Third annual Duck Race June 30 to benefit Carol Stream Parks Foundation
Families are invited to join the Carol Stream Parks Foundation's third annual Duck Race fundraiser at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at Coral Cove Water Park, 849 W. Lies Road.
Hundreds of rubber ducks are dropped down the large tube slide in four heats. Each duck entry has three tries to place.
The first duck to make it to the wall opposite the tube slide exit in each of three heats races in the fourth heat to determine grand, second- and third-place winners.
The grand prize winner receives a Galena Getaway at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa that includes lodging, golf and breakfast. The second-place winner receives $250, and the third-place winner receives a large pool inflatable.
Duck entries are $5 each. Purchasers may select the actual rubber duck entry. There are many colors and themes to choose from.
Once the duck entry is selected, it is swapped out with a ticket carrying the duck's number. The actual rubber duck entry goes into the "ready for the race" bin.
There is no limit to the number of duck entries that can be purchased.
The Carol Stream Parks Foundation has been running an entertaining Facebook campaign for several weeks that features pictures of rubber ducks traveling to various places as far as Australia.
Other duck travels include Arizona, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Peoria, Illinois. Posts feature ducks at the Sydney Opera House (Australia), on cactus, on bridges, at a ballgame, at a bowling alley, next to an iguana, and at places like Lake Michigan, Peoria's riverfront, Wall Drug in South Dakota, Mt. Rushmore, and other places too numerous to name.
The Facebook campaign for the Duck Races took off last year when various members of the foundation, park district and village photographed and videotaped themselves on a large duck inflatable at Coral Cove Water Park.
Jim Reuter, executive director of the Carol Stream Park District, promoted the race while going down a waterslide with a GoPro recorder. Foundation board member Dave Creighton went around town in a duck suit, taking pictures with the Carol Stream mayor and other local officials and residents.
Proceeds from the Duck Races this year will be donated by the Carol Stream Parks Foundation to the park district scholarship program, which offers the opportunity for underprivileged children to participate in park district sports or other programs.
It is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to developing additional financial support for public parks and recreation programs of the Carol Stream Park District.
The Carol Stream Park District offers a great variety of activities and events for all ages. Visit csparks.org or call (630) 784-6100 for a free activity guide. The park district's Fountain View Recreation and Fitness Center is located at 910 N. Gary Ave., and Simkus Recreation Center is located at 849 W. Lies Road.