Copperas Cove Parks & Rec holds Fly a Kite Day 

By PAMELA GRANT
Cove Leader-Press

Kites swooped and arced through the air as dozens of families took advantage of slightly lower temperatures and slightly breezier weather Saturday.

Copperas Cove Parks and Recreation continued to celebrate Parks and Recreation Month with a Fly A Kite event Saturday at Ogletree Gap from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Parks and Recreation had 150 free kites, mini beach balls, and several water bottles to give away for the event while supplies lasted. They also offered other activities like Giant Jenga, corn hole, chalk, bubbles, and more. There were several vendors in attendance as well.

Hunter Stuart attended, flying a little parrot kite to the delight of a young family friend who chased the kite round and round.

“We wanted to get out of the house,” said Stuart. “It’s a beautiful day and it’s always nice to get out and have fun.”

“This event is just for families to get out here, enjoy each other’s company, and fly a kite with the bit of wind that we actually got today,” said Caycee Hauck, recreation superintendent for Copperas Cove Parks and Rec. “We did this event a couple years ago for Parks and Rec Month, but when Covid hit, we couldn’t do it anymore. Now that we can go back outside and enjoy each other’s company, we decided to bring it back. It’s just fun to get the kids outside and to our parks.”

Several members of the Fire Department and a few from the Police Department were on hand to interact with the community. Many of the fire fighters played games with the community and even drew chalk fire trucks.

“With the fire department, we see people not at their best—when something’s gone wrong, they call us for help, but at an event like this, we get to interact with citizens on a different level. We’re here to hang out, have fun, and grow as a community…That’s why we like to come to these events,” said Captain Robert Hicks of the Copperas Cove Fire Department. “They get to look at the fire trucks, ask us questions, and hang out…The past couple of years with Covid, it’s just been rough for everybody. It’s good to have events like this so everyone can get out and get back to normal and interact with everyone and just grow as a community.”

Everyone at the event seemed to be having a great time playing with the kites and enjoying checking out the other activities as well.

“I’m a lover of kites,” said Sarah Dedmon who attended the event with her partner and several others all of whom she supplied a kite to. “Kites are cheap and fun.”

“It’s fun,” said Dedmon’s partner, Jennifer Mahoney. “Finding something that we both like and getting to do it together is awesome.”

Dedmon said that she loves the fact that the park offers free events like the ones on Saturday.

“It’s awesome to have things like this for the kids. It gets them out of the house and away from the tv,” said Dedmon. “It really brings the community together."

On Monday, July 18, from 7:30-9:30 p.m., a Senior Swim Night will be held at City Park Pool. Then on Wednesday, July 27, an Adaptive Swim Night will be held from 7:30-9:30 p.m.