By Ginny McCarley / For the Reporter

ALABASTER-Alabaster Parks and Recreation Director Tim Hamm has been working with the department for more than two decades, first as on-site director and athletic programmer before being promoted to parks director in 2012. Throughout his time with the city, Hamm has seen a lot of growth in the sports programs offered by the department.

The Alabaster Parks and Recreation department offers a variety of youth sports leagues including baseball, softball, football, cheerleading, soccer and basketball. Adult softball is also offered, as well as “smart start,” an introductory program for 3-year-olds and their parents, which introduces the families to a variety of sports.

“Youth sports numbers are generally up and down,” Hamm said, but noted that the number of participants has been steady or growing since he began with the department.

With the growth in numbers comes a variety of challenges, Hamm said, including a need for more facilities.

“You’re always needing more facilities with more people,” Hamm said, noting the athletic managers do a “great job” of scheduling practices in order to make the most out of the current fields.

Hamm declined to speak to whether or not Alabaster will be getting new facilities, but noted that the current facilities have received a variety of upgrades including better lighting and other general improvements.

Going forward, Hamm hopes to offer even more programs to the community.

“We want to continue to be diversified in the programs we offer. You’ve got your basic sports that are always going to be there, and we just kind of try to see what needs and wants there are in the community and offer things that the community is looking for or the community wants,” Hamm said.