The entire team at the City of East Grand Rapids wishes Parks and Recreation Administrative Clerk Astrida Molenaar a happy retirement.
Astrida joined the Parks and Recreation Department in 2007, first answering the phone and then welcoming visitors at the front desk, designing and publishing the Parks and Recreation program guides, assisting community members with program registration, facility rentals and supporting the entire department.
She always met community members with a warm smile and an eagerness to help them connect with the department’s many engaging programs. She enjoyed seeing generations of families participate in the department’s programming over the years.
“To see moms come in with children and then see those children go through the programs and graduate was truly special,” Astrida said. “I loved watching generations of families participate in both fitness and creative activities.”
Prior to joining EGR Parks and Recreation, Astrida served as a paralegal for seven years at local law firms. She credits that experience with preparing her for the detail-oriented work required in Parks and Rec.
She is proud of her work with the department and counts learning InDesign and facilitating the transition of the seasonal program guides from physical paper copies to a digital format as one of her most significant accomplishments. The digital guide is more accessible and convenient for community members to learn about programs and register for them.
When describing the Parks and Recreation team, Astrida summed it up with one word: fun.
“This team is incredibly fun to work with,” she said. “Everyone is compassionate and willing to help our community. It has been a true delight to spend these past 16 years with them.”
She also is grateful for the flexible scheduling that enabled her to watch her two sons play sports and graduate from EGR High School.
Astrida wants community members to know EGR Parks and Recreation programming is open to everyone – not exclusively EGR residents. She is excited to see all the new developments come to fruition, including the playgrounds and Fred Bunn Trails at Manhattan Park.
Astrida and her husband, Bill, are excited to begin this next chapter together, which includes becoming first-time grandparents in June. They also look forward to traveling and spending more time at their lake cottage in Three Rivers.