Hey Randi,
Izzy here from KaBOOM! Nickelodeon has tons of great ideas and tools on how to celebrate play in your community. You should check out their website. Good luck!
http://www.nick.com/all_nick/everything_nick/public_wwdop.jhtml
http://www.nick.com/all_nick/everything_nick/public_ljp_createaday.jhtml
In the tradition of not re-creating the wheel to become a Playful City USA community I would suggest that you do your Play Day in conjunction with Worldwide Day of Play on September 29th! And there are so many things you can do. But first and foremost, ask your community, hold a forum, ask to speak at a Friends of Parks group and see what they would want to celebrate play! This would definitely be a best practice in public/private partnership. And the great thing about this is that you create community ownership thus driving participation!
And specific suggestions...some Playful CIty USA applicants are having a citywide clean-up culminating with a BBQ at a central park, another had an I Love My Playground Day where they did a citywide audit of their playspaces (This is great because it met two of the Playful CIty USA Commitments at one time.) Still others did it in conjunction with the opening of their summer season in Parks and Recreation with a festival and pool parties across the city. And finally, I like the suggestion that you all had...doing it in conjunction with a community build of a playspace. You commit to having a build on that day every year and end with a big BBQ, performances and speeches made by city officials and community leadrs about the importance of remembering play all year round!
Hope that is helpful.
Also, I thought this was a pretty cool idea...
HUDSON – In the cafeteria at Alvirne High School on Saturday night, Bill "Tank" Emmons was putting on his game face."The cops are taking no prisoners tonight," said Emmons – an officer with the Hudson Police Department – brimming with confidence."You're going down!" yelled one of the members of the Hudson Fire Department's team. But Emmons was already in the zone, and the comment didn't faze him.Emmons and his teammates from the police department were preparing for a grueling set of seven events that would put the mind, body and spirit to the ultimate test.OK, not exactly.On Saturday night, the 2008 Wacky Olympics were held at Alvirne High School.Instead of gymnastics, curling or synchronized swimming, players took part in musical hula-hoops, a toilet-paper wrap and a pie-eating contest...
HUDSON – In the cafeteria at Alvirne High School on Saturday night, Bill "Tank" Emmons was putting on his game face."The cops are taking no prisoners tonight," said Emmons – an officer with the Hudson Police Department – brimming with confidence."You're going down!" yelled one of the members of the Hudson Fire Department's team. But Emmons was already in the zone, and the comment didn't faze him.Emmons and his teammates from the police department were preparing for a grueling set of seven events that would put the mind, body and spirit to the ultimate test.OK, not exactly.
On Saturday night, the 2008 Wacky Olympics were held at Alvirne High School.
Instead of gymnastics, curling or synchronized swimming, players took part in musical hula-hoops, a toilet-paper wrap and a pie-eating contest...
Read the full article
And here are some ideas from an article promoting the upcoming Play Day of a Playful City USA hopeful:
"The day’s activities will include Frisbee, golf, basketball free throws, volleyball, sack races, and jump rope...Booths also will be available for face painting, nutrition awareness, bicycle safety, and other activities...Grab bags will be given to each child who attends...An Incrediball Tournament also is in store for the day and will be open to students and staff from all Beauregard Parish high schools..."
Has anyone tried combining their Play Day with the YMCA Healthy Kids Day (to be held April 12 this year)?
http://www.ymca.net/about_the_ymca/ymca_healthy_kids_day.html
Here are some neat Play Day ideas, from a 2007 Playful City USA Community:
City of Longview plans 'customer appreciation' events May 29, 2008By Amy M.E. FischerLongview (Wash.) Daily News
If you’ve ever dreamed of throwing a pie in the face of Longview’s mayor or city manager, you won’t want to miss the city’s “customer appreciation” events that begin this weekend and run throughout June.
Participants in the two-week “Passport to Longview Treasure Hunt” will receive a ticket for the “pie in the face” drawing. They can get an extra ticket if they fill out a customer service survey regarding their experiences with the city. The winner of the drawing will plant gooey pastry all over Mayor Kurt Anagnostou’s mug, while the runner-up’s target will be City Manager Bob Gregory.
...
The pie throwing will take place at a free ice cream social from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 26, outside the Longview Public Library. Afterward, the winner gets to bang the gavel to open the City Council meeting at 7 p.m. that day.
Here’s how “Passport to Longview” works. At every city facility or city department participants visit during business hours or during Saturday’s open house, an employee will stamp their passport. Participants need to collect stamps from at least seven of the city’s nine facilities to receive a “pie in the face” ticket, Meyers said. Completed passports must be turned in to a city office by 5 p.m. June 13. Children who participate must be accompanied by an adult.
Saturday’s open house features free cake and refreshments and the opportunity to meet Parks and Recreation mascot Kaptain KaBoom and her sidekick, Boomer. Visitors can tour the building, learn about city services and pick up small giveaways, such as little fire department badges, in every department. This is your chance to sit in a city police car, fire truck, Waste Control truck and sewer-cleaning truck.
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/05/30/area_news/doc483f8ba908308106192679.txt
Saint Paul, Minnesota celebrated its Play Day on May 31, 2008, as part of the Grand Opening of Oxford Community Center (including Jimmy Lee Recreation Center, Great River Water Park).
Here is the Play Day agenda:
May 31, 2008
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Program & Activity Listing
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Guest Speakers
(Erick Goodlow – Host)
- Mayor Chris Coleman
- Councilmember Melvin Carter III
- SPPS : Valeria Silva
- Loft Teen Center : Jim Robinson
- Debbie Montgomery
- James Lee
- Parks Director Bob Bierscheid
New Overall Facility Name Unveiling
Former Recreation Center Director: Bill Peterson
Former Pool Director: Gayle Anderson
Ribbon Cutting
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Free Indoor & Outdoor Activities
Free Refreshments
Door Prizes & Giveaways
Indoor Activities
Refreshments – Hot Dogs & Chips, Popcorn, Cotton Candy, Pop & Water
Water Park
12:00 – 4:00- Open Admission
Fieldhouse
South Court
12:00 – 4:00- Marshmallow Golf
North Court
12:00 - 2:30- Karaoke & Open Gym
2:30 – 3:00- Basketball Slam-Dunk Contest Registration
3:00 – 4:00- Basketball Slam Dunk Contest with DJ
Main Gym
12:00 – 1:00- Children’s Activities
1:30 – 2:30- Fraternity Stomp Performance
2:30 – 3:00- Half Pintz Performance
3:00 – 4:00- Open Gym
Original Gym (LowerBuilding)
12:00 – 4:00 - Open Gym w/DJ
Dance Room
12:00 – 1:00- Open Dance
1:00 – 2:00- Tai Kwon Do
2:00 – 3:00- Kettlebell
3:00 – 4:00- Chicago Style Stepping
Walking Track
12:00 –1- Blood pressure, glucose check & pedometers
12:30 – 1:30- WalkerWestMusicAcademy
1:30 – 4- Open Walking
*Party Room – Check in/lost child
Outdoor Activities
Fields & Lower Parking Lot
12:00 – 1:00 - Loft Extremely Crazy Olympics for Teens
- Saint Paul Fire Department Demonstration
1:00 – 2:00- Minnesota Twins RBI Baseball Clinic
2:00 – 3:00- Minnesota Vikings Player Development Coordinator Ronald Brewer & Current NFL Player Marcus Freeman
3:00 – 4:00- Loft Extremely Crazy Olympics (Grades 1-6)
Additional Activities – 12:00 – 4:00
- JumpCastle
- Mobile Climbing Tower
- Balloons
- Face Painting
Door Prize Giveaway
A variety of gift certificates, merchandise and prizes will be given away beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Guests must pre-register prior to 2:30 p.m.
Donors
Ramsey County, SPPS, The Bremer Foundation, Kowalski’s, Home Depot, District Energy, Toyota, Minnesota Computers for School, Push-Pedal-Pull, Minnesota Timberwolves & NFL – Minnesota Vikings, Twin Cities LISC & Selby Area CDC
Grand OpeningDonors
Golden Tyme, Minnesota Twins, Youth Express, Jimmy Lee Booster Club, The Loft Teen Center, Saint Paul Winter Carnival Junior Royalty, Saint Paul Junior League – Play!, McDonald’s - University Avenue, Vito Mechanical, Inc., Home Customizers, Inc., O’Gara’s, Dixie’s, Saint Paul Saints & Red Balloon Book Store.
Jimmy Lee Recreation Center & Great River Water Park
In partnership with
The LoftTeenCenter & SPPS
270 Lexington Parkway North
Saint Paul , MN 55104
(651) 642-0650