BERRYVILLE, VA (Oct. 12, 2022) October 2022 marks two notable anniversaries in the Clarke County Parks and Recreation department. The Clarke County Recreation Center building opened in October 1992, and Lisa Cooke, who began working for the department in 1990, became its director in October 2002.
“I love working with Clarke residents, and I really like the people who work here. It’s a great team,” Cooke said. “Our park is so well maintained and has so many amenities. It makes me feel proud every time I drive into the park.”
In 1976, the county acquired 100 acres of land west of Berryville and dedicated 70 acres for a community park. The property had a farmhouse, chicken coop, and dirt lane. Until the Recreation Center opened in autumn 1992, the farmhouse served as the park’s administrative offices.
Over the years, the county purchased more land and built facilities for the property known until 2007 as Clarke County Park. Today, Chet Hobert Park is a 107-acre property with an outdoor swimming pool, lighted outdoor tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, soccer fields, picnic shelters, playgrounds, a 2-mile fitness trail, and a dog park.
The Recreation Center is certainly one of the most used facilities in the park, with tens of thousands of people using the building each. It has a fitness room with exercise equipment, a gymnasium, meeting rooms, an arts-and-crafts room with kitchen facilities, a multi-purpose room, and offices for park employees. Its Active Living Center serves as a senior center four days a week, and the building holds annual craft shows and other special events.
The Park Advisory Board first conceived of the Recreation Center in October 1988. At the time, the Board estimated the cost might be $270,000. After an architect presented the first design and revisions were made, the price jumped to $825,000.
To get the Recreation Center built, Park Advisory Board member Jay Hillerson and community advocate Billy Thompson Jr. co-chaired a small group of determined people in a massive fundraising drive. Clarke County Supervisors began the effort with a pledge for $135,000.
Ground was broken on Feb. 9, 1992, and by August that year the community fundraising resulted in another $665,000.
At the formal dedication on Nov. 22, 1992, Supervisors chair Jack Hardesty officially accepted the building on behalf of county government. “I’ve never seen a more energetic team than the one sitting here,” he said of Hillerson, Thompson, and then-Parks Director Paul Kadel.
Cooke began her career at the park as its recreation coordinator. As a Clarke native, she has watched the evolution of the county park, its facilities, and its programming. As an employee, she has worked with everyone who helped build the park, including its namesake, Chet Hobert.
Cooke helped plan for the Recreation Center while working in her farmhouse office and has led the growth and development of the park as its director since 2002.
After 32 years with the department, she remains passionate about the park and the people who play and work there. She said, “I have never considered any other job, and I’m enjoying work too much to think about retirement.”
Chet Hobert Park and the Clarke County Recreation Center are located at 225 Al Smith Circle, south of West Main Street (Business 7), opposite the Clarke County Ruritan Fairgrounds in Berryville.
Contact the Parks and Recreation department at (540) 955-5140 or ccpr@clarkecounty.gov.
