Good News: Popsicles in the Park

by Jake Hipsher, Grain Valley News Intern

     Grain Valley Parks and Recreation (GVPR) hosted their second round of Popsicles in the Park on Tuesday, July 12th. Members of department returned to the Armstrong Park gazebo to read stories and pass out popsicles to any visiting families and other members of the Grain Valley Community. 
     Grain Valley Parks and Recreation’s Diedre Brodersen presented two books to the audience, each containing an important takeaway.
     The first story read was “Mother Bruce” by Ryan T. Higgins. This book shows the way families and friendships can be formed, even in the most unlikely circumstances.
     The second title of the night was “How I Met My Monster” by Amanda Noll. This tale surrounds the importance of the imagination and building friendships.
     The children and their fellow family members thoroughly enjoyed the content of each book, but Brodersen’s lively performance added a lot to the experience once again. 
     Brodersen was also joined by Justin Crutchfield, Grain Valley’s Recreation Supervisor. Crutchfield was there to supervise the event and help pass out popsicles.  
     “As they say, children are our future. GVPR believes reading is a fundamental skill everyone should have,” Crutchfield said.
     Crutchfield is very proud of the work Grain Valley Parks and Recreation has done for the town.
     “GVPR likes to provide activities that are inclusive and family friendly. Also, it provides an opportunity to highlight some of our awesome parks. I am biased, but there are no better parks and recreation in the state because we have an awesome team. They do not get enough credit in the Parks and Recreation department. The whole team works their tails off to provide the best amenities possible to Grain Valley,” Crutchfield said.
     Popsicles in the Park is just one of the many programs GVPR has created for the benefit of the community. To engage in more activities and learn more about Grain Valley Parks and Recreation, visit https://cityofgrainvalley.org/parks_and_recreation/. 

Photo credit: Jake Hipsher