By WHITNEE ICE
St. Joseph Post
A new program called Parks Passport is here for the summer in St. Joseph.
The program goal is to get people out in the community and exploring what St. Joseph has to offer with its park system.
Parks spokesperson Jessica Oshel says this year is the first year for the program.
“This year is kind of a trial run so we’ll see what works, what doesn’t work and we'll try to improve on it in the next couple of years, but we would really like it to be an annual thing,” Oshel tells St. Joseph Post.
Oshel says there are QR codes to scan at the playground participating in the passport program.
“For the park challenges, when you’re visiting the park, you will take a photo of your little adventurer completing the challenge or after they’ve completed the challenge,” says Oshel. “You will either send that to us via Facebook, Instagram or my email.
Oshel says there is no particular order that you have to complete the parks and challenges.
“If you want to do five in one weekend, you can do all five parks and challenges in one weekend, or you can do just the designated feature ones each week, or if you want to knock all of them out in one week you can do that,” says Oshel. “It’s all based on your own time line, your own availability. We really want to make this as flexible as you can so as many kids can participate.”
Oshel says she hopes families that can’t travel this summer due to the pandemic, can find an escape within St. Joseph and all its park system has to offer. To learn more information, visit the St. Joseph’s Parks department Facebook page or website.
