Carly |
It's not often I get to say this, but I should have brought a 2-year-old on assignment with me Thursday night to the Iowa City Parks and Recreation's weekly free Family Fun Night. He would have had a blast. The kids I saw certainly were. They could color on tables covered in butcher paper, make beaded jewelry, toss bean bags or Frisbees and generally romp around the slides and other playground equipment. Their parents seemed to be having a good time too, catching up wtih their neighbors, making new friends and chasing the kids around. The young couples I talked to loved the fact that the free event provided an opportunity to get their kids out to play with other kids and burn off some energy.
Most lived in the surrounding neighborhoods and had walked, biked or pushed a stroller to the event. Some found it on accident but happily took a break from their evening family exercise to check out the games. One woman didn't live in the neighborhood yet, but she's moving there soon and took the opportunity to meet her soon-to-be neighbors ahead of time. With today's busy lives there isn't much time to meet or chat with neighbors and this event was a refreshing change from that, she said. It definitely had the feel of a neighborhood block party and after being there for a while I found myself wishing it were my neighborhood.
The event was at Kiwanis Park off Teg Drive in southwest Iowa City. This Thursday they'll be at Happy Hollow Park near downtown Iowa City. Plan to stop by if you live in the surrounding neighborhood. Because if the event at Kiwanis Park is anything to go by, you'll be sure to catch up with neighbors and the kids will have tons of fun playing with friends and bopping between arts and crafts tables and yard games. There's live music and free ice cream too.
As for us, Nicole will be at Classics at Brucemore on Thursday. See you there!