Brian Hagberg
WARREN, Pa. – Registration is now open for the City of Warren Summer Playground Program and city staff is hopeful no COVID restrictions lead to more programming . . . and more participants.
At least one addition/return to normal operations is confirmed for summer 2023. There will be three playgrounds open this summer.
“We have three playgrounds this year,” Program Director Kassie Damcott said. “We are doing Crescent and Lacy and Beaty. We have enough supervisors at all three parks to have three.”
Not only did the city get enough supervisors to open three playgrounds this summer, but they also had another rarity among applicants as well.
“Usually, we have an overwhelming number of girls (apply for supervisor positions), maybe one guy a summer,” Damcott said. “But this year, we have one (male supervisor) at each park.”
Supervisors all have First Aid and CPR training, and this year Damcott was able to add a day of mandated reporter training for supervisors.
“We do a whole day of training with First Aid and CPR,” Damcott said. “The police come in and talk about, you know, watch for strangers at the park and report creepy incidents. We are adding mandated reporter training this year. Ashley Peterson from A Safe Place will conduct a mandated reporter training for the leaders and myself.”
Damcott held the first of three in-person registration events on Tuesday at both Beaty and Crescent Parks. There will be two more registration events next week on Tuesday, May 23 at Beaty (5 – 6 p.m.) and Lacy (6:30 – 7:30 p.m.), and on Thursday at Lacy (5 – 6 p.m.) and Beaty (6:30 – 7:30 p.m.).
Registration is open to any child aged 7 – 13 (children under 7 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). The Playground Program will run from June 19 – Aug. 11, and playgrounds will be open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, weather permitting. The only scheduled closure is July 4.
The registration form can be found here, and completed forms can be emailed to Damcott at [email protected].
“My email is on there so people can just fill it out and email it to me,” Damcott said. “They don’t have to drop it off or mail it in.”
With COVID restrictions in the rearview, Damcott has a more traditional pre-pandemic program schedule planned for this summer.
“(Scheduling programming) was a lot easier,” Damcott said. “A lot of people were like, ‘Oh, yeah, we will definitely come do that.’ There was no like, ‘Well, maybe.’”
Some things already on the summer schedule include a live animal presentation by the Audubon Society, planting with the Warren Garden Club, a presentation from the Warren County Conservation District, trips to the Warren Public Library, and a trip to the Warren County Fair. Those programs are all available at no cost to participants.
The Warren County School District will also offer free lunches to program participants. Kids at Beaty will walk over to Beaty Warren Middle School for lunch, while lunches will be delivered to Crescent and Lacy Parks.
“There’ll be no cost to the students,” Damcott said. “We will bus them, will pay for transportation. The only cost for the playground program is carpool Mondays, where they go to the pool.”
Entrance fees for the C.A.R. Pool will be $2.
Damcott said she is also accepting donations for playground items such as outdoor games, sidewalk chalk, and crafting supplies.
“I’ve collected some new games and some craft stuff and other stuff from community members for the parks,” Damcott said. “Since we do have to staff a third playground this year. I’m not sure exactly how much there is to go around to an extra park that we haven’t operated in a few years.
“I do have a working budget. But I would like to put in more programming this year and spend more of my budget on programming and field trips.”
Anyone wishing to donate should contact Damcott at 814-723-6300 ext. 120 or at [email protected].
