The Christiansburg Department of Parks and Recreation strives to provide services to both youth and adults. Two high school students will now a voice on the department’s advisory board. Last month Nicole Diloia and Matthew Davidson joined the group.
Brad Epperley, the director of the CDPR, said the commission was happy to add the two teenagers. “They both bring a wealth of knowledge and dedication to our community and our recreational programs. Having these Christiansburg High School students represented provides us with a voice from the teenage population, which helps us better serve our community,” he said.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission serves as an advisory board to the Parks and Recreation Department in developing programs and activities for residents of all ages.
With the students, the commission consists of 11 citizen members.
Davidson is a member of the CHS club lacrosse team, and he hopes the recreation department will add lacrosse, men’s volleyball and an indoor soccer league. He hopes he can give a voice to kids like himself that never had enough fields or had to fight for field to play the sport they love.
Diloia plays soccer and volleyball, Beta Club and the National Art Honor Society at the school and participates in her youth group at Belmont Christian Church. I am excited to be a part of the Commission because I am able to represent the youth in the community and help the rec with creating new ideas for the youth and the community,” she said.
The high school student thinks she brings a perspective that represents the youth in Christiansburg and is able to talk to her friends and people at school and find out what they enjoy about the recreation center.
“I think there are a lot of great programs at the rec especially for the youth and a lot of students come to the rec after school and on weekends. But I think we could work on expanding to new students and also communicating with the high schoolers who are able to find out about the programs that are offered at the rec,” she said.
“I think there are a lot of great programs at the rec especially for the youth and a lot of students come to the rec after school and on weekends. But I think we could work on expanding to new students and also communicating with the high schoolers who are able to find out about the programs that are offered at the rec,” she said.
Epperley feels the students will bring excitement and a new perspective to the commission.
“They are able to provide the commission with information of the happenings at Christiansburg High School, which is very important from a communication standpoint within our community,” he said.
The Parks and Recreation Commission felt that adding the two student representatives would be a great way to hear from younger residents and learn more about their interests and recreational needs.
“The administration at the high school recommended these two students based upon their academic, athletic and recreational involvement within the community. Nicole is a junior, and Matthew is a sophomore, and both will serve until they graduate. By staggering the years, it provides stability to the student representation on the commission, as we’ll always have that background knowledge from representative to representative,” Epperley said.
His department continues to look for new and exciting programs and activities for the Generation Z population within the community. “Matthew and Nicole will be main stewards in providing ideas and suggestions to the commission and to our department,” he said.
The recreation commission meets the first Monday of every month at 6 p.m. in the Christiansburg Recreation Center, 1600 N. Franklin Street.
