Castle Park is the place to be on Sept. 10

    Things just keep getting better in Crookston's Castle Park. Adding on to its year-old Dog Park, Castle Park will be introducing an all new Natural Play Space at its grand opening for the community on Monday, Sept. 10. The official "vine-cutting" will take place at 5:30 p.m. followed by the opening of the Natural Play Space, which will include family fun and a light meal provided by B&E Meats, ending around 7:30 p.m.

    You may ask, what is a Natural Play Space? Although bordered to reassure parents of their children’s safety, a Natural Play Space resembles open woods, prairies or gardens rather than a normal playground. Natural Play Spaces are based on nature-based play, which focuses on showing kids ways to play with their natural resources such as rocks, sticks, water, leaves and other things that can be found outside.

    "With obesity rates rising, Minnesota is making sure the healthy choice is the easy choice," said Kirsten Fagerlund, of Polk County Public Health, and a leader in the Natural Play Space initiative. With the already successful Dog Park and all new Natural Play Space, Castle Park is doing just that.

    A community group made up of adult and youth members met in June of 2011 to discuss how to bring a new form of nature-based play to Castle Park. Two different designs were presented at 2011's National Night Out, where they were narrowed down to one final design for the Natural Play Space. After much community collaboration, the new addition to Castle Park was created, along with lasting friendships among active community members.

     “The Crookston community should be proud of its collaboration and hard work,” said Fagerlund. “The end product is only part of the real results, what people don’t get to see are the friendships and relationships built along the way.”

Celebrate the Dog Park, too

    While coming to the Sampson's Addition park to celebrate the new Natural Play Space, community members are also encouraged to visit the Dog Park in honor of its one year anniversary, put on by Bark for the Park. Dogs and their owners are welcome to spend the evening at the Dog Park, where they can receive treats and free snap bags if they're one of the first 25 dogs to arrive. Gina Carolan, leader of Bark for the Park, would like to give thanks to Winnie Skaarland and her dog, Jake, who Carolan describes as a "great ambassador" for the park. Carolan also offers up thanks to Jessica Anderson for sharing her talent and energy by producing another dog calender.

    "We have Lacy Bridgeford to thank for the dog toys and the bucket to hold them, people love using them with their dogs," mentioned Carolan. "For the many kind and generous acts each of you have done to provide a relaxing place for dogs and people, thank you!"

    Whether it's the Natural Play Space or Dog Park that interests you most, Fagerlund invites everyone to, "come down, have dinner, get dirty and have some fun."