RATHDRUM — When Eric Singer was hired as a part-time parks worker at Rathdrum 10 years ago, he never imagined he'd be the city's parks and recreation director today.

"I worked for a year and a half, then became the parks supervisor," he said.

Then, after long-time parks and recreation director Lance Bridges retired early this year, Singer was promoted to parks and recreation director in February.

"I've enjoyed everybody I've worked with and have created a lot of relationships in the community," Singer said, reflecting on his first eight months as director. "Having grown up in the town, I know a lot of people in Rathdrum. I've always had a soft spot for Rathdrum."

Singer is a hometown guy who is content with living and working in Rathdrum.

He graduated from Lakeland High in 1996 and played basketball, football and baseball for the Hawks.

Singer received a baseball scholarship at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kan., but transferred three months later to Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, Ore., to play the sport and be closer to home when his father, Ray, came down with cancer.

While playing as an outfielder at Blue Mountain, Singer had offers from multiple four-year schools in Oregon, including George Fox, Eastern Oregon and Western Oregon.

However, he decided to postpone his baseball hopes and moved back to Rathdrum to support his mother, Darlene, after his father died.

"I was just really concerned about her," Singer said. "They were married a long time, and it was unexpected about how it all happened.

"The rest of the siblings were married and had moved out of Rathdrum, and I was close enough to look after her."

Singer was an assistant manager at Badger Building Center in Post Falls and also worked for Rosenberger Construction before being hired on at the city.

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How did the baseball scholarship at a community college in Kansas, of all places, come up?

I missed a year of high school baseball with a broken wrist. When I played American Legion baseball for the Prairie Cardinals over the summer Coach Darren Taylor (current Coeur d'Alene High softball coach) took me under my wings and helped me get the scholarship. I spent many hours at his house in the batting cage. He was one of the most important figures in my life at the time.

After two great years at Blue Mountain Community College, where you transferred from Cowley County, you decided to take a year off from baseball to be with your mom. Tell me about that time.

I had a few offers to four-year schools and I was even put into a draft. I took a year off and I had planned to go back to school but never made it. I have some regrets, but I'm also happy with where I am at. After I helped my mom, I got heavily involved in coaching baseball and Little League teams.

How did you end up at the city?

I got a call from Lance Bridges (former parks and recreation director) and he suggested that I turn in an application. He recognized me from baseball. His brother coached the Coeur d'Alene Lumbermen when I played Legion. After I worked part time for a year and a half, I was fortunate enough to be able to take over the parks department in 2006.

What have you enjoyed most while working at the city?

The most rewarding part for me is working with the kids and seeing them out there having fun. We waive the registration fee for some kids whose families are struggling or have a single mom. They don't even have enough money to participate in the program, so it's rewarding to help them out through our scholarship program.

What has been your biggest accomplishment so far on the job?

We finished the final phase of Majestic Park. We've built a new outdoor amphitheater with a stage. There's also a new picnic shelter and pathways, so that's been a nice addition to the town.

What programs have been going particularly well?

We've been able to show Eagle Scouts the city process and invite them to council meetings. They've helped us by putting in flagpoles, benches and shelters. They've really helped improve our parks. The fishing derby is still one of the favorite events, and the soccer and basketball programs are going really well. Our daddy-daughter dance and mother-son skate nights are also getting bigger and bigger. Both are held around Valentine's Day. It's a chance for parents to spend one-on-one time with their kids.

Are there any new events planned?

On Oct. 29 we are holding a Trunk or Treat from 4 to 7:30 on Main Street. People can decorate their vehicles and kids can come down to trick or treat. It's a safe way for kids to trick or treat and it brings the community together. There will be arts and crafts, fire pits and games. This will be our first year and there's already more than 30 vehicles entered. We expect there will be more.

What's the update on the city's plans to lightly develop its Rathdrum Mountain property into recreational offerings?

We're hoping we can get people up there next year and a conceptual plan has been approved. It's more than 500 acres that's just sitting there now. We have a trail system planned and would like to offer other low-impact activities such as hiking or horseback riding.

Are there any other parks plans?

We also know that we need to build another park within the community within the next three years, but we aren't sure exactly where it will be yet. It will likely be a neighborhood park in the northeast part of town. Our goal is to have 5 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. We're not at 8,000 people and we maintain just under 40 acres of parks.

What's something that most people may not know about you?

I enjoy karaoke with friends.

How have you been involved in the community?

I work a lot with the chamber of commerce on community events such as Rathdrum Days, December d'Lights and the Rathdrum Adventure race. I'm also a basketball referee at the junior high.

What's it been like having grown up in Rathdrum and seeing what it has become today?

It feels good to go back to where you grew up. It's been rewarding to see what it has become. It has improved dramatically in the past 15 to 20 years. There wasn't a lot to do as a kid, so we'd ride our bikes to Coeur d'Alene if we wanted to go to the movies or hang out at the beach, but it still was a great place to grow up. Now we've got a skate park, more restaurants and more opportunities for kids. It will be even better when we add the mountain (recreation amenities). It's a popular place for people. The school district is great, there is very little crime, it's quiet and I'd put our parks and recreation programs up there with anybody else in the area.