March 28, 2024

Kids to Parks Day scavenger hunt Saturday

A new event for the Newton parks system, Kids to Park Day, celebrates the relationship between kids and parks and works to get more kids out into the parks to discover what fun they hold. Kids and their families and friends are invited to participate this year by going on a scavenger hunt throughout the parks on Saturday.

Participants are asked to snap a selfie with at least six of the 12 landmarks in Newton parks designated on the scavenger hunt list. The photo should be shared on social media, either Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, and tagged Get to Know.

If all six photos are tagged, those participating will be entered into a drawing to win four 2017 Maytag Pool passes.

The scavenger hunt list includes:

• Lincoln School sign at Lincoln Park

• Zipline at Aurora Heights Park

• Mural at Woodland Park

• Deer statue at Sunset Park

• Crawling tube at Callison Park

• Swing set at Denniston Knolls Park

• Butterfly sculpture at Newton Arboretum

• Mower at Westwood Golf Course located south of parking lot, by the flagpole

• 30 Acre Park sign

• Rabbit statue at Maytag Park

• Monkey bars at Hillcrest Park

• Gazebo at Searsland Park

The idea was first conceived by the Newton Parks Board during its last regular meeting. The board thought a scavenger hunt would be a good way to get the community out in the parks, especially the lesser know, smaller neighborhood parks.

“I really like the social media idea,” board member Amanda Price said. “We did something similar with a scavenger hunt for the chamber.”

For more information about the hunt or the locations of each park, contact the Newton Parks Department at 641-792-6622.

Saturday was also proclaimed Kids to Park Day by Mayor Mike Hansen during the city council meeting Monday. The proclamation said Kids to Parks Day empowers children and encourages families to get outdoors and visit America’s parks. It also says it is important to introduce a new generation to our nation’s parks because of the decline in park attendance during the last decades and a more active lifestyle to combat the issues of childhood obesity, diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia is encouraged.

Kids to Parks Day is open to all children and adults throughout the community.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com