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Noblesville Parks Department Looks Toward a Big 2026

Photographer / Matthew Doudt Photography & City of Noblesville

For Noblesville’s Parks & Recreation Director Savannah Wines, parks have always played a central role in her family’s life, shaping how she sees both her role and its impact.

“I get to look at parks through both a professional lens and a parent’s lens,” she explains. “I see the developmental value, the educational value, and the simple joy they bring to families every day.”

Today, she leads a department that offers just about everything for those who love the outdoors: youth sports, summer camps, fitness programs, concerts, golf, trails, playgrounds, nature programs and year-round community celebrations. The range is intentional. The goal is simple — to support residents at every stage of life.

Noblesville Parks & Recreation has 876 acres of parkland, with seven developed parks to date and 130 miles of trails and greenways that connect neighborhoods, parks, schools and downtown Noblesville. Forest Park is one of Noblesville’s most iconic gathering places, home to the aquatic center, carousel and train. One of the city’s largest parks, Forest Park will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026.

Wines believes Noblesville Parks & Recreation is central to community life. The community can play, learn, exercise, enjoy nature and gather for major events. The annual Fourth of July Fireworks Festival draws thousands to celebrate and reconnect with friends and neighbors. The parks also offer rentals for private events, from weddings to corporate gatherings.

“Parks are where life happens,” she says. “That’s where kids learn to ride bikes, families celebrate milestones, neighbors meet, and people take time for their physical and mental health.”

Big Plans Ahead for 2026

The department is looking ahead to 2026 with exciting plans.

Construction will begin on the Dillon Park splash pad and playground renovation, with completion expected in late 2026 or early 2027. At Seminary Park, the playground will undergo updates designed to improve accessibility for children of all abilities, furthering the department’s commitment to inclusive play.

One of the most transformative projects will unfold at Finch Creek Park. After completing a conceptual master plan this year, the department is immersed in detailed planning and design while breaking ground on several Phase 2 amenities.

“The potential of that site is incredible,” Wines says. “Moving into construction is a huge next step.”

Families can also look forward to a brand-new holiday experience launching in 2026 — an event the department expects to become a seasonal tradition. Alongside the major capital projects, Noblesville Parks & Recreation will continue expanding youth, wellness and inclusive programming to keep pace with the community’s growth.

Looking further into the future, Wines hopes families will have even more options to enjoy as they continue the activities they love in beautifully maintained, accessible parks.

Purpose and People Make the Difference

Wines is proud of her team and the purpose that drives their work. She also credits the City of Noblesville for working together to ensure the parks succeed. Departments across Planning, Engineering, Streets, Public Safety, Economic Development and others play vital roles behind the scenes.

“Parks are where all of that work comes together for the public to experience,” she says. “An accomplishment for Parks & Rec is truly an accomplishment for the entire city.”

To people unfamiliar with the department, Wines describes it this way: “Noblesville Parks & Recreation is where community comes to life. We create spaces and programs that support wellness, play, connection and nature for people of all ages and abilities.”

And those experiences create memories for a lifetime.

To learn more about Noblesville Parks and Recreation and all it has to offer, visit them online at noblesville.in.gov/638/Parks-Recreation or call 317-776-6350.

Wrestling is different from most youth sports. There’s no teammate to share the moment with, no lineup to blend into, no one else on the mat when the whistle blows. Every win and every loss belongs to the athlete alone.

Because of that, wrestling parents often feel results more deeply. When another child is winning matches and their own child isn’t, it’s easy to start comparing — and even easier to assume that struggling means it’s time to try a different sport.

But in wrestling, early results are one of the least reliable indicators of long-term success.

Wrestling Exposes Development Gaps Early

In team sports, size, speed, or early maturity can be masked by teammates. In wrestling, they can’t. A stronger or more physically mature child often has a huge advantage at young ages. That doesn’t mean they’re more talented — it means they’re further along in development.

Many wrestlers who struggle early simply haven’t hit their physical or emotional growth phase yet. Strength, coordination, confidence, and mat awareness all come at different times. Comparing two wrestlers at age 9 or 11 ignores the fact that they may be years apart developmentally.

Early Wins in Wrestling Can Be Misleading

It’s common to see youth wrestlers dominate early — often because they’re bigger, stronger, or more aggressive. But wrestling evolves quickly. As athletes grow, competition tightens, technique matters more, and effort alone isn’t enough.

Many early “stars” plateau when physical advantages disappear. Meanwhile, wrestlers who struggled early often surge once their bodies and minds catch up — if they’re still in the sport.

Wrestling rewards persistence more than early success.

Why Parents Misread Losing in Wrestling

Because wrestling is one-on-one, losing can feel like a personal failure instead of part of development. Parents see their child’s hand not being raised and assume:

• They’re not good at wrestling

• They’re falling behind others

• Another sport might suit them better

But losing in wrestling often means a child is learning hard lessons: how to handle pressure, how to problem-solve mid-match, how to keep competing when things don’t go their way. Those lessons don’t show up on a bracket — but they shape better wrestlers long-term.

Switching Sports Because of Losses Sends the Wrong Message

Changing sports solely because a child isn’t winning in wrestling teaches an unintended lesson: that struggle means failure, and that success should come quickly.

Wrestling is supposed to be hard. It’s supposed to challenge kids mentally and physically. Avoiding that challenge doesn’t build confidence — working through it does.

When kids are allowed to stay, improve, and grow at their own pace, they develop resilience that carries far beyond the mat.

What Wrestling Kids Need From Parents

Wrestlers don’t need comparisons — they already feel enough pressure stepping on the mat alone.

They need:

• Encouragement after losses

• Praise for effort and improvement

• Patience during long learning curves

• Support regardless of the result

When parents shift the focus from wins to growth, kids stay engaged. And wrestlers who stay engaged almost always improve.

The Truth About Wrestling Success

Wrestling success is rarely immediate. It’s built through repetition, patience, and perseverance. Some of the best wrestlers were not youth standouts — they were kids who stayed in the room, stayed coachable, and trusted the process.

Before assuming your child should quit wrestling because others are winning, remember this:

In a one-on-one sport, development matters more than early results.

If a wrestler is showing up, working hard, and still willing to compete — they’re exactly where they should be.

EVERETT, DEC. 29: The location for the 2026 Seahawks National Football League FLAG Regional Tournament has been awarded to Everett, the Snohomish County Sports Commission announced last week.

NFL FLAG is the official flag football program for the NFL and is the largest youth flag football league in the U.S. The regional tournament is scheduled for June 6, 2026, at Kasch Park in Everett.

Youth and high school flag football teams from across the western United States will have the opportunity to win their division and advance to the NFL FLAG Championships presented by Toyota. The championships are scheduled for July 2026.

YMCA and Pop Warner teams are eligible to participate in the regional tournament with scholastic entries available for high school teams. The tournament divisions are from ages 8 and under coed through high school girls.

The 14U boys and high school girls’ teams have the largest number of flag football teams participating in the tournament, a press release from Snohomish County Sports Commission said.

“Everett is the perfect host for the Seahawks NFL FLAG Regional Tournament,” Ramon Nunez, tournament manager at RCX Sports, said. “This event represents a critical pathway to the NFL FLAG Championships, and we’re excited to bring teams together from across the region in a community that’s deeply invested in youth sports.”

Registration is now open. For more information, visit the NFL FLAG 2026 Regionals page.

Based on a press release from Snohomish County Sports Commission

It’s that time again when many youth basketball players and teams hit the courts of the Starkville Sportsplex for the Starkville Park and Recreation Youth Leagues.

The season begins not long after the calendar flips on January 5 and the anticipation is for another exciting season.

Starkville Park and Recreation athletic coordinator Coben Parker said the response has been “fairly the same as last year” with it being altered a little.

“It’s a little bit smaller in numbers, but we’ve had to fix some divisions to change some of the things we had last year, which cut down on the numbers in a couple of spots,” Parker said.

Registration has been completed and preparation for the season has begun with scheduled practices taking place already at the Starkville Sportsplex.

Parker likes the feedback being received from players and coaches so far.

“I’ve had a few coaches that stay in touch regularly and have gotten some practices in,” Parker said. “It seems like the coaches this go around are taking it pretty serious.”

This is the first year that Parker has been involved in recreation in Starkville but is ready to see how the basketball league progresses.

“Basketball is kind of my favorite one,” Parker said.

SPRD adult basketball registration is now open with an early bird discount available through January 3.

For more information, contact SPRD at 662-323-2294 or visit www.starkvilleparks.org.