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| NewsSaturday, September 27, 2008 8:11 PM CDT |
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Twin City children join in to exercise the World's Day of Play
NORMAL -- Nothing will stop some kids from playing -- not even a broken arm. | Photo Gallery Angela Fish, sporting a red cast on her arm, landed one-handed basketball shots, tossed bean bags, played soccer, even tackled a climbing wall at Anderson Park on Saturday. The 10-year-old broke her arm riding her bike on Labor Day weekend. She was one of more than 1,000 kids taking part in World Wide Day of Play events in the Twin Cities. “I’m going to try them all,” Fish said of the list of activities available at Anderson Park. Winners received prizes, including popcorn and a cold sports drink. Kids and parents also picked up free items, including health information, beach balls and a healthy living logbook that included 101 ways to play in Bloomington-Normal. Kevin Smith, recreation supervisor for the Normal Parks and Recreation Department, said there were more kids in the first hour at Anderson Park than attended during the entire day at Maxwell Park last year at the event’s first celebration in the Twin Cities. Locally, the play day was organized by both Bloomington and Normal parks and recreation departments and by the Children’s Discovery Museum, with events at three locations: Anderson Park and the museum in Normal, and Tipton Park in Bloomington. Drew Wollenschlager arrived in style at Anderson Park as part of his seventh birthday party. A long, white limo pulled up with Drew, his parents and 10 friends. The limo door opened and out they tumbled, making their way to the playground. “This is his favorite park,” said dad Ed Wollenshlager. Also at the park was “Spike,” an 18-inch bearded dragon that sat on the shoulder of Andrea Kane of Hudson as her children and friends played. Soon it was surrounded by several children who added petting a lizard to their fun of the day. Myrna Haas and son Patrick, 6, were having a good time on the basketball court. For Patrick to sink a basket, his mom hoisted him up on her shoulders. “We play together all the time,” she said of her husband and son. Families were also in full force at the Children’s Discovery Museum. Illinois State University kinesiology students led youngsters in a variety of activities, including a kiddie boot camp, obstacle challenge, animal relay and Simon Says exercises. World Wide Day of Play was started about five years ago by children’s cable television network Nickelodeon, the Bill Clinton Foundation and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Programming, especially cartoons, is suspended part of the day to encourage kids to leave behind the computer and television and play outside. Many of the local events included healthy ideas for families — “Not just today,” said Heather Young, public affairs coordinator for the museum. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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