Sat May 7, 2022
On Saturday, May 7, National Play Outside Day, the Batavia Parks Foundation and volunteers from the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association hosted family-friendly stations with interactive games at the South Riverwalk Plaza. At this event, the Batavia Parks Foundation also launched its new "Peace on Earth" project in partnership with Craig Foltos.
This special campaign will fund replacement of the seasonal wooden letters that hang currently on the Batavia bicycle-pedestrian bridge with permanent letters featuring LED lighting to shine all year around. Installation is targeted for the fall of 2023.
A new "Pay it Forward" promotion will earmark funds raised through raffle ticket sales to the Peace on Earth project. Parks Foundation President Britta McKenna encourages residents and business owners to get involved. "Whether you purchase a $20 Play it Forward raffle and save ticket or you have the ability to be a major donor or sponsor, it will take all of us to assure Peace on Earth lights up in Batavia all year 'round," McKenna said.
Raffle tickets feature exciting prizes and discounts from many community businesses, or "play partners." Tickets will be sold at River Rhapsody concerts, the Batavia's Farmer's Market (on June 11), from Parks Foundation board members, daily at Foltos' barbershop (7 East Wilson St.), and online at:
https://bataviaparksfoundation.rallyup.com/peaceonearth/Campaign/Details.
Only 1,000 tickets will be sold, and raffle prize winners will be pulled at Batavia Park District's Pints by the Pond, a new craft beer festival, which will be held on September 24.
Laura O'Brien, chair of the Play it Forward Promotion, said the the raffle prizes give winners a "uniquely fun way to experience Batavia...And don't just put the raffle ticket on the fridge! The back side of the raffle ticket is a discount card worth over $50 in fun experiences from our play partners."
The ten community play partners in the Play it Forward promotion include: BOJ-E-BIKES, Mirus, Sturdy Shelter Brewing, Sidecar Supper Club, Katie O'Brien Photography, Batavia Fine Arts Centre, Batavia Park District, Funway, The Comedy Vault, and Pal Joey's.
For questions or more information about the Batavia Parks Foundation or the Play it Forward promotion, please contact brittawmckenna@gmail.com.
