(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Summertime Fun

Playground program returns this summer

Jun 10, 2021 | 2:00 PM

Prince Albert’s free playground program is returning for the summer of 2021 and will be running from July 2 to August 20.

The program is for children aged five to 12 and will be offered at 10 different locations. The program will also have special days including an Outdoor Adventure Day, Kidzfest, and Inclusive Days.

All 10 locations will be staffed by two highly trained playground supervisors. All locations operate Monday to Thursday from 12:00 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Fridays from 1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Kinsmen Park, one of the locations for the playground program also operates Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The playground program offers a variety of activities including science, arts, recreation, literacy, and drama. Leaders have each day’s activities planned out in advance with certain theme weeks throughout the summer.

This year, the Alfred Jenkins Field house will be a new location for the playground program. Exterior amenities at the field house will be utilized.

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The other locations for the program offer water features including spray parks and paddling pools.

Sport and Recreation manager for the City of Prince Albert, Curtis Olsen says this program is a chance for youth to stay active during the summer.

“They will do activities that will relate to sport and recreation,” Olsen said. “It’s also a really good opportunity for the youth in the summer to be around their peers so there’s also that social component.

“It’s a real good program in the summer for kids to have fun, and take part in activities.”

Olsen told paNOW this will be a free drop-in program. Staff will watch the amount of youth at the program each day to follow Saskatchewan Health Association gathering guidelines.

Inclusive Playground Days at AJFH

In conjunction with Hope’s Home and supported by a Framework in Action Grant from the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association, the city is pleased to announce the inaugural Inclusive Playground Days at the AJFH.

The AJFH will welcome children with disabilities to let them have exclusive use of the many inclusive elements of the playground.

The staff at Hope’s Home will bring their clients and city playground program staff will assist any other youth in the city and area with a disability during the events.

Inclusive Playgrounds Days will run on July 6 and 20, and August 3 and 17 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Outdoor Adventure Day on August 12

Program leaders will team up with Wildnernook Fresh Air Learning to provide a unique day in nature at Little Red River Park. Participants will be learning in a hands-on session and will participate in age-appropriate team-building activities.

The day will be split in two three-hour sessions with eight- and nine-year-olds in the morning and 10- to 12-year-olds in the afternoon. Bus transportation will be provided from playground program locations to and from the park.

“Our staff will do some training and as we move into the summer, we will release to the public what that day will look like,” Olsen said.

KidzFest on August 19

This free event will include live entertainment, games and demonstrations, and is a fun day for the entire family.

“We might have a dunk-tank there, some bouncy castles, and our playground games. We’ll try to make it as fun a day as possible,” Olsen told paNOW.

More details will be announced later in the summer.

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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On twitter: dawsonthompson8