FARMINGTON — It’s no surprise that two women who grew up in Maine playing sports, enjoying physical activity, and working with children are the director and assistant director of the Farmington Parks and Recreation Department.

Jennifer Savage of Chesterville was the assistant director of the department under former Director Matt Foster and was promoted to director in January. Michelle Dowd of Farmington was named assistant director of the department in January.

Savage and her husband, Zech Savage, have two daughters, Kari and Andi. Dowd and her husband, Chuck, have a son, Bode, and daughter, Sawyer.

They recently agreed to take time out of their busy days to talk about their passion for making sure Farmington residents of all ages and abilities have access to healthy activities.

How did you get involved in recreation?

Jennifer: Recreation has always been part of my life. I grew up playing basketball, field hockey, and enjoying recreational games at youth group. When I turned 16 years old, I began working at the Skowhegan Recreation Department where I coached basketball, refereed, and worked as a receptionist at the front desk.

Michelle: I have always been passionate about athletics, health, and community involvement. With my background in health sciences, I gravitated toward recreation because it combines my love for physical activity and community engagement. Having two children who are active in sports and involved in our community center motivated me to take a more hands-on role in shaping programs that benefit families in our community and the surrounding area.

Where did you gain the knowledge to take care of the town’s parks and promote recreation?

Jennifer: All my jobs have assisted me in obtaining the knowledge needed to care of the town’s parks and lead recreational programs. My dad was a teacher for 36 years and ran Dorman’s Lawn and Garden Service. This was a family-owned business where my first job was litter patrol and picking rocks off lawns. This led to mowing, bark mulch, and sod work, etc. It helped me to understand what needs to be maintained, to see the big picture, and develop an understanding of seasonal maintenance.

I worked at Creative Care Child Center for nine years and was a teacher at Smart Fun Learning Adventures for seven years. In both careers I worked on planning curriculum, exciting activities, and had to communicate with families. Experience is true knowledge, and I gained a lot of experience with the above jobs as well as being the past assistant director here.

Being the assistant director helped develop my knowledge of budgeting, managing employees, and cultivating a healthy work environment. These careers came together and my foundation for taking care of the town’s parks and helping lead recreational programs that enhance lives socially, emotionally, and physically all stem from my past employment.

Michelle: I earned my degree in athletic training, which gave me a strong foundation in health and wellness, fitness, and injury prevention — all essential in creating safe and effective recreational programs. I volunteered as a basketball coach at the recreation center during high school, giving me my first true hands-on experience in organizing activities.

I was a camp counselor at EcoVenture where our priority was to educate children on how to be “Stewards of the Land.” It taught us how to protect the natural landscape, while managing and maintaining it for its long-term health as we benefited from what it had to offer, much like our parks. My background as a clinical services coordinator at the YMCA also kept me focused on maintaining programs and facilities, and broadened my understanding of what adults, children, and families needed to stay engaged and active.

What is your favorite part of being a parks and recreation director? 

Jennifer: It is hard to pick a favorite part! I am blessed to be able to work with all ages and stages of life in programming infant and up via our senior programming. But it is also a joy and healthy challenge to be behind the scenes working on ideas to continue maintaining and creating solutions that care and enhance our community.

Michelle: My favorite part of being a parks and recreation assistant director is seeing people of all ages come together to enjoy our spaces. While I haven’t gotten to experience a summer season with the department, I look forward to seeing the community come alive as the weather allows people to gather in our parks and outdoor spaces. I love watching kids develop new skills, seeing families spend quality time together, and helping create opportunities for people stay active and connected. It’s very rewarding to know that our work contributes to a happier and healthier community.

Do you specialize in certain programs? 

Jennifer: In my current role, I still help lead Age 50 and Up Beginners Art Class, Book Worm Club, and Story Craft and Play. I assist with sports and events as well. Michelle … is a wonderful asset and brings in new ideas that we both look forward to developing.

Michelle: My main specialties are in sports and fitness, due to my background, and I enjoy working with all levels of fitness. In my downtime, I love to get creative and often find myself working on personal art projects.

While I’m passionate about bringing fitness to people of all ages using various resources, like our parks and community center, I also recognize the value of well-rounded recreation programs, which is why I appreciate the importance of arts, crafts, and other social activities. Living in such a beautiful part of the state has sparked my love for outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking. I hope to use my fitness background to develop programs that take advantage of our local natural resources, offering outdoor fitness opportunities that allow people to connect with nature while staying active.

Do you enjoy working with children?

Jennifer: I enjoy working with all age groups and in turn I learn from them too.

Michelle: Absolutely! I love watching kids develop confidence, teamwork skills, and a passion for being active within the community. Whether through sports, outdoor adventures, or mini camps, working with children is always incredibly rewarding. My own children’s enthusiasm for sports and recreation inspires me to create engaging and meaningful programs for kids in our community and beyond.

What are some of the special programs offered for adults and children?

Jennifer: We offer senior programming, swim lessons, mini sports camps, specialty camps, dance, recreational activities for all age groups and more. I believe what makes them special is that there is something here for everyone.

Michelle: For children, we offer sports leagues year-round, summer mini-camps, themed scavenger hunts, children’s festivals, and various fun learning activities that promote teamwork and physical activities. For adults, we offer walking/movement time, pickleball, access to our gym during open hours. We also provide community classes that promote social interaction and wellness, such as art classes, book clubs, and game time, which are designed to bring community members together. Our goals are to have something for everyone, regardless of age, interest, or ability level.