Osceola and surrounding communities are invited to don their swim wear and come out for Public Safety Night with OFD Splash Zone for Kids on July 29th. This week’s Thursday Night in the Park is an opportunity for the community to talk mental health with Clarke County Public Health, get safety tips from local law enforcement, and play in the OFD ladder truck sprinkler while enjoying games and demonstrations for the whole family.
Members of the local Wellmark Healthy Hometown Initiative Steering Committee are testing the waters – so to speak – on whether a community splash pad would be a welcome addition to the area.
“As we’re looking at ways to promote healthier lifestyles in and around Osceola, we also want to foster a better relationship between the fire and law departments and the community,” said Elizabeth Simpson, CCDC’s representative for the Healthy Hometown Initiative. “One idea we are looking at to get people out and moving is to install a splash pad as a free water feature for everyone. Public Safety Night is a great way for us to gauge interest while also strengthening community connections.”
The evening’s event will be full of safety-related activities for all. The Osceola Police Department will be on hand to go over bike safety and check car seats. Sky, the Clarke County Sheriff’s new K-9 Unit detection dog, will be holding demonstrations and meeting residents. The Osceola Fire Department will be shutting down Washington Street and activating the sprinkler on their ladder truck to let kids play in the water and get a feel for what it would be like to have a splash pad in the city.
Besides being able to play in the sprinkler, there will be tug-of-war, games, and food available from The Yellow Wagon and Timber Ridge Market.
We hope you’ll all come “Play in the Spray” at Public Safety Night!
If you have any questions or need more information, you can reach out to Elizabeth Simpson, Program Director for the Clarke County Development Corporation at 115 E Washington Street, Osceola, IA 50213, email [email protected] or call 641-342-2944.
