Pokémon Go takes Newton

It’s taken less than a week for the Pokémon Go craze to take over the country, and the phenomenon has definitely reached Newton. Players are searching throughout the city to capture Pokémon, with the added bonus of getting children outdoors and discovering everything Newton has to offer.

“Pokémon Go is a great tool to get kids outside interacting,” parks administrator Nathan Unsworth said. “It is good, it gets kids outside and doing something new.”

Pokémon Go uses a smartphone’s GPS and camera to detect where and when you are in the game and make virtual creatures appear around you on your phone screen. Players are then able to catch them and add them to their collection. After capturing a Pokémon character, players are able to train and then battle other players at designated battle sites.

The game allows players to travel around the real world to catch the Pokémon, which in Newton has brought several players out to the parks, courthouse lawn, library and local landmarks including Maytag Park.

Blake Cockerty, 15, was searching through Maytag Park on Tuesday and said he has been playing the game since it first came out.

“This is my first time getting out to play, and I got a few,” Cockerty said. “Sometimes they come to you at your house but you can find them at parks and near water, there are water types.”

Cockerty said a lot of his friends are playing the game along with a lot of kids his age. The free Nintendo game is popular among teens but also has a following among those who played the classic card games as kids as well.

Newton Public Library Director Nicole Lindstrom has also seen increased traffic in and around the library since the game was released.

“I have noticed that Pokémon Go has brought in teens and young adults that I have not seen in the library before,” Lindstrom said. “Pokémon is a huge requested topic for kids but now it’s a topic/activity that all ages are enjoying at the library.”

Lindstrom said the library also offers a cool place for the players to relax and take a break between catches.

As the game grows in popularity in Newton, those playing the game are cautioned to keep aware of their surroundings as they search. Those driving are also asked to stay on alert as a larger number of children may be traveling the streets, most likely with a phone in their hands.

“The police department is aware of the recent interest in the Pokémon game and have noticed an increased amount of foot traffic around the city within the past week,” Newton Police Chief Rob Burdess said. “Those residents who are participating in Pokémon activities are encouraged to pay attention to traffic while crossing streets and stay off of private property as unauthorized access can be considered trespassing.”

Burdess also warns that venturing onto private residential or business property can put the Pokémon players at a higher risk of industrial accidents, vehicle accidents, dog attacks or confrontations with residents.

“Police departments around the country are receiving a higher number of suspicious person calls and accidents as a result of the game,” Burdess said.

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