The Village of Westfield Recreation Department provides year-round programs, activities and opportunities for all ages, from infants to Sr. Citizens. We offer a variety of programming that includes programs during all seasons, including both indoor and outdoor programs. The Rec. Dept. is committed to providing safe, fun and cost effective programming.
Contact Information
Eason Hall
23 Elm Street
Westfield, NY 14787
Andrew Webster, Recreation Director [E-mail]
Ph: (716) 753-6842
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT FOR APRIL IS JIM VAN DYKE!
*The following write-up/picture is the latest edition of our monthly volunteer spotlight of volunteers in the Westfield Rec. Dept. We are blessed in the Rec. Dept. to have so many wonderful people who do and have volunteered their time both now and, in the past, to make our department and programs/events what they are today. We want to say THANK YOU! To nominate someone for volunteer spotlight, please send us a private message on Facebook or call/text Andrew at 753-6842.
Our volunteer spotlight for April is Jim Van Dyke. For close to 30 years, Jim has been synonymous with the Westfield Fish & Game Club and the Westfield Recreation Department’s “Kids Fishing Derby.” For years and years, Jim has shown up to the event with a huge smile on his face and a pair of helping hands. He is so talented at teaching the kids how to fish, about what kind of fish they caught, and anything else they may want to know. Jim was kind enough to sit down for a lengthy interview where we discussed a variety of topics, as well as his experiences with volunteering in different programs in Westfield.
“The kids fishing derby is a joint program with the Westfield Fish & Game Club and the Westfield Recreation Department. It is always the third Saturday in June which is the first day of bass season. It started out with about 20 kids and it has grown to over 50 kids in the last couple of years. What is neat about it, is that it is either Mom and Dad or Grandpa and Grandma with the kids. The first few years, the large pond was stocked well with trout. It got to be too hard to even get the trout. We then converted the big pond over to channel catfish and they are really doing well. They can get over 5 pounds and they have gotten bigger each year.” Listening to Jim talk about the derby, it was evident that he just loves the family atmosphere of kids and their parents/grandparents enjoying the outdoors together.
Jim would like to thank his wife Barb and all the members of the Fish & Game Club who have helped with the Derby. He also would like to thank the sponsors who have donated prizes, bait, etc. over the years: including Bill’s Hooks, Barcelona Market, and Westfield Bait & Tackle. We have been blessed to work with the Westfield Fish & Game Club and so many great volunteers throughout the history of the kids fishing derby. Jim was always the first to thank all these volunteers for their hard work and dedication and wants it to be known that the fishing derby would not have been possible all these years without them.
Both Jim and his wife Barb grew up in Westfield and spent their younger years playing at Welch Field as so many of us long-time Westfield residents have. As they started their own family, they sent their kids to play at Welch Field as they always thought it was a safe place for them to play. In addition to all his years of helping with the kids fishing derby, Jim has also taught hunter safety for kids for 55 years! He has practically been a lifelong member of the Westfield Fish & Game Club and has served as a past President and Officer and is a tremendous advocate for the Club. Jim has also spent time as a volunteer at the Barcelona Lighthouse. He also coached the “Blue Socks” for 6 years in the Westfield Little League program. Certainly, Jim and Barb are model residents and are the kind of people that represent what is best about Westfield.
For a man who has spent so much of his life giving back to others, his motivation has deep family roots: “I enjoy the kids. We always tried to keep our kids busy doing something. In sports or whatever they wanted to do, we always encouraged them to keep busy. I have a soft spot for the Westfield Fish & Game Club as my Dad was one of the founders of the Club.” It has been a pleasure to work with Jim on the kids Fishing Derby and just to sit back and observe his interactions with people and specifically kids. He has such a special way of communicating with kids and supporting them. He loves the outdoors, and you will find no greater advocate for kids getting outside and experiencing nature while having fun with their families. We appreciate everything that Jim has done, and we encourage everyone to approach life the way Jim has and to spend time with your families and to get outside and stay active.
Past Volunteer Spotlights:
July 2020: Christian Caballero
August 2020: Carol Reynolds
September 2020: Don Parker
October 2020: Luci Petrella
November 2020: John Emmons
December 2020: The Baum Family (Chris, Shannon, Mason, and Logan)
January 2021: Chris Anderson
February 2021: Roger Miller
March 2021: The Dellow Family (Wade, Wendy, Hunter, and Haleigh)
SESSION 2 CORNHOLE CHAMPS
Congratulations to Barry and Tyler Wright (pictured below) who recently became champions of our session 2 adult cornhole league organized by the Westfield Rec. Dept. This was their first championship and they finished the season with a 10-5 record.
They defeated the team of Matt Belson and Joel Stein in a classic championship match that went the distance. The team of Belson and Stein finished the season in second place with a record of 13-3.
A special thanks to Matt Swank and Lena's Pizza, Subs, and Wings who were our sponsor of the league and provided the winning team with gift certificates! Please check out their website below: https://lenaspizzas.com/
A new session of our adult cornhole league will be starting in mid-October. The league is on Wednesday evenings at Eason Hall in Westfield and is free to the public. All participants must be at least 18 years old.
SUMMER JOBS AVAILABLE!
We know that we're living in uncertain times and it's difficult to predict what the immediate future of our programming will look like. But we're hopeful for a great summer and we’re looking for interested individuals who would like to apply for a summer job working for the Village of Westfield Recreation Department.
We’re looking for the following positions:
LIFEGUARD
-Ensure the safety of all patrons in the summer swim program through enforcement of safety rules and regulations. Full job description available on request.
Interested Candidates must possess the following eligibility criteria to apply.
-Must be at least 16 years old.
-Must have their life-guarding certification (if you are currently not certified, but would like to, we can do our best to help you find a class)
-Must have a certification in CPR/First Aid
-Will need to go through a background check.
RECREATION AIDE
-Responsible for insuring the safety of the participants under his or her supervision. Instructing/assisting with activities in the summer field program. Full job description available on request
Interested Candidates must possess the following eligibility criteria to apply.
-Must be at least 16 years old.
-A certification in CPR/First Aid is preferred
-Will need to go through a background check.
RECREATION SPECIALIST
-Assist in many elements of summer rec. programming including but not limited to: field maintenance, special event planning, pool maintenance, playground inspections, field program assistance, movies in the park, etc.
Interested Candidates must possess the following eligibility criteria to apply
-Must be at least 18 years old
-A certification in CPR/First Aid is preferred
-Will need to go through a background check
For more information, or to obtain an application, please call 753-6842 (Rec. Director Andrew Webster), or email us at awebster@villageofwestfield.org or message us on our Facebook page Westfield Recreation Department
WELCH FIELD SKATE PARK IS OPEN!
The Welch Field skate park is open and ready for use! Please follow the rules below and be safe!
-HELMETS REQUIRED and must be worn and buckled at all times.
-Knee, elbow, and wrist pads recommended.
-Glass objects, pets, and profanity are NOT permitted.
-Skates, skateboards, bikes, and scooters are permitted. NO heelies.
-Personal equipment (rails, ramps, etc.) are NOT allowed.
-Children under 10 years of age require adult supervision.
-Skating on wet surface is NOT allowed.
RESPECT OUR SKATE PARK
*The Village of Westfield reserves the right to close the park or add supervision as deemed necessary; and restrict entry or require persons to leave if rules are not obeyed or if unsafe behavior is observed. Anyone caught skating when facility is closed, littering, or defacing park property will be subject to persecution.
*The Village of Westfield assumes no liability for loss or damage, accidents, or injury to property or people.
WARNING: Use of this facility may result in death, paralysis, brain damage, concussion, broken bones, and other serious injuries.
PARK IS UNSUPERVISED SKATE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
*Know your ability and skate accordingly.