McMinnville Parks and Recreation has named a new recreation programs coordinator.

Rene A. Alvarez was given the position after previously being an intern. Former recreation programs coordinator Michael Benusches was promoted to facilty manager.

Alvarez is a McMinnville native who has helped Benusches with events in the past. He is happy to be more involved in the community with the new position. 

“I am looking forward to just the fact that I get to give back to my community,” said Alvarez. “When they told me about this opportunity I was really looking forward to being involved. I have been here my whole life and over the years I wasn’t too involved, but now that I have grown and seen what we have done in the past and I would really like to be a part of it.”

His responsibilities will include coordinating the annual events such as the Fourth of July celebration, Trail of Treats, Christmas parade, Easter egg hunt, and things like that. Alvarez is also working on doing more Movie in the Park events potentially through October. 

“Hopefully my involvement will lead to more involvement in the community. I would just love to see more people come out and be involved in our events and, hopefully, grow our community in the coming years,” said Alvarez.

He is considering bringing back ballroom dancing or bingo. Alvarez says since he is Hispanic, he would like to try and incorporate some of that background and culture into events by potentially including Latin style dancing if they did ballroom and play a Hispanic version of bingo. He says it is similar to regular bingo, but with cards with symbols on them instead of drawing balls with numbers. 

“I would just like to get as many people involved from all cultures and backgrounds because I think it is important for everyone to get a better understanding of people,” he said. 

Alvarez is ready to jump in and get started in this new position as recreation programs coordinator.