With the barometer rising, and the summer temperatures returning, Estevan's parks are about to become busy places, again, for another season. The play park program is set to begin for another year, starting July 1, and running until Aug. 26, providing children in Estevan free recreational opportunities. Each week will have a different theme, reflected in activities done throughout that week.
This year, the program will be featured in all the parks in which it took place last summer, and will also be happening in a new location: Padwick Park. The latest addition to the locations of the summer play parks is located in a green space in the Dominion Heights subdivision, and was officially opened last October. It features playground equipment and a splash park.
Other participating parks this season include: Hillside Park, Hillcrest Park, Rusty Duce Park, Trojan Park and Churchill Park.
Program manager Erin Wilson said the play park program will focus on getting children physically active and moving as much as possible, this year. She added that the program’s hours are changing from previous years to accommodate such a focus, providing more time for physical activity.
Each morning will start out with crafts, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., an assortment of activities taking place for the rest of the day. Activities will challenge participants both mentally and physically, and will include activities like scavenger hunts, obstacle courses and science experiments. Wilson added that swimming will be included in the activities, and will take place at the same time as it did in past years, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
"These activities are everything, from skipping rope to relay races. We really want to get kids moving, here in the community, and not just sitting in front of video games this summer," said Wilson. "Generally, what we had before was the parks opening at 10:30 a.m. every morning. They did crafts and just moved into swimming in the afternoon. We want to do more fun and physical activities with the kids this year."
In addition to the regular activities, Wilson noted there will be special events throughout the season, like a pancake breakfast, a carnival day and an outdoor movie night, showing Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Details for such events will be released over the course of the season.
"We want to remind all the working parents out there who don't have access on a regular basis, Monday to Friday, that we do have evenings and weekends where there is at least one park open, for them to enjoy an evening or a Saturday afternoon with their kids," said Wilson.
The play park program is open to children from ages six to 11. Wilson said anyone under the age of eight is encouraged to be accompanied by a guardian or parent, and that anyone under the age of six is always invited, but must be accompanied by a guardian or parent. Wilson recommended that all attending bring plenty of sunscreen.
