With more than 6,000 current active members in the Christiansburg Parks and Recreation Department, Art Price has a lot to be proud of, as his reign as Director comes to an end in the next few days.

Price, who started as the Assistant Director and Athletic Supervisor on April 11, 1983, will officially retire from the town after 28 years of service on March 1, 2012, although his last day in the office will be Jan. 3.

When Price first came on board, there was no recreation center per say, as the town used the Armory and Christiansburg schools to play themselves in youth football, youth basketball, youth baseball and a few senior citizen programs. In addition, there were just five full-time employees.

On November 1, 1987, Price was promoted to his current position of Director of Parks and Recreation and 10 years later, the Christiansburg Recreation Center, as we know it today, came into existence.

In 1998, Christiansburg Parks and Recreation received “The Best New Facility Award” from the Virginia Recreation and Park Society. They have also been nominated six times for A “National Gold Medal Award” for excellence in the field of parks and recreation management.

Over the years, some of the new programs added include participation in the NRV Youth Football League, Dixie Baseball, Dixie Softball, youth and community programs, special population programs, special interest programs, special events, the 4^th of July celebration, Christmas parade, continued expansion of the senior citizen programs, the Harkrader Sports Complex, neighborhood parks, tournaments and hosting two Dixie World Series.

“During Art’s time as Director of the Parks and Recreation, he has seen baseball and softball fields grow from 2 fields to 7 fields (including Harkrader Sports Complex), from using an old two story house for a recreation center to a 62,000 square feet Recreation Center that houses four basketball courts, racquet ball courts, weight rooms, multi-purpose rooms, class rooms, senior citizens activities and a department that offers over 500 programs, said long-time employee Chuck Muncy, Supervisor of Outdoor Sports Facilities and Parks.

According to Price, some of his major accomplishments have been the Christiansburg Recreation Center, the Harkrader Sports Complex, hosting two Dixie World Series, earning professional certification as a “Certified Parks and Recreation Professional” from the National Recreation and Park Association and Virginia Recreation and Park Society, being an adjunct faculty member with the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism at Radford University, being inducted into the Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011, as well as being named to the organization’s Board of Directors.

As for his favorite memories over the years, Price said, “The hiring of excellent employees in Pam Peyton, Tammy Caldwell, Michelle Trussell, Kayla Schulze, Chuck Muncy, Charlton McCoy and Nick Yopp have worked for me since they were high school/college students. The planning and design of the Harkrader Sports Complex, which has hosted the 2010 Dixie Boys World Series and will play host to the 2012 Dixie Junior Boys World Series, as well as hosting several state, regional and local baseball and softball tournaments.”

So how does Price want people to remember him, “That I was dedicated, honest, passionate, loyal and trustworthy,” Price said.

“Art has been with the Recreation Department for over 28 years. He had a vision of having the best and most complete recreation department in the area and I think he accomplished that goal hands down,” said Muncy. “It has been great to work for him. The town has been good for Art. But, Art has been great for the town.”

As for the future of the Christiansburg Parks and Recreation Department, Price added, “Excellent. I am a person that needed big projects to accomplish. I did that. It is time for me to retire and let someone not just maintain what all I have built since April 1983, but to move forward.”

Price plans now plans to work full-time as Hethwood Director with HHHUNT in Blacksburg.

Photo: Art Price speaks during the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Dixie Baseball World Series played at the Harkrader Sports Complex in July 2010. Christiansburg will also host the 2012 World Series in August. (Photo by Jon Fleming)