Kids in jean shorts and neon bathing suits poured into Spencer Garrett Park from every corner of the North Aurora neighborhood last week to line up for their chance to barrel down an inflatable water slide or bounce around blow-up obstacle mazes.
“This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen,” said Alonzo Martinez, 8, who stood with a group of friends in a line that was about 30 kids deep. “As soon as I get down it, I get back in line to do it again.”
The third annual Summer in the City program of the city’s parks, recreation and open space department is underway and travelling to various parks around Aurora for the next several weeks. The free event — 11 a.m.-2 p.m. every Wednesday — includes snacks and activities such as soccer, gymnastics, pickle ball, golf driving practice into the mouth of a giant dinosaur, crafts, nature education and fire engine tours.
“We’re going to try to come every week at the different locations,” said resident Wanda Lee, who brought her three grandchildren to the event for the first time last week. “I keep them during the summer, and I’m constantly looking for things to do, and they seem to really love this.”
The event is steadily growing in size and popularity since it was first launched at Del Mar Park two years ago as replacement entertainment for the residents who were waiting for the reopening of the renovated and expanded Del Mar pool.
“The pool at Del Mar was not going to be open in time for the summer of 2014, and we wanted to create something for the community to have activity wise,” said Karin Rivale, spokeswoman for Aurora parks, recreation and open space. “The first year we focused solely on Del Mar, but last year we decided to take the show on the road, so we went to five different parks around Aurora.”
Now, hundreds of kids and their parents and family members flood the event every week until August, and there’s more presence and involvement from city departments and organizations like the library district and Aurora History Museum.
“We added the birds from Wild Wings for five of the events, and we added the Aurora History Museum as well as the Aurora Animal Shelter and Aurora Water (on certain weeks),” Rivale said. “This year we are also celebrating Aurora’s 125th birthday with cakes at each park … there will also be opportunities to meet Miles the mascot from the Denver Broncos five of the 10 weeks.”
The city is also taking advantage of Summer in the City’s magnetism to link up its free summer lunch program to at-risk children younger than 18 who drop in on the event when it’s stationed in affordable housing communities.
Sibyl Booker, 41, was wandering between the blue tents arranged all around the park with her two children when she spotted a mobile library set up by the city and learned that she could register her children to get their library cards on the spot.
“I didn’t know I could sign them up yet, I thought maybe they were too young,” Booker said. “But we got them all signed up and I think that’s such a great thing for them to have here along with this event for the community. We will definitely be back.”
Sara Van Holbeck, programming and outreach library assistant, said that the weekly event has been great outreach for the library, which hosts different crafts and activities in its Summer in the City tent every week.
“We have alternating crafts each week, a mini library and the Info 2 Go mobile van here with us,” Holbeck said. “We can also sign people up for our summer reading program on site here.”
And the Aurora Animal Shelter, which shows up with puppies every other week, will waive adoption fees for people interested in picking up a pet during the event.
“We are able to reach out to the hundreds of folks that are at the event and share our programs with them,” Rivale said. “Our mission is to encourage active lifestyles and create healthy environments … and to connect with the community. We feel like this event touches both of those goals, (and it’s) so fulfilling to see all these families have something fun to do without costing them anything.”
Summer in the City:
Free event on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
June 15 • Del Mar Park, 12000 E. Sixth Ave.
June 22 • Del Mar Park, 12000 E. Sixth Ave.
June 29 • Expo Park, 10955 E. Exposition Ave.
July 13 • Expo Park, 10955 E. Exposition Ave.
July 20 • Olympic Park, 15775 E. Yale Ave.
July 27 • Olympic Park, 15775 E. Yale Ave.
Aug. 3 • Red-tailed Hawk Park, 23701 E. Hinsdale Way
Aug. 10 • Red-tailed Hawk Park, 23701 E. Hinsdale Way