Henderson hopes flash mob makes a splash with national group

By Conor Shine

Monday, Aug. 8, 2011 | 3:19 p.m.

When the "Cha Cha Slide" came over the loudspeakers at Black Mountain Aquatic Complex in Henderson last month, swimmers jumped out of the pool and onto the deck for a quick dance.

Henderson Parks and Recreation employees were on-hand with cameras to capture the flash mob, and last week submitted the video to the "Rock Your Park" competition sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association.

A YouTube search of "parks and recreation flash mob" turns up more than a 100 videos submitted by cities across the country. The goal of the contest is to showcase "the power of parks," and if Henderson's video is chosen as the winner, the department will win free participation at a national conference in Atlanta it otherwise couldn't afford to attend, Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Kim Becker said.

"The challenge was to show how parks and recreation can help make lives extraordinary," Becker said. "At the end of the day, [it's] about having fun."

Henderson submitted two videos to the competition, which will be judged by the National Recreation and Park Association based on creativity and approach.

The first was shot at Black Mountain Aquatic Complex and featured a dance organized by the pool's junior lifeguards, who were joined by other staff and swimmers.

"We wanted something simple, so people of all ages could get up and dance along," Becker said. "Kids were in the pool one second and the next they were up and dancing."

The second video was at the Heritage Park Senior Facility, which featured people of all ages strutting and waving on one of the park's fields.

The winner of the competition will be announced later this month, Becker said.