Cape to host Parks & Rec Day next month at Osage Centre

The audience reacts to a science demonstration by Discovery Playhouse staff during Parks and Rec Day on July 7, 2021, at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau.

Southeast Missourian file

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department will host its annual Parks & Rec Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, at the Osage Centre, 1625 N Kingshighway.

This free, kid-friendly event promises a day of fun and activities for the whole family. This year’s theme is “Where You Belong”.

“The event theme helps to celebrate the many ways that Parks and Recreation professionals foster a sense of belonging in their community by providing welcoming and inclusive programs, essential services for all ages and abilities and access to safe, accessible spaces to help build meaningful connections in the community,” said Diane Lawrence, assistant recreation division manager.

This event will feature a variety of activities from local vendors and businesses, including SEMO Athletics and Texas Roadhouse. Attendees can enjoy ice cream, games, prizes and crafts. Local vendors will offer activities for everyone, and a special highlight will be a birthday celebration for Parks and Recreation mascot Playmo.

“(W)e also have our animal scooters that we bring, and we have different games and activities. A lot of times we have an art station where they can create different things that make a huge poster that we have for ‘Where You Belong’. So it just kind of varies from year to year with what kind of activities and what kinds of things we have for the kids,” Lawrence said.

This is the 16th year of Parks & Rec Day. Lawrence noted there is usually good attendance, with around 400 attendees last year. The three-hour window allows families to pop in and out during the event.

“It’s just a great way for us in Parks and Recreation and the community to help celebrate and for the people in the community to kind of get a better picture of what all Parks and Rec does and how important connections with businesses and organizations in the community are, to help the community as a whole grow and stay strong and offer lots of things for our kids. To get them exposure to things they might not get exposure to normally but just also for them to have a lot of fun,” Lawrence said.

For more information, visit the city’s website at www.cityofcape.org/parksrecday or contact Lawrence at dlawrence@cityofcape.org.