Area youths enjoy obstacle course, other events at NEPA Kids Field Day
Sep. 2—SCRANTON — Sixteen-year-old Ana Ramos climbed inside the "knockerball" and prepared herself for a wild ride.
Her legs protruding from the center of the giant inflatable sphere, she grabbed hold of the handles as Gabe Williams of Scranton, also 16, rolled her through a field at Nay Aug Park on Saturday afternoon.
"You don't get too dizzy," she said, emerging from the sphere as it rolled to a stop, "but you're out of breath."
Ramos, of Scranton, was among several dozen youths who took part in the inaugural NEPA Kids Field Day, which featured games, food and activities for children ages 1 and up.
The event was the brainchild of James and Tamieka Gerard, a Wilkes-Barre couple who formerly lived in Scranton and own a number of rental properties there. For a $10 fee per family, children took part in multiple events, including a three-legged race, an obstacle course and tug-of-war. Children also could get their face painted and make crafts.
"It's just a way to get kids off their tablets and phones and do something physical instead of sitting in front of a screen all day," James Gerard said.
Mike Jones of New York brought his 10-year-old nephew, Rhys Guierre, of Scranton, to the event.
"My nephew is autistic. I brought him here so he could interact with other kids," he said. "I wish there were more things like this."
The Gerards spent months planning the event, which was held at the JAD Picnic Area in the park. They hope to hold it again next year.
"It's for the kids ... for them to have fun, get some exercise before school starts and get them motivated," Tamieka Gerard said.
Contact the writer:
tbesecker@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9137;
@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter.
