PLAY STREETS INITIATIVE TO CONTINUE IN DOWNTOWN VINELAND ON JULY 13 WITH FIELD DAY/BLACKTOP BASH

Hosted by Daniel’s Den Community Center
Third of Five Fridays of Multi-Themed Celebration of Play on Sixth Street
Collaboration Between Main Street Vineland, Vineland Community Policing Unit, Cumberland County Positive Youth Development Coalition, and Civic and Non-Profit Organizations

VINELAND, NJ—Play Streets, a major initiative in cities and towns across the country that turns downtown streets into celebrations of play for youngsters, will continue for its third week in downtown Vineland on Friday, July 13, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with Field Day/Blacktop Bash, hosted by the Daniel’s Den Community Center.

The activities for all five weeks of Play Streets will take place on Sixth Street, between Landis Avenue and Elmer Street and that block will be closed to traffic on those days.

The activities for Field Day/Blacktop Bash will include jump rope, badminton, click n’ catch, balloon races, flying disks, inflatable tic tac toe, ring toss, inflatable bowling, face painting, bubbles, deluxe twister, fun with beach balls, and water games.

Play Streets is a collaboration between Main Street Vineland, Vineland Community Policing Unit, Cumberland County Positive Youth Development Coalition, and several civic and non-profit organizations.

Called “a playground in a box” Play Streets offers constructive outdoor play opportunities for youngsters while, at the same time, creating a family-friendly atmosphere on the streets. The program, organized in this county by the Cumberland County Positive Youth Development Coalition, has already taken root in Millville and Bridgeton. It has also been highly successful in such urban centers as Philadelphia, New York City, and Los Angeles.

The schedule future Play Streets will be as follows:

July 20: Express Yourself (host: Vineland Public Library/Monarch Family Success Center)—Express yourself with Pokémon Station, “Tell Your Story” Station with emoji cards and magnetic poetry, Selfees Station for photo fun with props, Sidewalk Chalk with washable chalk, Scavenger Hunt/”Design Your Own Bag” Station for visiting all that week’s activities

July 27: Public Safety Day (host: Vineland Police Department)— Vineland Fire Department, Vineland EMS, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department, Cape May County Sheriff’s Department Mounted Patrol with horse, drunk goggles for youth, games, and basketball

Each week will also include a DJ, hot dogs, snacks, and a rock wall.

“We’re really excited about this marvelous program that has accomplished so much good for downtown communities where it has been implemented,” said Main Street Vineland Executive Director Russell Swanson. “It brings people of all ages downtown, it provides fun and fresh air for our youngsters in a safe, structured environment, and it brings community agencies together for a wonderful cause. Come down, one and all, and have a great time.”

For more information on this and all Main Street Vineland events, call the Main Street Vineland office at 856-794-8653, visit the organization’s website at www.TheAve.biz, or visit the organization’s Facebook page.