Join in kite-flying fun at Vernon Hills event

Keep your eyes to the skies at 11 a.m. Saturday in Century Park off Lakeview Parkway.

The Vernon Hills Park District will hold a family kite fly as part of the Illinois Association of Park District's "Flying 4 Kids" effort.

The goal of "Flying 4 Kids" is to raise awareness of the Illinois association's youth license plate, which features a colorful kite design.

License plate brochures are available at the Sullivan Community Center, 635 Aspen Drive and the Laschen Community Center, 294 Evergreen Drive.

Vernon Hills recreation supervisor Kelly Stoeber said $25 from the sale and renewals of each plate is placed into the association's Power Play Grant Program.

The fund helps provide after-school programming for youth at park districts and recreation agencies throughout Illinois.

The Power Play Grant Program was created to address the problems youth can face during the hours school is out and parents are working.

The Vernon Hills Park District's Family Kite Fly is a free event. While families are encouraged to bring their own kites, Stoeber said the park district will have kite kits to reserve in advance. Prizes will be awarded for best kite categories.

Before taking the kites to the sky, families are invited to join the park district's Loop the Lakes 5K run and 2-mile walk.

The seventh annual race will begin at 9 a.m. at the Century Park boat dock shelter on Lakeview Parkway north of Route 60. The cost is $20 to join.

For more information, call the Vernon Hills Park District at (847) 996-6800.