Collegedale Parks and Recreation Department wants to bring a piece of the Harry Potter series to life

Quidditch could be coming to Collegedale

Collegedale Parks and Recreation Director Traci Bennett-Hobek teaches a group of kids about the rules of quidditch during a "try it out" session. The department is working to find its niche in the Greater Chattanooga area by hosting a wide variety of programs. (contributed photo)
Collegedale Parks and Recreation Director Traci Bennett-Hobek teaches a group of kids about the rules of quidditch during a "try it out" session. The department is working to find its niche in the Greater Chattanooga area by hosting a wide variety of programs. (contributed photo)

The Collegedale Parks and Recreation Department is looking for new ways to stand out in the Chattanooga area, and one of those ways could bring a piece of the Harry Potter series to life.

Quidditch, a sport from the pages of the popular children's books, allows players to engage in a sort of dodgeball/basketball/rugby hybrid, although rules may vary based on age and league.

"Why quidditch? Because nobody else is doing it," said Traci Bennett-Hobek, director of the Collegedale Parks and Recreation Department. "We want to do something that no other parks and rec is doing so we're introducing something they've never done before. And it's co-ed, which is nice."

Although the department has currently only offered a skills-based session to test interest, Bennett-Hobek is looking to start a full league with other surrounding areas possibly joining in. If successful, the teams would be some of the only ones in the state.

The quidditch "try it out" session was one of many events that Bennett-Hobek, alongside program specialist Andy Stone, has worked in order to provide a wide variety of outdoor entertainment and activities to the community.

"We're just trying to reach as many people as we can and we've done a good job just the two of us. We've really been trying," she said. "We're willing to try anything that somebody is interested in, because other people [already] have the baseball niche, the softball niche, the flag football niche, the soccer niche."

Collegedale's parks and rec department is still fairly new, started less than two years ago at the request of residents.

"We began to have a lot of requests for activities for families and older individuals," Mayor Katie Lamb said of the impetus. "It's just a part of a growing city. When you see a need, you determine a way in which you can find to fund that without putting undue burden on your taxpayers."

The department offers programing year-round including a 55+ club, a weekly farmers market, movie nights and many season-specific activities for those of all ages.

Anyone with ideas or interest should contact the department at parksandrec@collegedale.tn or 468-1971. Additional program information can be found at collegedaleparksandrec.com.

Email Tierra Hayes at tierrahayes@southern.edu.

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