The final Maranda Park Party of the summer is coming to Northwestern Middle School in Battle Creek on July 30.
Maranda partners with Battle Creek Public Schools to bring the community together. Each school in the district is represented in one super-sized area with games, giveaways, and to register children for kindergarten. They also provide busing from area elementary schools and apartment complexes. See the schedule here.
The Battle Creek Police Department brings out a huge display to delight children at the Park Party! Visitors can see the bomb squad with a robot, the Emergency Response Team, and a K9. The Police Department loves the opportunity to get together with people in the community and have fun together.
The Battle Creek Park Party is extra special for E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety, as they celebrate their 20th anniversary. The organization started in Battle Creek, taking fire safety education into communities using a fire safety demonstration trailer. Last year, E.S.C.A.P.E. had the one millionth child go through the smoke demonstration trailer at the Park Party in Battle Creek. This year, they’re helping super-size the event with prizes and a Rescue Squad bounce house.
The Pearson Family will be at the Park Party once again, bringing their incredible sound to the Craig’s Cruisers Entertainment Stage. The family performs beautiful harmonies for the National Anthem and other songs.
The Maranda Park Party on July 30 is from noon until 2 p.m. Free lunch is served to anyone 18 and under starting at 11:30 a.m., while supplies last.
Approximately 3,800 kids and families flocked to Berlin Raceway on Thursday, July 9, for Maranda’s second Park Party of the summer. The blue skies and sunshine appeared just as Maranda kicked things off on stage and families enjoyed a picture-perfect day in Marne.
“It turned out to be a beautiful day at our second Park Party of the summer,” said Maranda. “Berlin Raceway opened the gates and kids came and played in the pits and enjoyed an amazing time. From monster trucks to race cars and farm animals, this party was extra special.”
This was the second time in the past ten years that Maranda has hosted this large-scale event at Berlin Raceway and today’s event was bigger and better than ever. Exciting attractions included a mini Ferris wheel, zip line, climbing wall, and super slide. Party-goers also got the chance to explore Berlin’s track up close, check out the pits, infield, Monster Trucks and more!
Once again working with USDA, Michigan Department of Education, and Kenowa Hills Public Schools, thousands of free lunches were served to anyone 18 and under. Many kids also walked away with prizes from Priority Health, Cedar Point, Michigan’s Adventure, John Ball Zoo, Holland Community Aquatic Center, and more!
The Park Party team will be traveling to the remaining three communities, bringing a supersized celebration to all.
Stop by the E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety trailer and meet Jake The Fire Safety Dog. Families will continue to learn about fire safety and the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Operation Save A Life, the West Michigan partnership between WOTV4Women, Kidde, local fire departments and E.S.C.A.P.E.
- July 16 – Kollen Park, Holland
- July 23 – Smith Ryerson Park, Muskegon
- July 30 – Northwestern Middle School, Battle Creek
Fireworks during the Fourth of July are as American as apple-pie, but did you know that 2 out of 5 fires reported on that day are started by fireworks, more than for any other cause? According to the United States Fire Administration, fireworks cause approximately 15,000 injuries including burns and eye injuries each year.
The good news is you can enjoy your holiday and the fireworks by following a few simple safety tips:
Proceed with caution!
- Be safe. If you want to see fireworks, go to a public show put on by trained experts.
- Parents and caregivers should always closely supervise children at events where fireworks are used.
- Sparklers burn at more than 1,200 °F and cause 3rd degree burns in seconds.
- Place discarded sparker wires in a metal bucket filled with water.
- 16% of fireworks injuries each year throughout the United States are caused by sparklers.
- After the firework display, children should never pick up fireworks that may be left over since they may still be active.
- Leave pets at home and keep them inside during firework displays. Loud noises can scare them or hurt their hearing.
Here is a video showing the dangers of consumer grade fireworks:
For more information on fireworks safety, visit www.nfpa.org/fireworks.
E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety urges Michiganders to follow common sense safety rules this Fourth of July during holiday celebrations!
One of the biggest free parties in West Michigan returns for another summer on Thursday, June 25! Maranda is kicking off her 21st season of Maranda Park Parties at Lamar Park in Wyoming. Each Maranda Park Party is held from noon until 2 p.m. Everyone is invited and everything is free!
The Wyoming Park Party is bigger and better than ever with two brand new activities: a giant obstacle course and a Ferris wheel! Lamar Park will be filled with more than 50 different vendors providing a variety of free services, information, and activities.
Kids can rock out with a house band or get a free haircut for summer provided by Grand Rapids First Church! E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety is celebrating 20 years of keeping kids safe with a new bounce house where families can come meet Jake the Fire Safety Dog. Also in Wyoming, the first 80 families who donate a bag of new or gently used items to the Bethany’s Thrift Store will receive an Entertainment Book.
Once again in working with USDA, Michigan Department of Education and local school districts, free lunch will be served to anyone 18 and under starting at 11:30 a.m., while supplies last. Every Park Party also includes free activities, games, entertainment and, of course, prizes!
This year Maranda and the Park Party team will be traveling to five communities bringing a supersized celebration to all.
- June 25 – Lamar Park, Wyoming
- July 9 – Berlin Raceway, Marne
- July 16 – Kollen Park, Holland
- July 23 – Smith Ryerson Park, Muskegon
- July 30 – Northwestern Middle School, Battle Creek
Recent statistics show the number of fire-related deaths are on the rise in Michigan. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, from Jan. 1 to June 2, 2015 the number of fire deaths were up 25-percent from 2014. A total of 61 people died in fires across the state. Twenty-three of those deaths were in West Michigan which is a 48-percent increase over this same time last year.
Operation Save A Life is working to save lives by providing free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to fire departments in West Michigan where they will be installed in high risk homes by trained firefighters.
“We’re finding the majority of fire fatalities are occurring in homes that don’t have working smoke alarms,” said Michael McLeieer, program coordinator for Operation Save A Life.” We want to make sure that families have working smoke alarms.”
“Electrical fires seem to be one of the major issues behind this. Unsafe use of extension cords, things of that nature. Be attentive to anything you’re doing with the stove,” said Fire Marshall Ted Karnitz of the Norton Shores Fire Department.
Nearly 3,000 smoke alarms have been installed throughout Muskegon County since Jan. 1.
There will also be a big push for fire safety education at all five Maranda Park Parties this summer.
For a complete list of West Michigan smoke alarm installation programs, click here. If your community is not listed or you have questions about smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, or home fire safety, send an email to [email protected].