Inaugural Visalia Senior Games Announced

The City of Visalia has joined the California Senior Games Association and will host the 2015 Visalia Senior Games October 21-25.

Planning is well underway, spearheaded by the Visalia Parks & Recreation Department, to bring this event to the Central Valley for the first time. The Senior Games will be open to those ages 50 and better, and include 11 age divisions for men and women in each event.

The National Senior Games Association (NSGA) lists 19 events that can be included in the Senior Games, and a local organizer must offer at least one-half of the NSGA's approved sports by the third year of hosting the event. Visalia plans to hold nine events in 2015, and pass the one-half mark next year.

Visalia will kick off the inaugural event with: archery, bowling, golf, horseshoes, pickleball (singles, doubles, mixed doubles), softball, tennis (singles, doubles), a 5K road race and table tennis (singles, doubles).

"We've selected events that we feel appeal to the 50+ community and are at the heart of Senior Games," said Jeannie Greenwood, recreation manager for the City of Visalia Parks & Recreation Department. "We have city-owned facilities that will host most of the events, the events are programs that we already offer and know are popular in the Central Valley, and they are events we have the expertise to facilitate."

Planning an event of this size in less than five months is no small task and the parks & recreation department is looking for help to put Visalia on the Senior Games map.

"An event of this size, with the potential to attract not only hundreds of local participants but seniors from throughout the state, will need a lot of resources," said Greenwood. "We're excited about hosting this event and hope we can count on our community to support our efforts. There are many ways to get involved. From joining the Visalia Senior Games Planning Task Force to volunteering at an event, to providing sponsorships and contributions, we will need lots of people to make this the great event we know it can be."

"We want the community to come out and join us as we build these games," said Jason Glick, Visalia Parks & Recreation Department recreation supervisor. "There really is something for everyone as we continue to lay the groundwork for this great event."

The Visalia Senior Games Planning Task Force meets biweekly at the Visalia Senior Center. Individuals, organizations and agencies can email recreation@visalia.city or call Jeannie Greenwood at (559) 713-4042 for more information. For updates, visit http://www.liveandplayvisalia.com.