Families Invited to Bring Kids to Parks at Free Nature Event
On May 19, join the more than one million people at hundreds of national, state, and local parks, and public lands across the country taking part in the eighth annual Kids to Parks Day. The Hoffman Estates Park District (HE Parks) will hold an event from 9 a.m. to noon at Black Bear Park located at 1484 Essex Drive. Along with the park board commissioners, Hoffman Estates Mayor McLeod and the village trustees will be in attendance.
Each year, on the third Saturday of May, National Park Trust, working with cities and partners across the country, invites kids of all ages to find their own adventure at one of the hundreds of events hosted nationwide.
Activities will include a nature talk, a walk around the lake, a disc golf demonstration, crafts, and snacks. Visitors will have the chance to get a close look at rescued raptors, presented by the organization Wings and Talons. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held to celebrate a new fall surface around the play structures. The surface is an artificial playground grass; a lush, beautiful green grass with a "safetycel" pad that provides a safe landing if a child falls on it. A portion of the project was donated by the manufacturer, ForeverLawn.
By coordinating a wide array of park activities on a single day, Kids to Parks Day attracts new park goers and helps connect existing park enthusiasts with local organizations in the hopes of creating park advocates and stewards. The task to preserve our country's public lands and waters requires a collaborative effort among organizations, government agencies, and most importantly passionate park advocates and stewards.
"We are hoping to see many families come out to this exciting event," said HE Parks' new Executive Director Craig Talsma. "It will be a wonderful opportunity to interactively explore the park, playground and wonderful disc golf course we offer at Black Bear Park."
To learn more about this event visit heparks.org, or parktrust.org/kids-to-parks-day.
About HE Parks
In addition to Black Bear Park, HE Parks maintains another 71 parks plus Triphahn Community Center & Ice Arena, Willow Recreation Center, Bridges of Poplar Creek Country Club, Prairie StoneTM Sports & Wellness Center, Seascape Family Aquatic Center and Vogelei Park & Barn.
The park district serves a community of more than 50,000 residents and was accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies. It has been recognized as an Illinois Distinguished Park and Recreation Agency and has the Gold Medal Award from the National Recreation & Parks Association; the highest national honor in the public recreation category.