After approximately 17 years of service to the City of Riverbank, Parks and Recreation Supervisor Kerrie Webb has retired. With a long list of accomplishments in her many years with Parks and Recreation, Webb, along with Parks and Recreation Director Sue Fitzpatrick have created many of the programs that are offered today in the activity guide, providing fun events for a wide range of ages.

When asked why retire now, Webb answered it is time. With another job already secured to take up some of the free time she will now have, she will be working as an usher for the Modesto Nuts. She begins the new part-time job in a couple of weeks.

Before working for the City of Riverbank, Webb worked for Tuolumne Youth Center, Jamestown Youth Center, and the City of Modesto’s Parks and Recreation Department.

There have been several city managers like Rich Holmer, Jill Anderson and currently Sean Scully that she has been able to work with as well as several different mayors and councilmembers, but in the Parks and Recreation department it was always Fitzpatrick and Webb.

“When it is only a two man department it is kind of a dual responsibility,” said Webb. “We started the Swim Team and pretty much anything that is in the activity guide Sue and I created.”

As Webb reminisced about her years with the city, she said there are many programs and activities that she participated in that have given her many good memories.

The Tot Time program was originally a grant funded program where they received Mickey Mouse computers for participants. The Halloween Hayride is dear to her heart as well as Riverbank’s Got Talent; programs that both have seen much success. The Got Color Run and being part of the Aquatic programs like the swim lessons have all been great experiences for Webb as well.

There are several camps that are offered during the summer that she helped create like Outdoor Adventure Camp, Science Fun Camp and many teen activities.

“We have done a lot of trips,” added Webb. “We used to do senior trips but it got to be so outrageously priced that they could not afford it. One thing that will stand out forever is our camping trips. We took the teens to Pinecrest and that was an adventure. We had the Outdoor Adventure Camp spend the night down at the new McRitchie campground and that was fun because that train goes by every hour on the hour.”

The fun did not stop with the parks and rec department; there were good times to be had throughout the different departments within the city. They participated in an ugly Christmas sweater contest which she shared that she won many times, chocolate contests, weight loss programs, and bike to work days, just to name a few.

“We have done a lot of fun stuff and that makes it fun to come to work because you know something is going to happen,” expressed Webb. “I am going to miss the people. This is my family. It is going to be hard.”

Taking over the Christmas Parade and assisting with the craft faire along with the first year gathering vendors for the Cheese and Wine, although it was a lot of work, she shared it was also a lot of fun.

With plans to travel with friends and family and possibly getting to some chores around the house, Webb will take one day at time and is looking forward to her new adventure. Playing softball as she has for many years and returning to visit her friends in Riverbank are all part of her retirement plans.

“I am happy for her to retire,” said Fitzpatrick. “I think she is going to go on to some fun things. I am going to miss her for sure. We did some really well attended skate park events and competitions. We opened the sports complex and the Halloween hayride definitely was a good time. Expanding the programs to where they are today because we started with zero. I think that she has been a big part of that. Definitely has been an asset to the city.”

Later this year, there is a superhero run slated for September and the Haunted Hayride will continue in October.

The new supervisor should begin mid-May and Webb has offered to come back and help train the new person.

“I thank the community,” said Webb. “People are great and this community is great. The best 17 years of my life. It is hard to believe it has been 17 years. It has blown by.”