BLOOMFIELD–Bloomfield’s Park, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department is made up of dedicated workers who create programs and events for the Bloomfield community.
The department offers one-off, eight-week-long, and specialty programs throughout the year to provide recreation options for Bloomfield residents.
Functioning on a seasonal calendar, new programs and events are offered each season, and the township’s winter programming begins after Martin Luther King JR. Day.
The calendar is the most accurate way to view the township’s schedule, and can be found on the Bloomfield website.
“Our website has a digital program guide where we advertise all our programs, special events, update our sports weekly, and have a digital program guide,” Park, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Director Michael Scuerman said. “It’s pretty cool because it’s a living, breathing document that’s a pretty accurate document of what we actually have.”
Before offering new programs, the department runs inexpensive, one-time workshops to the public to gauge interest. This allows them to see what does and doesn’t work, then iron out the problems before launching the full program.
“For new programs, instead of setting up an eight-week class, we’ve been setting up one-time workshops to see if those programs gain interest,” Scuerman said. “We did a Bollywood dance program, and at the farmers market, we had a free learn to dance class, then a $5 one hour workshop.”
After the workshop, the Bollywood dance class was turned into a full eight-week class.
Another layer to these programs is the senior citizen club. Seniors pay a one-time, $20 fee that gains them access to programming for the full year.
“We have over 125 people a part of the club, and that membership gets you into fitness programs in the mornings from 9 am-12 pm,” Scuerman said. “You get $2 off programs, and monthly, there’s a luncheon where we bring catered food in.”
The senior club takes members on excursions like museums and day trips, giving them a chance to leave Bloomfield.
Scuerman explained how, when creating the calendar, he considers all ages and capabilities to ensure there are programs for everyone in Bloomfield.
“One that’s taking place right now is Bounce Out the Stigma, which is a basketball program for young adults from 7-21 with special needs,” Scuerman said. “For all our programs, we strive for full inclusion.”
If participants require assistance or an aid, the recreation department provides the accommodation with no additional cost.
Another initiative the township offers to minimize barriers is the Financial Assistance Program. This was developed for families who cannot afford to pay the fees required to enroll their child in recreational programs.
“We never want finances to be a deterrent for our programs,” Scuerman said. “We don’t want financial barriers to prevent someone from having a recreational opportunity.”
Mayor Jenny Mundell collaborates with the department to bring her own ideas and goals to Bloomfield recreation.
"Bloomfield’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs Department continues to grow in ways that reflect who we are as a community: inclusive, creative, and committed to quality of life at every age and ability,"Mayor Mundell said. "This work is about making sure every resident feels welcome and represented.”
Many programs and events begin as ideas brought to the township by residents.
“People come to us and say, I have this talent, and I want to share it,” Scuerman said. “More than 50% of our programs are typically taught by teachers, coaches, or residents from our community. Those programs in particular, people go above and beyond because they’re in their community, and those programs are most well-received.”
The Outdoor Movie and Overnight Campnight is going on its 15th year, and Scuerman has attended every one.
“We start registration on September 1, and it fills up instantly,” Scuerman said. “It’s an event where we have a campfire, a movie, food, and music. It’s my favorite event because you meet people from all over town.”
Scuerman and his team are creating events that they want to attend as well. This ensures that there are programs for all residents that reach a variety of audiences.
“We have a very good, dedicated staff, and we’re always pushing ourselves to design new programs,” Scuerman said. “Our needs have changed, and what our community needed 20 years ago is different than what we need now. We need to evolve and change and be ready to provide different opportunities as the community evolves.”
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