Green Bay's Parkee Program at Mather Heights Park Tuesday, June 11th, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Tuesday marks the first day of another summer of Green Bay’s Parkee Program.
The Parkee Program is in its 100th year of giving children in Green Bay a free way to stay active.
Over the years, Laura Marclin’s 10-year-old daughter has been taking advantage of the program.
“It just gave her something to do, get out of the house, just be around other people, other kids her age,” said Marclin.
Playground leaders, called Parkees, help organize games and other events for the kids at each Parkee location, like Mather Heights Park.
This marks 15 years now for parkee Steven Johnson.
“It’s a large variety of kids that come out to the park for any reasons. Whether they’re bored and, you know, just want to get away from the sibling, or it’s that they just come here avidly for the program,” said Johnson.
16 parks in Green Bay have Parkees — eight on the west side and eight on the east side.
“The goal, eventually, staff pending, need and want in our community pending, is to expand those sites as well,” said Green Bay Parks Dept. Recreation Supervisor Emma Magadanz.
Barring any severe weather, leaders say all Parkee programs will go on, rain or shine.
“Whether it’s raining outside, the Parkees will still be here. They’ll be underneath the shelter or inside the shelter doing different games, activities,” said Green Bay Parks Dept. Deputy Director James Andersen.
Lunches will be available for free to kids ages six to 18 years old beginning Wednesday.
Area organizations, like the Brown County Library and the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, will also be at the parks to offer both fun and education.
“We want the kids to have a safe outlet where they can, they’re not at home on their phones, they’re not playing video games. They’re here in the parks and they’re enjoying some of the beautiful spaces that we have in Green Bay,” said Magadanz.
The Parks Dept. says they are currently taking applications to become a seasonal Playground Leader. Parkees will be on-site at all 16 locations Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. until mid-August.
Sites are closed on July 4 and August 1. For more information on the Parkee Program, including special events, click here.
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