Rain, rain, go away.
In the anticipation that the sun will shine some day, the City of Warren Recreation Department will soon open its summer playground and pool operations.
The rainy weather has pushed back the opening of the pool from Memorial Weekend to Friday, June 10.
The playground season, intended for children ages 7 through 14, will open as scheduled on Monday, June 20.
Pre-registration for that program will be held at the bocce court pavilion at Betts Park from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, and 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
"I strongly recommend pre-paying for all field trips," recreation coordinator Cindy Strandburg said. "Space is extremely limited."
This year, youngsters in the program will have the option to go to Pittsburgh Zoo on July 13, Darien Lake on June 30, two canoe trips down the Allegheny River (July 20 and Aug. 3), and two miniature golf outings to be scheduled later.
For those who would like to participate in all six trips (the longer canoe trip is open to kids 11 and older, unless accompanied by an adult), the cost will be $72.
The zoo and Darien Lake trips are $20 each and feature coach buses, the shorter canoe trip is $10, the longer is $12, and the miniature golf outings are $5 each.
Both canoe trips, one ending at Allegheny Outfitters at the Glade Bridge, the other at Betts Park, will feature island catering. "I'm working with Allegheny Outfitters, they're going to shuttle (the food) to the island for us, set up and clean up," Strandburg said.
The zoo trip is new this year, Strandburg said, and a trip like that could easily cost more than the entire season of playground activities.
"You can't even go to Pittsburgh for $72," she said.
The amusement park trip is back by popular demand. "The kids seemed to really like Darien Lake last year," Strandburg said.
She has to pre-order tickets for both of those events. Space is available on a first-come-first-served basis. Each youth who goes to Darien Lake or the zoo will receive a T-shirt they will be expected to wear that day for safety reasons. Those who go to both will receive one shirt for the two events.
The daily activities at the playgrounds - supervised games, crafts, sports, and other events - require registration, but do not cost anything.
There will be two supervisors trained in first aid and CPR at Lacy, Mulberry, and DeFrees playgrounds, and three each at Crescent and Beaty playgrounds.
The program will run Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Anyone with questions about the pool or playground seasons or activities may contact Strandburg at cas@cityofwarrenpa.gov.
Information about city programs, services, and personnel is available at www.cityofwarrenpa.gov.