If you’ve been dreading the chorus of “I’m bored” from the kids this summer, the City of St. Louis Park has rolled out a new distraction. They’re dispatching their Park ‘N Play vehicle, loaded with outdoor games, crafts, and “other fun activities” targeted at 5 to 12-year-olds, to various parks around the city.
The mobile recreation program is a free-of-charge initiative aiming to keep the youth engaged and entertained during the summer months. According to an announcement on the city’s Facebook page, parents can locate the Park ‘N Play vehicle’s daily destinations online, giving families the chance to plan ahead. It’s a turnkey solution for the summertime slump — just track the truck, and turn the kids loose.
Not just a rolling reprieve for parents, the Park ‘N Play vehicle appears to be a part of a larger push by the city to encourage outdoor activity and community engagement. With school out and the devices in, initiatives like this could be a breath of fresh air – both figuratively and literally – in the lives of the local youth…