Lindenhurst Park District hosts its annual Kite Fly event and run

A kite fly and 5K run/walk were just some of the activities during the Lindenhurst Park District's annual Earth Day-Arbor Day Festival.

Saturday's event at the Lindenhurst Village Hall and public works department also included a villagewide cleanup, exhibitor booths, tree planting and an Earth Day concert. Organizers used the event to swap plastic bags for reusable ones, collect shoes and recycle a host of items, from wire hangers to textiles.

The event featured the Illinois Association of Park Districts Annual Statewide Kite Fly "Flying for Kids," with the first 50 participants receiving a free kite. The kite fly was held at Slove Park next to the village hall.

According to the state group, the goal of the kite fly is to raise awareness of the Park District Youth license plate, which features a colorful kite, a symbol of youth and recreation. A special grant fund for youth beyond-school programming at Illinois park, recreation and conservation agencies gets $25 from the sale and subsequent renewal of each plate.