City’s Play in the Park program begins June 11

Program offers FREE supervised fun for area youth

(May 21, 2008) - The City of Oklahoma City’s Play in the Park summer program kicks off Wednesday, June 11 at 26 metro area parks, community centers and schools.  This popular grassroots program provides free, supervised activities to children aged 6 and over in a safe, structured environment.  The program will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, June 11 through August 1.

Administered through the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, Play in the Park includes games and sports, arts and crafts, themed activities and occasional field trips to local area attractions.  In addition, several Play in the Park sites partner with local police and fire for bike and home safety programs, as well as receive visits from local artists and musicians as part of the Arts Council of Oklahoma City’s “Arts in the Parks” program.

“Play in the Park is a great service for metro area families,” says Sue Wood, program coordinator.  “Through Play in the Park, we are able to have a positive impact on children’s lives through structured activities based on educational values and life skills.  Parents can breathe easy because they know their children are having a good time in a safe, caring environment.”

Parents are required to register their child on-site prior to participation.  Free breakfast and lunch, provided through the Oklahoma City Food Bank, is offered to qualified participants at select Play in the Park locations.

The Play in the Park program was established in 1993 as a way to involve youth in creative and educational park activities during the summer vacation period.  Last year’s total participation at Play in the Park activities was more than 53,000.

 “Play in the Park” is a partnership between the OKC Parks and Recreation and the following organizations:  Oklahoma City Fire and Police Departments; Oklahoma City Public Schools; Moore Public School District; Putnam City 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.

 

2008 Play in the Park Sites:

Briarwood School, 14901 S Hudson

Capitol Hill Center, 3618 S Robinson

Columbus School, 2402 S Penn

Coolidge School, 5212 S Villa

Douglass Park, 900 N Frederick Douglass Avenue

E.B. Jeffrey Park, 4432 NW 16

Eugene Field School, 1515 North Klein

Harvest Hills Park, 8325 NW 104

Hefner Park, 3301 NW Grand

Lippert Park, 5500 S Shartel

Macklanburg Park, 2234 NW 117

McCracken Park, 425 SE 64

McKinley Park, 1300 N McKinley

Melrose Park, 7800 Melrose Lane

Memorial Park, 1150 NW 36

Minnis Lakeview Park, 12520 NE 36

North Highland School, 8200 N Harvey (8 a.m. – noon)

North Highland Park, 8400 N Robinson (noon – 4 p.m.)

Pat Murphy Park, 4500 W Hefner Road

Pilot Park, 1435 NW 2

Pitts Park, 1920 N Kate

Reed Park, 1217 N May Avenue

Rockwood School, 3101 SW 24

Sellers Park, 8301 S Villa

Schilling Park, 539 SE 25

Shidler School, 1415 S. Byers

Southern Oaks Park, 400 SW 66

Taylor Park, 1115 SW 70

Wiley Post Sprayground, 1700 S Robinson (opens at 12 noon)

Will Rogers Park South Shelter, NW 36 & Grand

Youngs Park, 4510 S Youngs Boulevard (opens at 12 noon)