Middle’s New Rec Coordinator Shares Vision

WHITESBORO — Robert Matthews was recently appointed Middle Township recreation program coordinator by Township Committee. As such, he is responsible for all personnel and activities at Martin Luther King Community Center here and Davies Sports Complex, Goshen. When the Okie Wisting Recreational Complex opens, that will be part of his governance, as will the historic Whitesboro School on East Main Street.
Personnel wise, the department is small, three employees, but the job is big. It relies on volunteers and supporters to make it happen.
“Everything flows through me,” said Matthews, who retired in 1998 from the Army. He began service by volunteering time as a coach at the Goshen complex.
“I’ve been around all the directors since Greg Arnold. I’ve seen the ebb and flow,” said Matthews.
“It’s growing, and we need more personnel with the growth as with any municipality. We have good leadership up in township hall. They are eager to let me do the management of the department. They have my full support. I’m ready to go full speed,” he smiled.
One thing the veteran is quickly learning is that management duties bring a cell phone that seldom stops ringing and a calendar that requires more and longer days. Regardless, Matthews is up to the challenge.
“I put my heart in it. I took ownership because it was what I wanted to do,” he said in a July 10 interview in his King Center office.
“I was not from this community, but I let the community get used to me. I’ve received a lot of help from residents and well-known parties in the community. This is an ideal place to bring people to have an event.’ “I don’t have time to slow down. An old military man like me, I gather up the troops and move on,” he said.
As the Wisting tract (formerly Fort Apache Campground) becomes viable, it will expand the number of soccer fields, but that will not be all. There will also be a fresh-water fishing pier nestled among the nature path. For disc golf fans, one is planned there, too.
On Matthews “must do” list are the municipal standbys, Halloween, Christmas and Memorial Day parades, Christmas in Court House and the Olde Tyme Harvest Festival and the Fourth of July festivities and fireworks.
“We want qualified people in the recreation centers to supervise the children, so parents will feel safe leaving their children there. It’s a challenge,” he said.
Matthews is encouraged by the size, 110, and diversity of youngsters in the summer camp. That camp averages 85 children daily in the nine-week program, five days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For adults who enjoy basketball, there are adult leagues Tuesday and Thursdays in an open gym. Tim Johnson runs open basketball for men. A league is ready to form this summer.
“I’m the type, if you want to run a program, come to me with the program and sponsorship, and it’s my duty to say ‘Let’s do it.’” Matthews said.
Admitting he isn’t about to “reinvent the wheel,” Matthews said anyone with a desire to have a certain sport should first go to the Recreation Advisory Committee.
Matthews sees opportunities abounding for activities with the ribbon cutting of the Indian Trail Road to Main Street segment of the township bicycle path July 11. He’d like to see a bike rental at the center “to jump on and ride.”
Matthews planted a garden by the Whitesboro School. He hopes that youth at the summer camp will have the experience of weeding, harvesting the crop and giving it to those in need.
“We’d like to teach the kids at a young age about growing vegetables and getting back to the earth,” Matthews said.
‘If you remember, that’s how many in Whitesboro used to live, off the land. They did not have much, but they grew food. It was a self-sufficient town. We’re getting back a little of that heritage. Teach the children what the earth can do for them,” he added.