Seasonal & Holidays
Post Halloween Pumpkin Event a Smashing Success!
Tossing dozens of pumpkins down a sled hill after Halloween can be a thrilling sport, and you help the environment!
Over 60 people came out to the first annual Des Plaines Park District Pumpkin Smash on Sunday, November 1 at Arndt Park Sled Hill. Everyone who attended the free event brought along at least one pumpkin. Some pumpkins were carved, some painted, and some were just plain ol’ pumpkins.
The pumpkins were carried up to the top of Arndt Park Sled Hill and collectively sent rolling down the hill towards targets at the bottom. The pumpkins that survived the journey were gathered up and carried back for another round. When the pumpkins were damaged beyond competing, they were retired to the compost pile. By the end of the event, there was a significant pumpkin pile ready to compost. “Our goal for this event was to bring families out for a fun event, said Event Coordinator, Cindy Yelich, “as well as educate people about composting”. I feel like we successfully did both.” Yelich is a Recreation Supervisor for the Des Plaines Park District. Plans are already underway for the 2016 Pumpkin Smash.
For more information about all Des Plaines Park District programs visit www.DPParks.org or call 847-391-5700.
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Photo 1: Participants roll, kick, hoist, and toss pumpkins from the top of Arndt Park Sled Hill during the first Annual Pumpkin Smash on November 1, 2015.
Photo 2: “Everybody GO on three; One, Two, THREE!” Pumpkins are sent down the sled hill at Arndt Park in Des Plaines at the first annual Pumpkin Smash sponsored by the Des Plaines Park District.
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Photo 3: Bella Crowe is enthusiastic about the competition, but may have overestimated her ability to carry this pumpkin up the sled hill during the first annual Pumpkin Smash at Arndt Park.
Photo 4: These boys are ready to toss their pumpkin down the sled hill at Arndt Park in Des Plaines. Some of these pumpkins didn’t survive this round at the first annual Pumpkin Smash.
Photo 5: Darren Ganir tries a different technique, the over-the-head, backward throw. Ganir and his family had a great time at this first annual event and plan to attend next year’s Pumpkin Smash.
Photo 6: “To the Victor come the Spoils!” Maybe this doesn’t apply to the winners of the 2015 Des Plaines Park District Pumpkin Smash. These “Spoils” are ready for the compost pile, which was the plan for this first annual event.