|
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
October 2025
| | | | The Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services' office will be closed on Monday, October 13, 2025, for the Columbus Day holiday. | | Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2025 Parks Satisfaction Survey! The results will be used to guide discussions as BPRYCS staff and the Board of Parks Commissioners continue the work of the 2025 - 2027 Strategic Plan. | | |
Tickets to Downtown Live's Spring Lineup on sale now!
| | |
Water Safety Instructors
Help plan, organize, and provide quality swimming and water safety instruction to the general public.
Job Description
Application (to be returned to 51 High Street)
| | |
Ropes Course Facilitators
Help lead diverse and dynamic groups of participants through team building and challenge course activities at Bristol's Pine Lake Adventure Park!
Job Description
Application
| | |
Lifeguards
Help maintain patron safety! Enjoy a physically active and rewarding work environment with flexible scheduling!
Job Description
Application (to be returned to 51 High Street)
| | UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS | | |
Coffin Races
Ages 18+
Saturday, October 25th
70 Memorial Boulevard
Check in at 1:30 PM/ Races begin at 3:00 PM
Join the City Arts and Culture Commission for coffin racing! Homemade coffins will be raced by teams of four people through 500 feet of obstacles with skeletons, aliens, monsters and the unknown to reach their final resting place – the finish line! Advanced registration is required to participate in the Coffin Race and is $50 per team of four racers. Prizes: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will receive a selection of gift cards from a pool of over 20 donated by local businesses. Learn More
| | |
28th Annual Turkey Shoot Basketball Contest
Saturday, November 22nd
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Ages 4 - 13 (Plus a Parent/Guardian)
Child and guardian teams will compete in a basketball foul shooting contest for a chance to win a $25 gift card to purchase a Thanksgiving turkey, along with other great door prizes!
- 9:30 AM - Ages 4 & 5
- 10:00 AM - Ages 6 & 7
- 10:30 AM - Ages 8 & 9
- 11:00 AM - Ages 10 & 11
- 11:30 AM - Ages 12 & 13
This event is Free but requires Pre-Registration. Learn More or Register
| | |
Empower Hour
Grades 1 - 3
4:15 - 5:15 PM
Thursdays, October 9th - November 11th
BPRYCS Main Office (51 High Street)
Empower Hour is a free social skills group open to Bristol elementary students in grades 1-3. This program will address a new topic each week, such as (but not limited to) self-awareness, impulse control, relationship building, emotion regulation, responsible decision-making and more! Learn More
| |
Water Exercise
Ages 18+
Dates and times vary by class style
Dennis Malone Aquatics Center (DMAC)
Our Water Fitness Classes offer several different types of classes that are based on improving your balance, coordination, endurance, conditioning while in a low impact aquatic environment that offers unique resistance with movement and activity, which may offer increased calorie burn depending on your intensity level.
Download the Water Exercise Schedule
Learn More
| | | | Downtown Live features an array of curated live entertainment from musical and dance performances, to comedy shows, education and lecture series, children's series, and more. Shows range in price from $25 to $45. The Rockwell Theater is located at 70 Memorial Boulevard, Bristol, CT 06010. Learn More | | |
The Doo Wop Project: Echoes of the Street
Saturday, October 11th | 7:00 - 9:00 PM
The dynamic Broadway stars of The Doo Wop Project are on a mission to put Doo Wop on everyone’s playlist! You’ll hear Doo Wop classics like the Del Vikings’ “Whispering Bells”, The Tymes’ “So Much in Love”, The Marcels’ “Blue Moon”, and Motown’s “My Girl”. Tickets
| | |
UMX: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience
Saturday, November 1st | 7:00 - 9:00 PM
“UMX” The Ultimate Michael Experience, Starring Joby Rogers is an electrifying production dedicated to celebrating the music, legacy, dancing, message & spirit of the ICONIC MICHAEL JACKSON. Tickets
| | |
Food Explorers: Holiday Desserts
Ages 2 - 17
5:15 - 6:15 PM
Tuesdays, November 18th - December 9th
Bristol Senior Community Center
Join Food Explorers for delicious holiday desserts! Each week you’ll make a dessert inspired by favorite holiday flavors and foods. You’ll be making: Hot Chocolate Mini Donuts, Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Pies, Butterscotch Trifles, and Candy Cane Brownie Bites.
Learn More
| |
Adult Co-Ed Pickleball (Open Play)
Ages 18+
Recreational: 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Competitive: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Mondays, November 3rd - December 8th
Bristol Senior Community Center
Players will work on basic football skills such as passing, catching, offense and defense in a safe and fun environment. Each week, new teams will be formed to give players a chance to socialize with everyone in the program.
Learn More
| | |
Scuba Santa - Register for a time slot!
Underwater Photos with Santa
Time slots available from 5:00 to 8:00 PM
December 6th - 7th
Dennis Malone Aquatics Center (DMAC)
Scuba Santa will be making a very special appearance this holiday season! Choose a 15 minute window where in that time frame you will have a 5-minute session underwater photo with Scuba Santa! This event is FREE with the donation of one, unwrapped gift per family to benefit our Youth and Community Services Annual Holiday Gift Giving Program Toy Drive. Donations will be distributed to those in need within the Bristol community. Learn More
| | | Check out the new Playground at Federal Hill Green! | | The design for the playground was selected by Bristol community members!! Thank you to all of the community members who helped us #UpgradeYourPlay by joining us for the ribbon cutting and grand opening, by voting on your favorite playground designs, and for providing feedback! Be sure to visit this fall! Federal Hill Green is located at 40 Queen Street, Bristol, CT 06010. | | | | |
The scoreboard at Bristol's Dennis Malone Aquatics Center (DMAC) is no longer functioning and needs to be replaced!
The Goal: Raise $55,000!
To Kick It Off - $10,000 has been committed by Bristol’s Board of Park Commissioners to support the campaign!
A fundraising initiative to contribute to the costs of replacing the DMAC scoreboard has been started and community members are invited to make a tax-deductible donation to the Friends of Bristol Parks and Recreation Fund through the Main Street Community Foundation. **Please specify that the donation is for the “DMAC Scoreboard”.
Donate
| | We recently held our Fall Staff Meeting at Mrs. Rockwell's Pavilion Staff from across all divisions participated in hot topic roundtables and presentations on budget updates, 2025 - 2027 Strategic Plan progress, park projects, and ongoing department highlights and challenges. | | As part of the meeting staff shared accomplishments they were proud of from the past year (personal and professional). Staff celebrated completing Advanced Degree education programs, receiving professional development certifications, welcoming new children and grandchildren, getting married, and so much more! | | FACILITY UPDATES AND REMINDERS | | |
Project Updates
Transformative projects are underway across the City of Bristol parks system. The new renovations and amenities provide increased access to high-quality parks for residents and community members.
| | |
Parks Project Portal
In an effort to continue to increase transparency and community engagement, we are pleased to offer an interactive Parks Project Portal that provides residents access to up-to-date information on projects, presentations, and opportunity to provide real time feedback!
| | | |
City of Bristol
Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services
51 High Street
Bristol, CT 06010
www.BristolRec.com
| | |
| | | |
