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Temple City Recreation

A host of parks, recreation classes, youth activities, special events, senior services and much more are offered through the Parks and Recreation Department. The city’s two beautifully maintained parks are Temple City Park and Live Oak Park.

Temple City Park is home to the Performing Arts Pavilion, a community room, a playground and a picnic shelter, as well as the location of many community events such as Temple City’s Concerts in the Park and Lights on Temple City. Live Oak Park consists of a playground, lighted athletic field, picnic shelters, basketball and tennis courts, a wading pool, athletic fields and a multi-million dollar community center.

Recreational classes are available for people of all ages and abilities. Classes include recreation for tots, aerobics, cardio-kickboxing, tap and ballet, gymnastics, tennis, self-defense, ballroom dancing, flower arranging and “mini-sports” such as t-ball and flag football. Youth have access to many activities—day trips, teen dances, an American Gladiator-inspired camp and an auxiliary dance/drill team are just some of the opportunities afforded to young citizens.

Older adults are presented with a diversity of programs and services. Employment information and referrals, in-home assistance, housing, immunizations, Meals-On-Wheels, recreation and transportation are all readily accessible. A senior citizens’ club, bridge card and pinochle club, day trips and driver safety courses are also included among many services and activities.

The Changing World of BASKETBALL

For the past 40 years, San Gabriel Valley basketball coach Richard Marquis has traveled the world studying, playing and coaching basketball. Locally, Marquis has worked with the Los Angeles Lakers, was the head coach at Cal State University at Los Angeles and the University of Irvine, and is considered one of our country’s most experienced international coaches. He has also trained teams throughout Asia, South America, Mexico and many areas of Europe.

Marquis notes that the sport of basketball is not as simple as it was when he was growing up. Children start to play as early as three to four years of age, attend classes and camps, and six-year-old boys and girls are already on teams developing a multitude of skills.

Unless children begin engaging in athletic activities early on, Marquis believes they will have a difficult time playing at the high school level. Classes, camps, travel teams and outside youth programs have brought the skill level up to a much higher standard. Additionally, the increasing cost of attending college has accelerated the competition for athletic grants and scholarships, making it almost impossible for athletes to bypass extra development opportunities.

Still active in coaching and teaching, Marquis runs youth training classes called the “Play Smarter” basketball classes. Every summer, Marquis, students and staff travel to different parts of Asia to conduct international “Play Smarter” classes.