during the May 9 family day in the park, which will take place 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Participants will also enjoy the pickleball and tennis courts.
People who want to hone their tennis and pickleball skills will have the opportunity to learn about and register for lessons and ladders at a nearby information booth.
“We’ll have the registration forms for the programs,” Ryan said.
Family day attendees can also participate in basketball, flag football and line dancing. The four-hour event will include live music, as well.
“The performance club is going to perform at 12:30 p.m. Terry Godwin and his all-girl band is going to sing and play guitar after 1 p.m.,” Ryan said.
Trolly Stop and Surfberry will vend hot dogs and frozen yogurt.
“There’s not really a whole lot of set up — just a couple tables,” Ryan said.
After discussing family day logistics, Ryan mentioned the Wrightsville Beach Farmers Market, which kicks off May 18.
“We have 27 vendors, which is great. Ten of them are craft vendors,” Ryan said. She has spoken with produce vendors, as well.
Before the meeting adjourned, Ryan brought up the initiative for designated parking for kayakers and standup paddle boarders that was discussed during the committee’s previous meeting. Specifically, the committee recommended one of the parking spaces at Causeway Park, under the Heide Trask Drawbridge, be designated as a 15-minute parking space for unloading and loading of equipment. The proposal would allow kayakers or paddlers to unload equipment, park vehicles elsewhere, and return to launch into the Intracoastal Waterway.
“I passed the kayak/SUP launch parking on to the town manager. He’s giving that to the board,” Ryan said.
