By Greg Oliver (Contact / Staff Bio)
March 27, 2008 - 12:00 a.m. EST

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From left: Clemson Parks and Rec Director Steve Figueroa; Office Manager Glenda Stone and Supervisor of Facilities and Operations Dave Geer all had new fields at Nettles Park named in their honor last Saturday. The recognition came during the celebration of the Nettles Park expansion. Photo courtesy of the City of Clemson

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Glenda Stone, office manager for the Clemson Parks and Rec Department, is flanked by family members at the girls’ softball field named after her. Photo courtesy of the City of Clemson

CLEMSON — Steve Figueroa, Glenda Stone and Dave Geer have served the Clemson Parks and Recreation Department for a combined 75 years and recent action by the city of Clemson ensures their names will remain affiliated with the department long after they’re gone.

During ceremonies held last Saturday to celebrate the expansion of Nettles Park, the city officially named each of the two new baseball fields in honor of Figueroa and Geer and the girls’ softball field in honor of Stone.

“They’re basically the backbone of the Clemson Parks and Rec Department,” said Clemson City Administrator Rick Cotton. “It was fitting those three fields were named in their honor and their service.”

Figueroa, in his 29th year of heading up the city’s parks and recreation program, said the honor was “pretty humbling.”

“It was certainly unexpected, but really appreciated,” Figueroa said. “It’s hard to put into words because it’s something where none of us have ever had that type of recognition. It’s much more than any of us really expected.”

A Clemson University graduate, Figueroa served as assistant parks and recreation director for the City of Conway after graduating from Clemson University in 1976. He served in that capacity for two years before the opportunity to head his own operation arose in Clemson.

“Clemson was a great place to start,” Figueroa said, pointing out that its rec program was once headed up by what was called the Clemson Recreation Commission. “When I first came, they needed stability and somebody to make a commitment to being here for a while.”

When Figueroa arrived, the only park in existence was Clemson Park — the Parks and Rec Department’s home until the move to Nettles Park several years ago. Things began to improve as Jaycee Park was completed in 1980 and Ashley Dearing Park opened the following year — marking a snowball effect that would see a number of parks opening throughout the city over the next 15 years.

But Figueroa said the opening of Nettles Park in 1995 and the city’s partnership with the Central Parks and Recreation Department, which began that same year, led to additional recreation opportunities that resulted in the opening of the Central-Clemson Indoor Recreation Center in 1999.

“We started (the partnership) in baseball and that went well, so we expanded to basketball and football,” Figueroa said. “Then, we just coordinated all of our programs together — looking at ways of making it work rather than why it wouldn’t.”

The departments see a combined average of 300 participants for basketball and baseball, 200 for soccer and more than 100 for football. Figueroa said Clemson and Central residents pay the same rate — another example of the cooperative effort that exists between the two municipalities.

Both recreation departments are currently making preparations for hosting the first Dixie Youth Baseball Tournament in Clemson this summer. Figueroa and Central Rec Director Tom Cloer are currently finalizing the opening ceremony and seeking tournament sponsors, among other things.

Figueroa said Stone, who has served for 25 years, and Geer, for 21 years, have also played a vital part in the success of the Clemson Parks and Rec Department.

“We’ve formed a very good team together,” Figueroa said. “We just have grown over the years to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and it’s allowed us to serve the city well — in order to have that continuity.

“I think each of us is pretty good at what we do.”

Stone, who grew up in Central, and Geer, a Pennsylvania native, also received praise from Figueroa for their expertise that makes the Clemson Parks and Rec Department a finely oiled machine.

“Glenda manages the workings of the office — invoices, scheduling and such — and Dave takes care of the facilities as good as anyone,” he said. “We wouldn’t be where we are without them.”

Though honored to have a ball field named after him, Figueroa said he was especially honored to see Stone and Geer recognized in like manner.

“It was really special to see them honored,” Figueroa said. “It’s like being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown (N.Y.) in that the Hall mates you go in with is what makes it really special.”

Looking into the future, Figueroa said the next goal is to bring all of the Clemson parks and rec facilities up to date — a process he feels will put the department in excellent shape for the next 10-15 years — and concentrate on maintaining what is already in place by utilizing resources efficiently and effectively.

The Clemson Parks and Rec Director also wants to see his department delve into more non-traditional athletic activities, including Frisbee golf, kayaking and other outdoor adventures.