Kenton County Parks & Recreation’s longtime partner Dominach’s TaeKwonDo Academy (DTA) recently received statewide recognition at the Kentucky Recreation & Park Society’s annual conference and trade show in Bowling Green.
Based in Independence, DTA received the organization’s Special Citation award after being nominated by Kenton County Parks & Recreation. This award recognizes individuals, private industries or agencies that have given outstanding help or aid in the field of recreation or leisure time pursuits.
“We’re lucky to have Dominach’s TaeKwonDo Academy as one of our legacy partners,” Rhonda Ritzi, Kenton County’s recreation programs coordinator, said. “Regardless of your age, it’s hard to resist the energy they bring to our programs. Congratulations to the entire Dominach’s TaeKwonDo Academy team on this honor. It’s truly deserved.”
DTA, led by Mike Dominach, or Mr. D, has partnered with Kenton County Parks & Recreation for 15 years, serving as both a sponsor and participating in several of the parks organization’s top events. Those programs include Kick Off to Summer, Wild Wednesdays and (Almost) Every Other Thursday Science!
At parks’ events, DTA & Mr. D engage participants of all ages in a post program that includes a focus exercise, performance with kicks and punches and the opportunity to break a board with a foot kick. The goal of the post program is to encourage the participants to get up and move after being seated for the main program.
Through their partnership, both DTA and Kenton County Parks & Recreation are able to meet their programming goals and encourage participants to be active in the outdoors. But that emphasis on physical activity doesn’t end there. Mr. D will offer gift certificates for four weeks of classes and a uniform as a door prize at parks’ programs. Participants who have redeemed these certificates have gone on to secure their black belt and beyond.
The Kentucky Recreation & Park Society is a state affiliate to the National Recreation & Park Association. It provides training and continuing education opportunities to parks and recreation professionals, city, county and state officials and partnering organizations such as Eastern Kentucky University and the Kentucky League of Cities.