Kids get unplugged at Riverside Park

by Meghann Evans, Mount Airy News - May 8, 2011

	Ross Hiatt with the Mount Airy Police Department Explorer Post leads Jack Goad through the DWI goggles course set up at Riverside Park on Saturday.
	John Black helps Will Black, 5, hold a fish he caught at Riverside Park on Saturday at the Kids Outdoor Expo.
	Kids climb the rock wall set up at Riverside Park on Saturday.
	Kids get their own tomato plants at the Kids Outdoor Expo.
	A Girl Scout paints a child's face at the Kids Outdoor Expo on Saturday.

Fishing, jumping, climbing, hula-hooping and dunking were just a few of the activities that got kids outside and moving at the second-annual Kids Outdoor Expo at Riverside Park.

Families filled the park in Mount Airy Saturday morning to get “unplugged,” to spend time outdoors away from computers and electronics. Catrina Alexander, Mount Airy Parks and Recreation director, said, “What a great way to spend time with mom this weekend.”

The event was sponsored by Mount Airy Parks and Recreation with help from several other agencies. Last year more than 200 people attended the first expo, and organizers believe the turnout this year was comparable, thanks to the numerous activities and the warm weather.

“We’re very grateful to have the turnout we’ve had today, and we hope to continue to make this an annual event,” Alexander remarked.

The event was free to the public. Alexander said, “I think especially during times of economic downturn parks and recreation venues are more important than ever to offer families quality time without large expense.”

Barbara Anderson of Mount Airy brought grandson Jack Goad, 5, and Reed Ann Goad, 9, of Galax, Va., to attend the event. Anderson said, “We didn’t participate last year, and we thought it would be a fun thing to do.”

Reed said her favorite part was the hula-hoop station, and Jack could be seen riding bikes at a station set up by the Mount Airy Police Department.

“It’s great, a wonderful event… It’s a really good thing to participate in,” Anderson remarked.

Will Black came from Moore County, a little over two hours, to bring his kids to fish at the event. Will Black, 5, proudly held up one of several trout he had caught at the river.

John Black said, “We’re having a great time.”

This year the event featured several new activities. Kids could plant tomatoes, mount the climbing wall, talk with Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation representatives, and see Charles the Chef do healthy eating public service announcements. Similar to last year’s event, there were also fishing, a bounce house, bike riding, a walk, games, a dunking booth, corn hole and Surry County Health and Nutrition Center stations set up around the park.

“We couldn’t have done this without partnerships,” noted Alexander.
As it did last year, the Mount Airy Police Department set up small bike courses on the basketball court. Kids could take turns navigating around small cones on bikes or pedal a little car while wearing DWI goggles to simulate what it feels like to drive while impaired.

Kids were supplied with free bike helmets while supplies lasted. The department had about 120 helmets to give out. Officer Kelly Hiatt said the helmets were donated by Safe Kids and by the Mount Airy Junior Women’s Club. Without these donations, Hiatt said the office would not have been able to give out free helmets this year, because the ones the police department had were ruined when a satellite office in Mount Airy burned down a few months ago.
Hiatt said of giving out the helmets: “It’s for safety. There’s a lot of kids that don’t have helmets or don’t even think about it.”
The stations were also set up to teach skills of riding a bike and encourage kids to wear a helmet.

On Friday night, the Ararat River bordering the park was stocked with 175 trout so families could fish at the event. N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission representatives were on hand at the event to provide fishing rods and bait. The commission had 25 fishing rods to loan out, which saw continuous use throughout the morning. Members of the Trout Unlimited chapter in Stone Mountain volunteered time to bait hooks and teach kids how to fish.

“We’re hoping to get some kids out here that have never fished before … This is a good way go get them excited about it,” said Kin Hodges, fisheries biologist with the commission. He said it was a good time to educate parents about the many good fishing locations in the county. Each child was given a goody bag at the station.

Dick Everhart, a long-time district conservationist in the county and member of Trout Unlimited, was part of the effort to get the Ararat River cleaned up. He said, “This is great … Whenever you can improve water qualty and improve kids’ recreational opportunities it’s a great thing.”

Another location in the park featured several new events. Volunteers had about 600 tomato plants on hand for kids to decorate a pot and plant their own tomato plant in it. Many families took advantage of this opportunity. Next to the flower station were an information booth, a face-painting station, and a site for people to sign up for the Family Fun Walk. The walk was sponsored by the Girl Scouts for a gold project. Families just signed up at a table and received a punch card to enter to win prizes. They could then walk down the greenway and stop at activity stations manned by volunteers and Girl Scouts.

Celena Watson, health promotion specialist with the health department, summed up the event by saying, “I think it’s been a beautiful day and a wonderful turnout. I think the kids have had a really good time going from station to station.”

Contact Meghann Evans at 719-1952 or mevans@mtairynews.com.