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Boardman Park welcomes crowd for free event
By Sean Barron
BOARDMAN
Three-year-old Ella Francis’ aim was to have as much fun as possible, and in more ways than one, she hit the mark.
“I went on the tractor,” the Boardman girl said excitedly. “I looked at the fish.”
She also put her archery skills to the test by hitting a target on the sixth try – which was one of the activities she and many other children enjoyed during Saturday’s annual Outdoor Family Fun Day in and near Boardman Park’s Lariccia Family Community Center.
Sponsoring the four-hour family-friendly event were Guardian Protection Services, Armstrong Wireless, Boardman Subaru, the Davey Tree Expert Co. and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
“It’s just a great community event and a great way for people to find out about things outside, or getting you outside,” explained Karen McCallum, Boardman Park’s recreation director.
The fest was free, but attendees were asked to bring nonperishable food items that will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, noted Jessica Havalo, a park employee.
In addition, monetary donations are to benefit the American Red Cross’s hurricane-relief efforts that are helping people impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, which caused flooding and major damage in much of Houston and Florida, respectively, McCallum noted.
The event also gave Ella her first shot at archery, said her proud mother, Stephanie Francis.
Youngsters were given six chances each to hit a variety of animal and other targets. On Target Outfitters of Canfield ran the activity.
While Ella was aiming straight ahead, Grayson Halt, 3, and his 5-year-old sister, Addison, were aiming downward. The Poland siblings were among the youngsters who surrounded an inflatable swimming pool hoping to catch sunfish and catfish.
“Absolutely,” said their mother, Colleen Halt, when asked if Grayson and Addison have experience with fishing.
The two youngsters caught bluegill and perch on their first such expedition, she said.
The activity was possible, courtesy of a $500 ODNR Stepping Outside grant. Helping with the fishing were members of Boardman-based Boy Scout Troop 60.
Also of interest to many children and adults were displays of taxidermy mounts from Mill Creek MetroParks and the Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center that showed animals such as a mountain lion, a white Arctic fox, a porcupine and a great-horned owl, which is the largest owl in Ohio, said Darlene Naukam, a Wildlife Center trustee.
“They’re not found in Ohio,” Naukam said about a live albino corn snake that also was on hand. “They’re only found in the South, from South Carolina on down.”
Daniel Felger, who, along with his father, Dwayne Felger, runs Felger Exotics of Greenford, brought a few unusual creatures of his own. They included a tiny 12-week-old marmoset monkey, the likes of which grow to about 6 inches; a pixie toad, which weighed 5 to 6 pounds and is the type found in South Africa; and several flying cockroaches from Dubai.
“He’s a little tired and cranky,” the younger Felger said about the monkey that was an attraction for many children. “He’s had a lot of attention already.”
On another table was a display of mostly locally found arrowheads and spear points that members of Youngstown State University’s Anthropology Colloquium had brought. The main thrust was to get participants more interested in the field and to showcase the careers possible with such a degree, explained Kamron Meyers, a YSU junior and anthropology major.
The Family Fun Day also offered three guided hikes through the park; wagon rides; a 20-foot-high rock-climbing wall; walkie-talkie communications, courtesy of the Western Reserve Radio Club; face-painting; exhibits by OH WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology; a petting zoo; and reading opportunities.
Providing the entertainment was the Red Dust Mountain Boys, a Kinsman-based bluegrass band.