Earlier this year, the city of Ecorse welcomed Zaid Beeai as the new Director of Parks, Recreation, and Senior Citizens Activities. Beeai brings with him a decade's worth of experience in the sports and athletics industry, along with marketing and leadership skills. "I always wanted to transition into a parks and recreation role; I wanted to focus my efforts into one city. It's great, I really like the job," he says. "They brought me in to build the recreation department from the ground up and it definitely took a lot of work but it's a work in progress still but we've done a really good job so far."

Beeai had previously worked as building supervisor/coordinator at the Kirksey Recreation Center in Livonia. He says he began his work in Ecorse by getting to know the residents and asking what types of recreational programming they wanted to see available in the city. "I think with this job you really have to want to be here, it's not about the money, it's about helping the community and I think that's why I enjoy it so much," he says. "Parks and rec is important for cities. We're the department that really brings the community together." Beeai was also given a budget to renovate and update the current senior center and recreation center buildings, and those updates are ongoing.

This summer, Beeai and his staff have rolled out a total of 13 programs and classes for all age groups. He has partnered the Parks and Recreation Department with the schools and the library, coordinating the programs each was presenting to enhance community offerings. Youth basketball, baseball, and softball programs have all been welcomed as a summer vacation activity while classes for adults include a variety of yoga and water aerobics, cardio drumming, and cardio dance. "We're giving the community things to do so they don't have to go outside of Ecorse to go to a yoga class or go to a dance class or sign their kids up for sports classes, they can stay in the city, that's what I think is a big impact," he says. Beeai says he wants to establish solid sports programming for youth in Ecorse, giving them the opportunity to find a sport they love and develop their ability, and perhaps taking that athletic ability all the way to college.

"I'm happy with how things are going now, it's great and I work with great people. My instructors are great and it's nice to see where things are going and it's exciting to see where it's going to be in about a year because there are still a lot of things I'm planning on doing as far as renovations and programming goes," Beeai says, adding that activities such as bingo, game nights, and day outings to places such as museums, concerts, and cider mills are in the planning stages.

In July, the Ecorse Department of Parks and Recreation offered a fun summer cool-down activity in conjunction with the fire department.

At the senior center, monthly commodity distribution continues along with Meals on Wheels on Monday and Tuesday each week. Transportation for seniors is being offered as well. Crafting classes which will include sewing, knitting, and crocheting will be offered beginning on Monday, August 15. Hours for the Ecorse Senior Center are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday and the Recreation Center is open from 8:30 to 4:30 Monday through Friday. Beeai says anyone is welcome to drop by and suggestions on programs and activities are appreciated. The Ethel V. Stevenson Senior and Recreation Center of Ecorse is located at 4072 W. Jefferson Avenue. Find more information at the city's website at http://www.ecorsemi.gov or at the city's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/cityofecorse.