With swimming off limits at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Pool at Lafayette Park, kids and teens looking to cool off this summer have lots of other options.
There are parks, libraries, and beaches in abundance.
The city has 23 parks, large and small, and many with playgrounds and shady areas for walking, bicycling and skating. Some have baseball, basketball and tennis courts, too.
Community Development Recreation offers the Summer Lunch in the Park program all summer. Park activities begin at 10 a.m. followed by a free lunch to all kids, ages 18 and under. CDREC, 72 Bank St., also offers additional summer programs like soccer camp, cheerleading camp and a neighborhood computer center, all with very low fees. Visit www.fallriveryouthzone.com for more information.
The main Public Library and the East and South Branch libraries have lots of fun -- and educational -- programs for the kids. Listed on the events calendar are storytimes, crafts, sand castle camp, Spanish storytime, and puppet shows.
On Friday, a fairytale Hop with Mikey Maestro is planned outside the main library, 104 N. Main, from 11 a.m. to noon, for a magical musical morning. Children may attend dressed as their favorite fairytale characters while they dance and sing to an assortment of favorite tunes. Parents may bring a blanket and picnic lunch to the event. To learn more about library events, call 508-324-2700 Ext. 4 or email dmello@sailsinc.org.
Other area libraries, in Swansea, Somerset, Tiverton and Westport, also offer a slew of activities open to the public. Visit their web sites for events listings. For example, the Somerset Public Library, 1464 County St., offers Around the World Crafts every Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m.
On real hot days, area beaches make a nice escape. Somerset and Swansea both have a town beach. In Somerset, the Town Beach, off Riverside Avenue, has a sandy beach and grassy picnic area. There’s a playground and snack bar, too. The Swansea Town Beach, a sandy beach with ocean breezes, is located in Ocean Grove. Grinnell’s Beach in Tiverton, off Main Road, has a playground. Day passes to those beaches generally cost under $10 per vehicle.
Horseneck Beach in Westport is offering lots of summer programs this year. Coming up is the early morning plover walk on Thursday, July 21, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Later that day, from 2 to 3 p.m., learn about the various crustaceans that live at the beach. On Friday, explore the salt marsh from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
All programs are free and open to the public. There is a $7 per car parking fee. Bring water, wear sunscreen/bug spray, dress in layers, and wear good footwear. An adult must accompany children. Rain cancels events. For more information call 508-636-8816. Horseneck Beach State Reservation is located on Westport Point in Westport.
The Freetown State Forest, Slab Bridge in Assonet, is a good spot to cool off from the city heat. Just minutes from Fall River, it offers a picnic area, walking trails, fields and a wading pool. Call-508 644-5522 for information.
The Swansea and Dartmouth malls are both good summer resources. They offer summer reading programs and other activities for children. Visit www.visitswanseamall.com and www.shopdartmouthmall.com.
Email Deborah Allard at dallard@heraldnews.com.
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