Kierra Celestine of Columbus Circle Recreation park races toward the finish line Thursday at The Mayor’s Annual Progressive Park Adventure Day at the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. (Brad Puckett / American Press)
Mayor Randy Roach and children from area recreation parks light an Olympic-type torch Thursday at the start of The Mayor’s Annual Progressive Park Adventure Day at the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. (Brad Puckett / American Press)
Children get moving at Progressive Park Adventure Day
Last Modified: Friday, July 13, 2012 2:25 PM
By Warren Arceneaux / American Press
The computers and video games were put away for a day as hundreds of children converged in the Lake Charles Civic Center for some low-tech fun that stressed physical activity and family time.
Basketball and scooter and tricycle races were among the activities at the annual Progressive Park Adventure Day. The event featured hundreds of participants from the summer day camps at city recreation centers.
Tracie Redmond helped supervise 57 children from the College Oaks Recreation Center’s day camp. “We had a group perform a praise dance, and our kids have been playing basketball and the games,” Redmond said. “We have been working on the praise dance for two weeks and they were wonderful today.”
“It is a chance to meet and greet all of the rec centers in the city,” said Zola Geyen. “It has been fantastic; I am loving it. My grandkids are here with College Oaks and are having a real good time, that makes me enjoy it even more.”
Helen Lewis-Dunn, assistant director of recreation for the city, said she was glad to see the children being active.
“The purpose was to have families as well as the recreation department and the mayor come together to introduce people to family fun. We wanted to be sure to get play back into ‘play.’ There is more to having fun and playing than just sitting at the video games and stuff like that.”
Rewards for activity winners included games that stressed manners and books.
“We had some books left over from another project and were fortunate enough to pass them out, and we had games that dealing with manners,” Lewis said. “We hope that the kids will go home and continue to improve their minds through reading and that the games will help with the simple manners, how to share, play with others and just be courteous.”
Thirteen-year-old Raelynn Ojoro, who was at the event with the J.D. Clifton day camp, received a Harry Potter book at the end of the day. “It was a fun day,” Ojoro said. “I liked being in the jumper rooms and riding the bikes.”
She said she stays active by playing soccer, cheering and dancing. “In soccer I play forward and get to take a lot of shots,” Ojoro said. “I like being outside, and soccer is fun because mostly because you get to be with other people.”
Get Social With Us!
+Share