Play Streets Events Scheduled Throughout Garrett County

In an attempt to help draw children and families out of their homes and into the community to increase physical activity, the Garrett County Health Department is partnering with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Baylor University to bring Play Streets events to communities around Garrett County.

Five community planning groups each received a mini-grant to plan and host a Play Street event in their communities. Organizational meetings in each community brought on additional community partners.

The first local Play Streets event of the year is the Family Fun Day in Accident on Saturday, August 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Town Park West. A few of the many attractions include food, bouncy house, inflatable obstacle course, scavenger hunt, puppet show, cornhole, face painting, water games, sack races, and color walk or run (bring t-shirt to be splattered). Register for this free, rain or shine event by calling 301-334-7730 or 301-895-3111. Sponsors include Accident Community Planning Group, Accident Lutheran Parrish, and Bear Creek Church of the Brethren.

The Play Streets project is designed to promote children’s health and physical activity by creating opportunities for communities to come together and plan safe play events.

The second Play Street event will be Friendsville’s Family Fun Night at the Park and will take place on August 25 from 6-9 p.m., with sign-in beginning at 5:30. A free movie will be shown at 9 p.m. by the Friendsville Fire Department. Other attractions will include food, door prizes, bouncy house, 3-lane bungee run, volleyball, basketball, KanJam Frisbee, water balloon toss, cornhole, scavenger hunt, kids blow up bumpers, blacktop games, and door prizes. The event is sponsored by the Friendsville Community Watch. Call 301-334-7730 or for more information.

In many under-resourced communities across the United States, safe and accessible play places are often lacking. The Play Streets model includes temporary closure of streets when needed as an understudied intervention that provides safe places for children to be physically active, especially in places that lack access to safe parks and playgrounds.

The street in front of Kitzmiller’s Town Hall will become the location of the third Play Street event, a Neighborhood Block Party on August 25 from 5-8 p.m. The evening will include food, music, Wii Dance (on the big screen), bouncy house, hop scotch, four square, hula hoops, musical chairs, jump ropes, and more. The event is sponsored by Kitzmiller Empowerment Group. For more information call Heather at 301-334-7730.

The traditional Oakland’s Night Out is moving to the Glades Town Park this year as the fourth Play Street event, and will be held on September 4 from 5-8 p.m. This free event will include food, bouncy house, water slide, obstacle course, small bounce house for small kids, cornhole, dunking booth, tug of war, sack races, Frisbee, basketball, activities on play equipment, face painting, water games, walk/scavenger hunt, and much more. The event is sponsored by Club 21550 in partnership with the Town of Oakland, Maryland State Police, and Oakland Police. Registration is appreciated but not required. For more information or to register call 301-334-7730.

And finally, Crellin’s Play Streets event will be held September 9, from 2-5 p.m. in Crellin. The following attractions have been confirmed so far: inflatable obstacle course, bounce house, laser tag, water games, various field games, and several REFIT sessions. Families who stay for the entire evening will receive prizes at the end of the event. Sponsors of this event are Crellin Outreach Partnership, Crellin United Brethren Church, and Crellin Elementary School. For more information call Kris at 301-334-7730.

“The Garrett County Health Department Community Outreach Team has led the community planning group process for twenty-four years and hopes that each Play Street event will bring out Garrett County families,” said Prevention Supervisor Sandy Miller. “Play Streets in Garrett County is a way to encourage children and families to participate in physical activity during the three hour event. The long time goal for children will be– fewer than two hours of recreational time in front of a TV, tablet, portable video game, or computer screen for each hour of exercise!”

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department