Lately, Saturdays have become a little more than just a day away from school for Harley Phelps.

Since the beginning of November the Prairie Park fifth-grader has enjoyed her weekends because of something a little more fast-paced than merely enjoying time off – Parks and Rec basketball.

Phelps has played basketball for a few years and her time playing on the court with her friends has definitely been a step up from how she used to play.

“I like it a lot,” Phelps said. “It sure beats playing out in the drive way.”

Phelps is one of number of girls – 290 to be exact – who enjoy playing basketball at various locations around the city on Saturdays.

Phelps’ fifth- and – sixth grade Jhawk league consists of 10 teams comprised of all girls, while the department’s two other all-girl leagues consist of 18 more teams.

The numbers are a shift from a trend identified by the leaders of the department.

“When I took over we began to recognize that the girls numbers in our basketball leagues were diminishing by the time they hit third or fourth grade,” Lee Ice, youth sports supervisor for the Parks and Recreation department, said.

“They were being spread out through the league and wound up being the only girls on all-boys teams. So I think they began to not want to play.”

To help stem the diminishing numbers, the department formed a number of all-girl leagues from first to sixth-grades.

The move seemed to have paid off.

Phelps, who plays for the Jhawk league Hot Shots, has developed an enjoyment for the game with other girls and her friends. She said that her teammates also shared in the enjoyment and that they all play for fun.

But even though the leagues have given players such as Phelps an arena in which to enjoy themselves, the girls have also kept track of their skills.

“A lot of girls take playing basketball very seriously,” Phelps said. “I take it seriously. One thing I would like to do is get better on defense.”

That sense of bettering ones skills was something that has helped some of the girls involved in the leagues eye for a little more than having fun.

“I think the continuity has helped a lot of them greatly,” Ice said. “A lot of them may be able to tryout for higher level teams because of the experience.”

Continuity within the departments’ all-girl leagues is perhaps one of the elements that have made the programs a success.

“It’s really nice to see them coming back,” Ice said. “That’s probably one of the things I’m most pleased with about it.”

Even as the girls get to play together on the basketball courts, it hasn’t stopped them from taking their games to other places as well.

Phelps said she still found time to play basketball at school and even time to play with the boys.

“We get together and play at recess,” Phelps said. “It’s mixed a lot of the times, boys and girls.”

And after playing with the girls for some time, Phelps had some kind words for the boys at recess.

“They’re all good sports,” she said. “They’re all really good and most of them play basketball too so it’s a lot of fun.”

Both the boys and girls Parks and Rec department basketball seasons continue until Dec. 16.