FUN! Day Returns to Spy Pond Park September 09, 2017

On Saturday September 9, 2017 (10 am to 1 pm), Spy Pond Park will host its annual day of FUN! (rain date Sep. 10). Come celebrate all that Spy Pond and its public park have to offer. No matter your age, there’s something for everyone. Enjoy music from the lawn as you ferry to Elizabeth Island (leaving from the boat ramp throughout the afternoon).

FUN! Day Music Schedule:

• 10:15 am – Brass Band – The Lokensgard Blechbaser Ensemble offers polkas and more
• 11:00 am – The Intuition Quartet –A woman’s a cappella group
• 11:45 am – Aunt Mimi –Acoustic duo with hits and out-of-the-way tunes from the 2000's, 90's, 80's, 70's, 60's, 50's ...
• 12:30 pm – Joe Burns and the Swing Saw Boys–Americana music and blues

Both the sound and instruments of the Lokensgard Blechbaser Ensemble Brass Band shine in Spy Pond Park on Sept. 9, 2017.–Photo by Fred Moses

On Elizabeth Island, an Arlington Land Trust guide will lead tours of the surprisingly varied terrain on this charming island encircled by Spy Pond waters. Explore the marsh, the high meadow, and tread paths beneath the tree canopy.

Back on the mainland, wander down the park path where art and nature adventures abound. Join the Friends of Spy Pond Park in dedicating Spy Pond Park's newly decorated tot lot bench. Designed by artist Anthony Vogel, the bench sports jaunty new colors to delight kids and parents alike.

Nature lovers, CATCH BUGS!, then stop to learn about the importance of clean water. The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) will be testing Spy Pond's water throughout the afternoon. Using an instrument called a Secchi disk, the Watershed volunteers perform dissolved oxygen and water clarity tests on our pond's water to determine its quality.

With the natural beauty of the park for inspiration, stop at the many tables offering crafts with Art Beat materials, Colors of the Earth crafts, and games for all ages.

Toddlers will enjoy a table reserved just for them, chock full of age-appropriate activities, while older children can complete paper puzzles (containing tips for caring for the park), then scour the park for clues in the Spy Pond History Scavenger Hunt. Kids completing a puzzle or hunt will win a prize!

Kids of all ages always line up to transform themselves into Spiderman, or suns, rain clouds or bunnies, sharks, stars or lightening. Just look for face painting at the chairs under a tree.

Face painting is always a highlight of the Spy Pond Park Fun Day. --Photo by Fred Moses.

Finally, FUN!-goers can participate in the time-honored craft of boat making, using natural materials that won't pollute the pond if winds blow wrong or boats capsize. Select the perfect piece of bark for boat and sail, connect with mud-daubed sticks and you are ready to launch at North Beach, accessible via wheelchair-friendly ramp. Keeping all afloat is a tricky proposition, but it's a fun problem to solve.

Top off your day like royalty ... make nature crowns with Tinkergarten. Wear them proudly, remembering all you did at this year's Spy Pond Park FUN! Day.

For more information: www.friendsofspypondpark.org .

A coalition of sponsors has made this day possible:

-- Friends of Spy Pond Park -- Arlington Land Trust (Sponsors) -- Kickstand Cafe Open Mic (Music)

-- Arlington/Belmont Crew Team -- Mystic River Watershed Assoc. (MyRWA) – Tinkergarten

-- Art Beat -- The Book Rack -- Mass Audubon Habitat, Belmont

Special thanks to event organizers Betsy Leondar-Wright (coordinator of volunteers & children’s activities), Karen Grossman (Friends of Spy Pond Park), Mark Sandman and Joe Burns (Kickstand Cafe/Open Mic), for coordinating the musicians and sound, Elaine Crowder (Publicity) and all participating volunteers.

Press Release - Submitted by Elaine Crowder