The City of Marathon has promoted Jennifer Ward to new program coordinator for the Parks and Recreation Department. As program coordinator, she will also serve as liaison to the youth leagues using city facilities. “Jen is already embedded in the community and has such a great rapport with Marathon kids and parents,” said Paul Davis, director of Parks and Recreation. “This is a great move to continue building our parks programs, as well as strengthening community ties. Marathon is a great place to live and play, and our robust parks program is an important part.”
Here is more from Ward:
How did you come to the Keys? I moved here just after the COVID outbreak. I found the job on Indeed.com and interviewed over the phone with Paul. Essentially, we were following the dream.
Where did you come from? We were living in Illinois. I studied dance at Columbia College in Chicago and then was working during the day at our local park system. My husband, Chris, had just retired as a fire battalion chief after 25 years.
You studied dance? Oh, yes … ballet, tap, jazz, you name it. But ballet is my favorite by far. Ballet is my heart.
Who came with you? My husband, our two children Tristan, 15, and Izzy, 11, and my Mom, Vickie. My husband works with Monroe County Fire. My sister, Melody Bartnik, and her family moved down a few years later. During the school year, my sister is a teacher at Marathon High School, and during the summer, she’s our city camp coordinator.
What do you love about the Keys? There’s a different sense of community here. The first thing I realized is how nice people are in Marathon; it’s a very happy place. People say “hi” or hold the door for you. There’s just a kindness down here that we didn’t experience up north living in the rat race. I’m not going back to the mainland!
What’s your favorite parks and recreation event? Definitely the Halloween Trunk or Treat. We started it as a drive-through event the year I moved to the Keys when COVID was still going strong. Lots of people in our office were not familiar with the concept of Trunk or Treat. And now it has taken on a life of its own. Last year, the cars were on the field in a big U-shape, and the kids walked around getting candy. At the end, they voted for their favorite decorated “trunk.” I like that our events evolve into something better every year.
What’s your favorite part of the job? (laughing) Well, I’ll tell you the truth … sometimes the kids call me “the park Karen” … but if they think they can box in the park, they are wrong! I just love being out in the community, trying to make everyone’s day as good as possible. I might be coaching one day and then behind the computer the next day. And I love the beach. I am all about the beach.
You’ve been named the new liaison for helping the public access the City’s Parks and Recreation facilities efficiently and fairly. How is that going? To be honest, I was already doing that, but this gives me even more flexibility to get the job done. For example, during the recent baseball season I switched to a four-day work week of longer days so I could stick around evenings and run the scoreboard. I loved that.
