(Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW staff)

By Angie Rolheiser

Parks and Recreation month

Larger than life sport day coming to Spruce Haven Park in Melfort

Jun 8, 2021 | 4:41 PM

The City of Melfort is taking part in Saskatchewan parks and recreation month in a big way.

Larger than life sports day will take place at Spruce Haven Park in Melfort on June 19. The event will feature supersized sports equipment for everyone to use from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Recreation programmer Shannon Marshall said there will also be coaches and community sport leaders on hand as well.

“They will teach kids, families, and adults some skills and drills of different sports,” Marshall said. “If they are a bit leery of the sport, sometimes if you add that jumbo sized equipment it can take that fear or intimidation out of sport.”

Supersized equipment that will be on hand includes footballs, soccer balls, volleyball and baseball.

Thefts in Humboldt

Thefts from Humboldt businesses under investigation

1h ago

Garbage bin fire

Suspicious garbage bin fire in Melfort

8h ago

Veterans memorial

Choiceland was a village without a war memorial, until now

10h ago

Other jumbo equipment will be found in what organizers are calling the ‘family fun zone’.

“We will have jumbo rackets, badminton, wicked pong sets, giant bowling, bely bumpers, unicorn hoppers and a bounce castle,” Marshall said.

The Spruce Haven spray park will also be open that day as it runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The washroom facilities at Spruce Haven are also now open to the public.

Marshall assured anyone wanting to attend that all COVID-19 protocols will be followed during larger-than-life sport day.

“We will have spaces quarantined off, lots of people on hand to disinfect equipment in between use and it won’t be an issue,” Marshall said. “If anyone has questions about where they can gather and things like we will have people to answer those questions too.”

The event is part of encouraging everyone to get out and active in parks and green spaces and explore as much as possible this June, July and August.

There are yard kits and games available for residents to sign out free of charge.

“These are great weekend activity kits for your family barbecues to help with getting everyone active and having fun,” Marshall said.

(Facebook/City of Melfort)

Disc golf sets are available again that can be used at the Rotary Park disc golf course.

“Disc golf is picking up momentum around the province. The goal of disc golf Saskatchewan is to be recognized as an official sporting body and I don’t think they are going to loose momentum anytime soon,” Marshall said. “A lot of communities that don’t yet have disc golf sets are getting them and we are lucky enough to have a great nine-hole course.”

Marshall added that the park and disc golf course is very accessible for young and old.

The City of Melfort has signed up for the participACTION Community Better challenge which is a nation-wide challenge to get provinces and communities as active as possible.

Residents are asked to log their active minutes and the most active community in Canada throughout the month of June will win $100,000.

The summer ambassador program will also return this summer, Marshall said.

“The ambassadors become part of our summer program last year because of COVID and it went over so well so we will continue to incorporate those ambassadors,” Marshall said. “Playground program and ambassadors will all meld into one awesome summer program for our community’s children and youth.”

Throughout the week in the summertime, there will be family fun days in the evenings once or twice a week.

“That is when we can bring the jumbo-sized equipment out again for everyone to play with,” Marshall said.

Details on all summer events are posted on the City of Melfort Facebook page as it is released.

Another great addition to the Spruce Haven Recreation Area over the last year has been the creative circle that features work of the Northern Lights Woodcarvers.

“They have been carving into the trees and it is such an amazing space and has taken on a life of its own,” Marshall said.

The woodcarvers have been on site this month adding more carvings to the trees near the labyrinth.

“We encourage people to come hang out with them while they work, ask questions, or just have a lunch in the picnic area nearby,” Marshall said.

Additions have also been made to the fairy forest between the community garden and the skate park area. The City has hosted a couple more sessions this year for kids to come and paint and create their own fairy doors, with more events coming up.

–

angie.rolheiser@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser