Crocker Park Block Party Returns This June

WESTLAKE, OH — Crocker Park's summer kick-off Block Party will be held June 13.

The event will include a morning run with dogs at the Crocker Bark 5K & 1-Mile Walk. There is then a free party throughout the streets of Crocker Park. This year, several groups and departments from the city of Westlake will offer activities, games, exhibits and demos on the theme of personal safety.

“The concept for Crocker Bark & Crocker Park Block Party is to connect with our local community and invite families to enjoy the day together while learning valuable lessons on personal safety and wellness in an interactive way,” said Stacie Schmidt, vice president of marketing and communications for Stark Enterprises, which operates Crocker Park.

The Crocker Bark 5K & 1-Mile walk starts at 9:30 a.m. at Market Square. Runners and walkers proceed through Westlake before circling back. The race is open to leashed dogs and humans of all stripes. Registration is $30 per person, a portion of the proceeds go to support Westlake's K9 unit.

After the race, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Block Party will take over Crocker Park. Planned activities include:

• Meet and Greets with Westlake Police Department law enforcement officers, SWAT, Bomb Unit, Cleveland Metroparks’s Mounted Unit, and University Hospital- St. John Westshore.

• Touch-A-Truck, where you can get up close and explore inside Westlake’s police cruisers, EMS, and more.
• Internet safety and “stranger danger” seminars with the prosecutor’s office and international crimes against children mobile command center.
• K-9 demonstrations.
• Live music.
• Sidewalk chalk.
• Rock climbing wall.
• Gardening classes by Barnes Nursery.
• Storytime for all ages with Barnes & Noble.
• Vendors and exhibitors.
• Food trucks.

“We are so excited to be partnering with so many wonderful organizations and safety departments to bring this fun, free and family centered event to Crocker Park for the first time this June. We are ready to get outside and get together as a community and we invite all to join us!” Schmidt said.