Now I don’t mean to come across like a cheapskate. I love to spend money on our kids, but these gas prices lately have been totally destroying our cash-only envelope system! And when the “gas & grocery” envelope runs dry, the “entertainment” envelope is the first to take a hit. If you’re in that same boat: fear not! Owensboro has plenty of inexpensive ways to have fun with your kids, especially during the summer months. You just have to get a little creative sometimes. Here are some suggestions to make memories you’ll treasure without breaking your bank.
Spray Parks
Our boys can spend hours running through the water at spray parks– laughing, running, splashing, trying to guess where the water shoots next. We’ve been to the spray area at Legion Park when there were so many kids you couldn’t even count them all. The one at Yellow Creek is pretty popular as well. But did you know there is also a spray park at Panther Creek? It’s right in the front of the park by the new shelter house near Wayne Bridge Road. Grab some sunscreen, a few towels and a healthy snack and you’re good to go for a few hours.
Area Parks
One thing I’ve always loved about Owensboro is our park system. I can remember sliding down the rocket slide at Ben Hawes as a kid, and now our boys can climb straight up that same ladder to the second landing and zoom down that shiny metal sliding board. But the thing is there are lots of smaller neighborhood parks tucked away in almost every area of Owensboro. For example, Horse Creek Park off 54 has a great new playground. From our house, we can walk to York Park or Shifley Park, which are hardly ever crowded. For longer walks or wagon rides we can catch the greenbelt. Chautauqua, Moreland, Legion, English, Thompson-Berry– why not go on a “park tour” and try to hit them all this summer? Each one is a new adventure.
Western Kentucky Botanical Gardens
Speaking of the great outdoors, the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden is a beautiful place for a spring or summer walk. Just head down 4th St. to Carter Road and look for the large concrete silos marking the entrance. Admission is only $1 for kids and $5 for adults. The trail winds through 8 acres of flowerbeds, gardens and past a small pond. Pack a picnic for Thompson-Berry Park and you’ve got a great afternoon! For more info: e-mail [email protected] or call (270) 852-8925.
Daviess County Public Library
You can always head indoors and enjoy the activities planned at the library on the second floor in the kid’s area. In the past they’ve had Lego Nights, puzzle and board games, craft time, and other fun stuff. They’re still working on scheduling, but the theme for this summer’s programming will be based around Ripley’s “Believe it or Not.” Call (270) 684-0211 near the end of May for details.
Museums
The Rotary Club “Playzeum” alone is well worth the $3 admission to the Owensboro Museum of Science and History (2 and under free). Kids will get a kick out of climbing through the tunnel overhanging Allen Street and the big tree house. All the Lightning McQueen fans in your house will love the NASCAR exhibit in the “Speedzeum,” featuring Owensboro natives Darrel & Michael Waltrip, the Green family, and the Hayden brothers. “Encounter” will keep them busy for a while too. If the museum is something your kids really love you may consider the family membership options, which start at $40/year and are good for a network of 300 other museums. Call (270) 687-2732 for more details.
You can also visit the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art. Visit ARTLAND, an interactive art studio created especially for children ages 4 to 10. It is a special place designed to challenge and stimulate the imagination while allowing children to create works of art at their own pace. ARTLAND features an art laboratory fully equipped with supplies and materials for making works of art and is complemented by child-sized easels and tables. Instruction is provided by art students from area colleges for seasonally themed projects. ARTLAND is free and open to all. Call (270) 685-3181 for more details.
Get Creative
Every now and then you just have to think a little outside the box. A friend of mine called one of the firehouses and set up a visit for him and his little girl. The firemen met them at the station, gave them a tour and gave her a plastic fire hat and a coloring book. Priceless!
More than once I’ve taken our boys to the northwest parking lot at the airport to watch the planes. One advantage of our small airport is you can actually see the planes land, taxi down the runway, and pull up to the terminal from the fence in that parking lot.
As summer approaches and daylight gets longer, I hope these ideas help you and your family make some great memories this summer.