Following the establishment of esports programs in Forsyth County’s high schools, Forsyth County Parks and Recreation is now launching similar programs this fall.
Jake Grindle, recreation coordinator at Old Atlanta Recreation Center, said the program came about after talks last summer about unique programs that Forsyth County Parks and Rec could potentially offer.
“We got a green light to go ahead and start creating a program within the county because Forsyth County was the first county in Georgia that required the esports program amongst the high schools,” Grindle said.
Grindle said, for now, the leagues will be held remotely in four games: Fortnite, Rocket League, Madden NFL 21 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. A gaming lounge and local gaming space are planned for the Old Atlanta Recreation Center in the near future to offer in-person leagues.
The current leagues are offered for those ages eight and up, something which Grindle said is atypical for a parks and rec program.
“It’s pretty all-inclusive, right now it's from eight, but we could really go as young as five or six, or as old as 60, 70,” Grindle said. “It’s for everyone.”
Nicole Morgan, recreation supervisor at Old Atlanta Recreation Center, said sign-ups are currently underway for pre-fall leagues in Rocket League and Fortnite. More info on how to sign up is available on the Forsyth County Parks and Rec website. The pre-fall registration ends on Aug. 16.
Morgan said the community has been very positive about the first batch of sign-ups.
“A lot of great feedback from the community with that because it is something that we can have all ages and all abilities come into,” Morgan said.
Registration will also open in the coming weeks for a fall league, which will include Madden NFL 21 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the two games which are not present in the pre-fall league.
Morgan said that while participants are technically playing a video game when they compete in esports, they can gain a lot of life skills by competing.
“It’s not just gaming, it’s learning leadership, it’s learning teamwork, all those things that traditional sports do, but through gaming,” Morgan said.
