Penn retiring from Madison-Mayodan Recreation Department

Dixie Penn witnessed many changes at the Madison-Mayodan Recreation Department since 1983, but the place where she served as director for 26 years faces another change in a few weeks. Penn retires on June 30.

“It’s just time for me to step aside and let someone else lead the way to new ventures,” said Penn. “It’s time to let the next generation bring in some new ideas and thoughts.”

Penn announced Tuesday that the department’s current recreation specialist, Wendy Veach, would become the new director on July 1. She admitted being excited about how Veach could shape the recreation department’s future.

“Wendy is probably the most caring, compassionate person I’ve ever known,” Penn said. “And that’s a lot of what it takes to do this job.”

Penn also praised Veach’s organizational and leadership skills.

“When she decides to get something done, it’s done and done right and on time,” Penn said.

Penn will leave behind about the same size staff she started with in 1983, but they will be responsible for much more than that original group. The recreation department consisted of five facilities when Penn started. That number has grown to nine through the years, plus taking on the management of Farris Memorial Park for the Town of Mayodan.

“We’ve really expanded a lot in the last 23 years and most of that has been due to going after grant funds,” Penn said. “We’ve always had bigger dreams than we’ve had budgets, and getting every grant we could find was the only way we’ve been able to continue a lot of our programs and start new ones.”

Penn said she has only scored two “big grants” during her tenure — both PARTF grants. She received a grant from the state Parks and Recreation Fund to double the size of Idol Park in Madison in 1997. In 2003, she received another PARTF grant to build a new shelter, fishing pier and driving range at Farris Memorial Park in Mayodan.

Keeping things on an even keel between the two towns served by the recreation center has always been a priority for Penn. The uncommon amount of cooperation she has received has always been a source of joy for her.

“Having two towns share a recreation department like this makes us unique in the state,” Penn said. “The support we’ve received through the years has been critical to our success. We’ve had our ups and downs, like any good marriage, but there’s always been a real sense of mutual respect and cooperation.”

Penn also praises the support she has received from board members on the recreation commission.

“We’ve had some wonderful board members, some of whom have been active in the department since I arrived,” she said. “Some of them have served as my mentors through the years and I owe them a lot.”

When she stops to think about what she will miss the most as she leaves, Penn always comes back to the same thing — the people.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on being the one place that’s truly a meeting place of the entire community,” she said. “We’ve worked hard to put programs in place that meet the needs and wants of everyone in the two towns — for all ages and all interests.”

It’s that diversity that brings Penn the most pride when she looks back over 26 years of community service. Within the past year, another grant has made it possible for her to see a new master plan created for the department’s future.

“We know that the future of the recreation department depends on keeping up with the needs of the community as much as funding,” she said. “You have to know what kind of new technologies and programs will be needed five and ten years down the road, as well as what the people want today.”

One thing that Penn was not able to see completed during her time in the front office was a pool. A community pool has long been a dream for her and she still hopes to see it come to pass.

“We really need a good community pool in this area,” Penn said. “Something seniors can use for water aerobics and therapy, as well as youngsters for learning how to swim. Something that would be accessible to everyone in the community. I know some people probably think I’m crazy, but I still think it’s possible for us. Of course, the one thing we lack is the money.”

Finding the funds has always been both a talent and a burden for Penn. She has been a strong advocate for pursuing every available avenue for funding sources, but it has taken a toll through the years.

“There comes a time when you just have to realize you can’t keep up the pace any longer,” she said.

Through the last few years, Penn has delegated some of the grant writing to other members of the recreation department staff. Athletic Supervisor Thad Shermer has taken over writing grant applications for the Arts Council funding for programs such as the Concerts in the Park series.

Penn’s replacement, Veach, has taken over grant writing for the Council on Aging to fund the center’s many senior programs.

“The senior programs is one area that has certainly grown by leaps and bounds in the last 26 years,” Penn said. “We have a thriving senior community and many of those people have been valuable advisors for me in recent years. I only hope they lend as much support to Wendy as she move into this office.”

Penn said she will take many special memories with her as she leaves — such as the time she was “kicked out of Busch Gardens” with a group of youngsters she was leading.

“It seemed awful at the time, but we can laugh about it now,” she said. “In fact, several of those children from that episode come by the center these days with their own children and we remember the good times we used to have.”

What will Penn miss the most? Just that type of thing — meeting, greeting and talking daily to the hundreds of special friends she has made through 26 years of uncompromising service to her adopted community. She and her husband, George, moved to the community from New York about 40 years ago, but she calls this home now.

“This is where we raised our children and I can’t think of a better place for anyone to raise a child,” she said. “That’s why I’m going to miss seeing the next generation of recreation department youngsters grow up and bring their children through the same programs. This place has become a central part of our community and I’ll miss it.”

Recreation department secretary Ruth Cardwell will also be leaving at the end of June. Although she has been working part-time for the department for the last 15 years, Cardwell has been there in some capacity since she was 18.

“Ruthie retired about 15 years ago, but has remained part-time to keep us all from falling apart,” Penn said. “Truth be known, she’ll probably be missed more than I will.”

Cardwell spent 54 years in service to the community at the recreation department, beginning when the original facility was the YMCA.