He’s the ringmaster of recreation over at Marathon Community Park, but many may be surprised to find that before his career as a banker, Scott Williamson’s recreation career took him down some seldom-explored avenues. In an effort to get to know some of Marathon’s leaders better, we sat down with Williamson to learn more about the road that brought him to become the city’s Parks and Recreation director in March of this year.
Before the city, you worked at a bank. But we understand you have quite a bit of recreation experience?
I graduated from Indiana University, and my degree is sports and recreation management, so I wanted to get into that field kind of early on in life. My first experience was with the Navy’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) department in Jacksonville. Then I was a recreation director at a medium-security prison for three years. I got to use my degree, but also learn a bunch of different security things that have helped me in life. We moved here in 2019, and I was in banking at that time. I like banking, but I started missing recreation again. When this position came open, and the qualifications they needed were someone with financial acumen and a recreational background, it kind of fit the mold. Basically half my adult life has been in recreation.
That’s a pretty unique experience. What was the toughest part?
You had to learn the different elements in the prison. We called them security triggers – you had to learn the different gang members, and you couldn’t put them on the same field at the same time. The best thing I was taught from the inmates was respect, because it’s a big factor in that environment. You also learn safety and security, and being aware of your surroundings.
What’s the biggest asset you bring to the table from that background?
Just the variety of it. I’ve worked at high schools, at the prison, worked for the Navy, worked at colleges, so I have experience in different avenues of recreation, not just one area.
What drew you to recreation in the first place?
Growing up, Indiana was a basketball state. Bobby Knight was the head coach at Indiana, and I went to some of his basketball programs. I always enjoyed the outdoors, and I was an Eagle Scout. When I was in college, I didn’t even know there were these other programs like with the Navy – there are different opportunities that people never think about. I enjoyed the world that was out there, and realized this was an avenue I could pursue, and I had a passion for it. There are days we do things at the park that just make this job so worth it – seeing the kids’ faces running around and having fun, those are memories that last for a lifetime.
What do you see as Marathon’s biggest opportunity for improvement in parks and rec?
More programs for the kids. We have a pretty good partnership with the Marathon Youth Club, and our Smart Start soccer program registration filled up in 24 hours, so we know we’re going to do more stuff like that for the little ones in town. We just resurfaced the basketball and tennis courts, we’re adding pickleball courts, and we’re trying to get feedback on what people like and what they want to do. We just added some frisbee golf holes at the Community Park.
Do you have a hidden talent that most people don’t know about?
I can’t sing, but when I lived in Tennessee, I always liked to write. I wrote a couple different songs and got them published. One of them got my friend his first record deal. I need to dip my toe back into it, because I really enjoyed it.
