SOLON — Brodie Bohlen, Solon’s new Recreation Director is a Belle Plaine native who graduated from the University of Iowa in 2021 and worked for U of I Athletics and Iowa City Parks and Rec where he worked alongside former Solon Rec Director Dylan Sloan. After graduating, he took a position in New Hampton, Iowa. However, after Sloan left Solon to take the Recreation Coordinator position in Grimes, Bohlen knew Solon was the place to be.
“It’s a great opportunity for me,” he said. “It’s (Solon) got that smalltown vibe to it. I grew up in a smalltown, so I’m used to that tight-knit community, and I’m familiar with the area. It’s everything I’m looking for: fulltime and in a small community, so the opportunity came, and I took it.” He’s the son of Belle Plaine’s longtime head football coach Todd Bohlen and played for the Plainsmen. Bohlen also ran track and played basketball as well as a little baseball.
He’s had to hit the ground running as a full slate of youth spring sports is getting underway with soccer practices starting last week, and baseball, softball, and tee-ball starting at the end of the month. He’s also looking ahead to adult programming such as sand volleyball this summer. Bohlen said he’s looking forward to shaping and growing the program. “It is a fairly new program here so I kind-of have some leeway on how things are going to go, and they’re going to grow, and I think it’ll be fun to see how that happens.”
The full slate of programs, and registration information, can be found at www.solon-iowa.com/151/Recreation.