It was presumed on, then off, then on again, but the City of Warren’s Summer Playground Program is winding down for 2021.

“Our mission for the playground program is that children are able to have safe, supervised fun every day at our busiest parks in the city,” Ryan Zavinski, who coordinates the program, said.

Feedback from parents has been that they are “thankful to have somewhere to send their kids” where they can “be free” and “have fun.”

Zavinski said the city’s program is less regimented from a schedule perspective, allowing participants to “just be kids. It’s kids being kids.”

Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Lyric Lawson climbs on the playground at Beaty Park Tuesday.

“Each day, children took (part) in fun, supervised activities,” he explained. “Notably going to the CAR pool every week, getting to participate in science projects presented by the Warren County 4-H extension, caring for flowers with the Warren Garden Club and playing various playground activities.”

The program was open to children ages 7 to 14 and runs from June 14 through this Friday, Aug. 6.

A partnership with the Warren County School District resulted in free lunch being provided at the parks, as well.

The city didn’t hold the program in 2020 and was planning on not holding it in 2021 until city council intervened. Zavinski said “a lot” of the kids were “happy to come back.”

Playground supervisors included Ellie Lobdell, Leah Peterson and Jessica Myschisin at Beaty and Kelsey and Madeline Fadale at Lacy.

Zavinski thanked city staff — police, fire and public works — for their help is pulling it off.

The city received $3,200 in donations to help offset the costs of the program. Donors included Jones Chevrolet, State Farm Insurance Agency, United Refining Company, Ed Shults of Warren, Superior Tire & Rubber Corp., Betts Industries, Stapleford & Byham and Larson Karly Architects, P.C.

A total of 95 kids registered for the program. Attendance fluctuated between 20 and 30 each day at Beaty and about half that many at Lacy.

Zavinski said the program “feels mostly back to normal, (a) return to form.”