Become a Park Pal!

One legacy of Columbia's first Play Day is a new group for kids of all ages--Park Pals!

Anyone can become a Park Pal--all they have to do is read and agree to the Park Pals Pledge, then register. Registration will be available at upcoming events in Columbia's parks and also online at the City's website.

Here is the Park Pals Pledge:

1. I will read the park rules posted at each location;
2. I will obey the park rules at all times;
3. I will help to control litter whenever possible;
4. I will call 281-4264 to report park abuse or park safety issues;
5. I will have a great time when visiting the City of Columbia's parks;
6. I will proudly wear my Park Pal wrist band when visiting the City of Columbia's parks!

The Park Pals concept was created by Columbia Alderman Mary Ellen Niemietz and the logo was developed by Play Commission member Bill Seibel with assistance from the folks at Marketicity.

It's Saturday---It's Play Day!

Saturday afternoon is the launch for Columbia's first annual Play Day event. A scavenger hunt discovering Columbia’s parks, a variety of games, and kids’ art projects are just a few of the hands-on interactive activities planned for the event in Bolm-Schuhkraft Park (known to many residents as the “city park”). The 44.5-acre park is bordered by Parkview Dr., Temple St., the Parkview Elementary School campus and the Columbia High School campus.

Events run from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free and this will be a rain or shine event.

The event is designed to discover the fun, education and recreation available in the city’s many public recreational areas and playspaces. Envisioned as “A Day to Play” by organizers, the event will feature interactive stations that will introduce visitors to the themes and activities found in Columbia’s parks, many of which are little known--or completely unknown--to many residents.

Created and hosted by the Columbia Play Commission in collaboration with KaBOOM!, this year’s inaugural event is supported by Commerce Bank, Columbia Market, the Columbia Rotary Club, Pam Keevan Photography, the Kiwanis Club of Columbia, the Monroe County YMCA, Moonwalkers, Radio Disney, the Monroe County Economic Development Council, Traube Tent Company and the City of Columbia.

“It’s really just a fun afternoon to get out and discover our parks,” states John Traube, Chair for the Play Commission. “Our hope is that families and kids of all ages will come for the fun and leave with a better appreciation for where to spend unstructured afternoons year-round.”

KaBOOM! recognized Columbia this year as a “Playful City USA,” a national recognition honoring cities and towns across the nation committed to taking action for play. Columbia was the only community in the St. Louis metropolitan area so honored this year.

Have a question or urgent need the day of the event? Call the Play Day Hotline at (618) 410-0051.

Mayor Proclaims Sept. 19th as 'Play Day'

Last evening, Columbia Mayor Keven Hutchinson proclaimed Saturday, September 19th, as "Play Day"--making the municipal government an official sponsor of the first annual event celebrating play.

The proclamation read as follows:

• Whereas, play is a crucial factor in the overall well-being of children;
• Whereas, children who play are healthier and suffer less obesity and obesity-related health problems such as diabetes and heart disease;
• Whereas, children who play do better in school and develop cognitive skills that are linked to learning and academic performance;
• Whereas, children who play learn the social skills that help them become happy and well-adjusted adults;
• Whereas, research proves that recreation and exercise are important to the physical and mental health of citizens of all ages;
• Whereas, a diverse and dynamic parks and recreation program is considered a key element of local quality of life; and
• Whereas, the City of Columbia has previously endorsed the National Campaign for Play, established a Play Commission and been designated a “Playful City USA”;
  
  NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kevin B. Hutchinson, Mayor of the City of Columbia, proclaim the 19th of September 2009 to be “Play Day” in Columbia and invite our citizens to participate in activities recognizing that day.

John Traube, chair for the Play Commission, and other members of that group were on hand to receive the proclamation along with applause from the City Council and other citizens present at the meeting. After that moment in the limelight, the group retired to another meeting room in City Hall to finish their next-to-final planning meeting prior to the big event.

Report from the Play Commission's First Meeting

The Columbia Play Commission held its inaugural meeting yesterday evening and, following an enthusiastic kick-off by Mayor Kevin Hutchinson, progressed rapidly through their agenda during a whirlwind meeting.

The group elected John Traube, owner of Traube Tent & Awning, as Chair and Shannon Zarek, owner of Mokka Kaffeehaus, as Secretary. The election of a Vice President was postponed until the group’s next meeting.

After review and lively discussion, the Play Commission approved the draft Action Plan for Play, a roadmap for their activities during the next ten months.

Members of the Commission also determined to move the date for the community’s first Play Day to Saturday, September 19th. They will continue organizing this event in meetings that will be held bi-weekly, at least through the summer.

The next meeting of the Play Commission is scheduled for Wednesday evening, July 15th, beginning at 7:00 p.m in the Auditorium at Columbia City Hall.

Plan to Play This September

It's a block party, a backyard barbecue, and a day of service all rolled into one!

A KaBOOM! Play Day is a free, fun-for-the-whole-family outdoor event that celebrates play. It’s a day for the whole community to gather at a favorite park or playground and--play! During the month of September, KaBOOM! will help thousands of communities nationwide to plan, organize and execute their Play Days.

Fun activities for kids of all ages are a big part of KaBOOM! Play Days, but they’re not all fun and games. Play Days are also an opportunity for communities to come together to improve their local parks and playspaces with clean-ups and simple enhancement and construction projects.

Members of Columbia's new Play Commission will be organizing the community's first Play Day over the summer. The fun is slated to pop out Tuesday, September 29th. What will Columbia's Play Day be about? The decision is still in the making...

Help celebrate play in Columbia--use the widget below to register!

Keeping Commitments

Communities become Playful City USA communities by meeting five principal commitments:

• Creating a local play commission;
• Designing an annual action plan for play;
• Conducting a playspace audit of all publicly accessible play areas;
• Identifying current spending on capital projects and maintenance of playspaces;
• Proclaiming and celebrating an annual "KaBOOM! Play Day".

This blog will continue to update progress over time on all five commitments. For now, here's a snapshot:

• On May 19th, Resolution 02-2009 established Columbia's Play Commission with nine members;
• A draft action plan has been developed and will be refined by the Play Commission at their inaugural meeting later this month;
• Six local playspaces have been identified and evaluated--community members will be encouraged to add their comments online;
• City staff has reported that Columbia and its local school district together spend about $243,000 annually on 102 acres of parks and open spaces;
• Columbia's first annual "Play Day" is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29th.