OTHELLO - Molly Klippert wants to expand recreation opportunities in Othello.

Klippert is the newly hired parks and recreation coordinator for the city. The council created the position in the 2012 budget.

The Washington State University graduate was one of 27 people who applied for the position, City Administrator Ehman Sheldon said. The city interviewed six candidates. Klippert was selected for her energy, experience and knowledge

"The budget reflects $25,000 in revenue this year that the position is supposed to create," he said. "We'd like to see her work with all the tournaments and teams that we currently have and expand that whole program."

Klippert most recently was working for the Tri-Cities Dust Devils, a minor league baseball team, she said. She started working in the summers for the team when she was 16 before getting a degree in sports management. She returned to the team after attending WSU to work full-time.

"I really liked the community outreach aspect (of the team," she said. "I found this job and I thought it was an awesome opportunity. I could get my feet wet in the parks and rec field."

The new coordinator is in the process of learning what recreation the city presently offers, Klippert said. Since starting last week, she has been speaking to community members about ways to expand recreation in the city.

"There is so much potential here and I want to help capitalize on that and bring the community together through our parks and rec offerings," she said. "I'm trying to get together with the chamber of commerce and the city and also people in the community to see if there is anything that they're looking for ... I want to get a feel of what would really go over well and go from there."

Klippert is excited to have the opportunity to develop the city's recreation opportunities.

"I want to make Othello a place where people want to come and stay in," she said. "I hope the parks and rec department can bring us together."