Marietta Summer Playground
GEARS Community Center, 70 S. Poplar Street, Elizabethtown, PA 17022
About
GEARS Recreation Programs offers activities that include Summer Playground, Iddy Biddy Basketball, Camp Ladybug, BEARS Basketball Camp, a Basketball Clinic, and Swim Lessons. These programs take place on weekdays from 8am to 4pm. Activities are held at multiple community sites and buildings in the greater Elizabethtown area.
• Schedule: Weekdays 8am–4pm
GEARS Recreation Programs are part of Greater Elizabethtown Area Recreation & Community Services, which was founded in 1976 as EARC and began providing services as GEARS in January 2000. GEARS became a 501(c)3 non-profit agency in 2025 and was formed through a partnership with East Donegal Township, Elizabethtown Borough, Mount Joy Township, and West Donegal Township. The organization’s mission is to connect people of all ages through recreation, learning, childcare, and senior center services that strengthen the community and the quality of life. GEARS has been recognized as the Elizabethtown Chamber’s Non-Profit of the Year and holds Board of Directors meetings on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm unless otherwise noted.
The leadership team includes Executive Director David Wendel, Business Manager Joyce Hardman, Recreation Director Lee Eckert, Program Coordinator Karrie Norman, Administrative Assistant Erin Thomas, Kids Center Director Wendy Musser and Assistant Director Kelly Flowers, and Senior Center Director Jessica Raush with assistants Wayne Bream and Julissa Rivera-Santa. GEARS states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression and identity, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status in its activities or operations.
Parents and caregivers have shared that children look forward to Summer Playground at Community Park each summer, that preschool basketball classes are enjoyed enough that families want to sign up again, and that Camp Ladybug has many happy faces. Families have also reported that BEARS Basketball Camp and other basketball skills programs were fun and taught new skills, and that a child in swim lessons showed a big change in stamina and persistence in the pool.
Last updated July 13, 2026.
• Schedule: Weekdays 8am–4pm
GEARS Recreation Programs are part of Greater Elizabethtown Area Recreation & Community Services, which was founded in 1976 as EARC and began providing services as GEARS in January 2000. GEARS became a 501(c)3 non-profit agency in 2025 and was formed through a partnership with East Donegal Township, Elizabethtown Borough, Mount Joy Township, and West Donegal Township. The organization’s mission is to connect people of all ages through recreation, learning, childcare, and senior center services that strengthen the community and the quality of life. GEARS has been recognized as the Elizabethtown Chamber’s Non-Profit of the Year and holds Board of Directors meetings on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm unless otherwise noted.
The leadership team includes Executive Director David Wendel, Business Manager Joyce Hardman, Recreation Director Lee Eckert, Program Coordinator Karrie Norman, Administrative Assistant Erin Thomas, Kids Center Director Wendy Musser and Assistant Director Kelly Flowers, and Senior Center Director Jessica Raush with assistants Wayne Bream and Julissa Rivera-Santa. GEARS states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression and identity, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status in its activities or operations.
Parents and caregivers have shared that children look forward to Summer Playground at Community Park each summer, that preschool basketball classes are enjoyed enough that families want to sign up again, and that Camp Ladybug has many happy faces. Families have also reported that BEARS Basketball Camp and other basketball skills programs were fun and taught new skills, and that a child in swim lessons showed a big change in stamina and persistence in the pool.
Last updated July 13, 2026.
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