Children and Youth

Kids at the Park event promotes health, safety, fun

Annual event brings a variety of local agencies together to promote healthy habits among local children
Photo 3.jpg
Photo 3.jpg

The 24th annual Kids at the Park event at Hollister's Dunne Park on Wednesday, June 21, offered a variety of fun and educational health- and safety-related activities for local children.

The Hollister Recreation Department sponsored the free event that provided children and families with information, free bike helmets, and prizes. Participants could register their bicycle through the Hollister Fire Department and sample nutritious food. 

The Hollister School District, Youth Alliance, Probation Department and other local agencies participated. The Hollister Police Activities League (PAL) and gang prevention officials were on hand. 

Gang Prevention Officer Al DeVos said the event was a way to help children learn more about safety. He passed out informational literature, including coloring books and coloring books that had themes such as "Gangs Are Not For Me." Some comic books focused on bullying awareness and prevention. 

One of the Kids in the Park founders, Lynn Mello of the Safe Kids Coalition, said the event began in the 1990s "when we were looking to prevent injury and illness" among children. The registered nurse said she believes in prevention efforts and said the event annually includes information on preventing injuries, obesity and smoking.

 

 

 

 

 

Adam Breen

Adam Breen has been a San Benito County resident since 1980 and graduated from Sacred Heart School and San Benito High School before earning a bachelor's degree from California State University, Fresno. A father of two sons, Adam has taught newspaper, English and yearbook at SBHS for the past decade, after six years as a magazine editor for Santa Clara University. He previously was editor of the Hollister Free Lance and content director for BenitoLink.