Luna Pier kicks off the season with “Summer Smash”
LUNA PIER -- A lakeshore community hosted a fun day for kids to kick off the summer, complete with games, snacks, and an intense water balloon fight, hoping to get kids outside again following two years of lockdowns and restrictions.
Luna Pier Parks and Rec hosted “Summer Smash” on June 18 at the city’s Water Tower Park. The free event was organized by a committee led by residents Jesse Griffin and Michelle Maser.
Maser said that the summer kickoff event was a way to help local kids reconnect with what they lost during the worldwide pandemic.
“We felt as though it has been a while since anything fun has happened for the kids,” she said. “When COVID hit, everything stopped. It has been a slow start to what was the ‘old normal.’ Some kids probably don’t even remember. We wanted to give the kids a day just for them and offer them an afternoon of fun to kick off the summer.”
Chris Burchett, Chair of the Luna Pier Parks and Rec committee, said that 100 to 120 kids attended the event throughout the day.
The event included an appearance by a Luna Pier Fire Department truck, as well as games such as tug of war, a sack race, bingo hosted by the library, a water balloon toss, “capture the flag” hosted by American Legion members, and basketball. A DJ provided music, and kids were offered pizza, hot dogs, and beverages, which were all donated.
About 20 volunteers helped throughout the day, mostly friends and family of the committee. Burchett said that the event was so successful due to the efforts of residents and businesses who volunteered and donated to help make it happen. Donations came from several residents as well as numerous Luna Pier businesses.
Burchett added that Parks and Rec used some money from previous fundraisers to help pay for the event, as well.
Luna Pier’s new police chief, Jim VanDeraa, said that he was impressed by how organized everything was during the event, with kids moving station to station in an orderly fashion.
“They had it set up very well,” he said. “I was really impressed.”
Kids who attended were eager to name their favorite activities.
“The carnival games were fun,” Gunner Griffin said.
Others preferred the culinary aspects of Summer Smash.
“The slushies were the best part,” Noah Coy said.
However, the big star of the event was a water balloon fight toward the end of the day.
“My favorite part was throwing water balloons with my friends,” Charlette Lesage said.
Attendee Kyler Williamson agreed that the water balloons were the best part of the day. Another child who was there was very specific about why the balloon fight was so fun.
“I really liked being able to get my friends and their parents wet,” Mia Lehman said.
Burchett said that the committee is looking forward to more events soon, including a basketball program. They also began hosting weekly pickleball clinics at Water Tower Park every Sunday at 5 p.m., which has been successful.
“We really just want to drive people outdoors to enjoy themselves and meet each other,” she said. “We plan on doing this again every year.”
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Luna Pier kicks off the season with “Summer Smash”
