City’s “Play in the Park” Program begins June 14

(June 5, 2005) - The Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department’s 13th annual “Play in the Park” summer program will kick off June 14 at 26 metro area parks, community centers and schools.

Play in the Park is a grassroots program that provides free, supervised activities to children ages 6 and over. The program runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, June 14 through August 4.

Many sites will receive visits from a variety of artists-in-residence from the Arts Council of Oklahoma City.

“Play in the Park” provides a great service for metro area families. Our supervised program provides a summer full of activities based on educational values and life skills. Parents can breath easy because they know their children are having a good time with the Parks and Recreation Department staff,” said program coordinator Sue Wood.

Weekly themes range from ecology and patriotism to animals and famous Oklahomans.

Parents will be required to register their child on-site prior to participation. Free breakfast and lunch will be offered at select locations through the Oklahoma City Food Bank.

The “Play in the Park” program was established in 1993 as a way to involve youth in creative and educational park activities during their summer vacation. “Play in the Park” sites were visited more than 40,000 times last year.

“Play in the Park” is a partnership between the OKC Parks and Recreation, Fire and Police Departments; Oklahoma City Public Schools; Moore Public School District; Metropolitan Library System; Arts Council of Oklahoma City; Oklahoma Arts Council; Oklahoma City Zoo; Oklahoma Redhawks; OSU-OKC Horticulture Division; Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma; Safe Kids Oklahoma; Oklahoma Recreation and Parks Society; the Backstage Players; Taylor Neighborhood Association; Capitol Hill Lions Club and OU Big Events.

For more information, call the Parks and Recreation Department at 297-2211 or log on to www.okc.gov/parks.

2006 “Play in the Park” Sites:

Briarwood School, 14901 S. Hudson
Columbus School, 2402 S. Penn
Douglass Park, 900 N. Frederick Douglass Avenue
Draper Park, 3618 S. Robinson
Earlywine Tennis Center, 3033 SW 119
E.B. Jeffrey Park, 4432 NW 16
Harvest Hills School, 8201 NW 104
Hawthorn School, 2300 NW 15
Coolidge School, 5212 S Villa
Hefner Park, 3301 NW Grand
Lippert Park, 5500 S. Shartel
Longfellow School, 1201 NE 48
Macklanburg Park, 2234 NW 117
Melrose Park, 7800 Melrose Lane
Memorial Park, 1150 NW 36
Minnis Lakeview Park, 12520 NE 36
North Highland School, 8400 N. Robinson
Pilot Park, 1435 NW 2
Pitts Park, 1920 N. Kate
Rockwood School, 3101 SW 24
Sellers Park, 8301 S. Villa
Schillings Park, 539 SE 25
Shidler School, 1415 S. Byers
Southern Oaks Park, 400 SW 66
Taylor Park, 1115 SW 70
Will Rogers Park South Shelter, NW 36 & Grand