Editor’s note: Every Monday, the Muscatine Journal profiles a local figure who responds to questions provided by one of our reporters.

MUSCATINE, Iowa — For Christmas this year, Marissa Boldon got the chance do a job she loves in her home state.

Boldon started work Dec. 26, 2007, as the program supervisor for the Muscatine’s Parks and Recreation. She joined the staff from a YMCA in Kansas City, Mo., and succeeded Jack Savage, who accepted a position near Chicago.

Boldon said opportunities to watch people succeed have interested her in recreation since she was young.

She’s excited about several new summer programs for youth, she said.

Personal

Name: Marissa Boldon

Age: 23

Hometown: Muscatine

Occupation: Program supervisor for Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department

Immediate family

members: Parents Mike Boldon and Eileen Boldon, both of Osceola; older brother Blake Boldon of Ames; and sister Margo Fuller of Audubon.

Q&A

What attracted you to this job in Muscatine?

I liked the community when I came and toured the facilities. Immediately I fell in love. It was a nice atmosphere to get some experience in, and just for the fact that this is what I wanted to do my whole life so I felt like this was an opportunity to get background with that some more.

What kind of background do you have in programs coordination?

I went to school at Iowa State University and I graduated in the sport management field, so I had plenty of experience in Ames coordinating volleyball tournaments and stuff like that. I also worked at rec services up there. I was in charge of three aquatic ... leagues up there, and in charge of training 107 staff members up there.

I have experience working with aquatic programming at the University of Minnesota. I did an internship up there, and worked with their aquatics and ... recreational sports for the University of Minnesota.

And I have quite a bit of experience working with the YMCA down in Kansas City with a variety of the programs down there, from the youth and family to the sports. Just broadening my horizons with a little bit of everything down there.

You had said this is something you wanted to do since you were young, why is that?

I just have a passion for recreation. It’s just a chance for the underdogs to come up and achieve some big highlights, and it’s just great to see.

For people who may not be familiar, what all does your job entail?

I am in charge of the aquatic center and all of the recreational sports that the city provides — T-ball, tennis, and some lessons, and things like that.

You have some new programs coming up. Can you tell me a little bit about what’s on tap for the summer?

Yeah, we have three new programs this summer. We have the Little Muskie T-Ball for the 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds who are not quite yet in kindergarten, and it’s just a structural program for them. They teach them the basics of hitting and throwing and teach them the fundamentals of the game.

Then we also have the new games, which are for the 4- and 5-year-olds, and a structural environment for a variety of games for them. It keeps them busy for about an hour and the new games run on Mondays through the month of June from 10-11 a.m. at Taylor [Park].

The Little Muskies is on Wednesdays through the month of June, from 10-11 a.m., at Musser Park. So it also gives people the experience to go out and experience other parks in this town.

And, last but not least, we do have a life-guarding class that is scheduled the last two weeks of July.

Were those things you had thought of, or kind of working with the department?

I think kind of working with Rich [Klimes, Parks and Recreation director] and what the Parks and Rec department can offer to the city. We thought they were good programs, and a good fit for the city.

When you came to this job, were there any ideas that you really wanted to bring to the table?

Really, when I first came here, I just wanted to see how the program went and just make sure we meet the needs of the city.

With summer programs, what are you looking forward for the most?

I’m excited to get the aquatic center started. I have experience in that. And I’m really looking forward to seeing our bigger programs like T-ball and racquetball started.

What are your impressions of Muscatine so far as a community?

I really like it. It’s tight-knit and actually, the first weekend that I moved here I had car troubles and everyone was really willing to help, and that’s nice. This is the place I wanted to be, and you don’t get that living in the bigger cities like I have the last two years. It’s nice to be back in a smaller town where everybody is willing to help out.

Finally, why should people check out Parks and Rec programs?

We just offer a variety of things and we’re always starting to look at new ideas and freshen stuff up. It’s just a great experience to get kids out and socialize and meet new people.