June 30, 2009

Along with Director Zari Santner, Nick celebrated the opening of Portland Parks & Recreation’s Summer Playground program and the first Free Federal Lunch program of the summer last Friday at Montavilla Park. The Summer Playground Program brings young Portlanders fun, healthy, and free drop-in activities at Portland’s many parks throughout the summer. Kids can participate in sports, games, arts and crafts projects, enjoy free lunches, and cool off in wading pools at a wide variety of locations, all supervised by playground leaders.

The Summer Playground program recently benefited from a huge donation of goods from local and national businesses organized by Al Roker’s “Lend A Hand” program, which recognized the Portland Parks Foundation as one of five stops on the program’s 8th national tour and which filmed a segment for NBC’s Today Show here in Portland last week.

These youth programs are part of the Parks Bureau’s larger Summer Free For All program, which offers events ranging from the popular movies in the park and park concerts to free swims and free gym times at Community Centers across the City. Check out the Parks website at www.portlandonline.com/parks to find a fun event for your family!