By SALINA POST
Join the Salina Regional Health Foundation at dusk Saturday for the debut of a new holiday lighting attraction.
The foundation will kick off the holiday season with the illumination of holiday lights at the Center Street Park, the home of Olivia's Playground. The event coincides with downtown's Holiday Kickoff on Saturday.
The park is located at the intersection of Center and Fourth streets near the Smoky Hill River Channel in central Salina. While the lights will be visible from Center Street, the best way to view the attraction will be on foot using the quarter-mile walking/running trail that winds around the park. Five themed displays are included around the path: Elf Village, Penguin Park, Secret Garden, 12 Days of Christmas and Winter Magic.
Olivia’s Playground at Center Street Park opened in June 2019 as a multigenerational park where people of all ages and abilities can exercise and play together. The park features
interactive games and many play structures, slides and swings for kids of all abilities. There are also exercise and fitness structures in addition to the walking/running trail.
Salinans Sid and Susy Reitz were instrumental in bringing the park to the community. They were inspired by their granddaughter, Olivia Bloomfield, who uses a wheel chair and enjoys playing on inclusive playgrounds near her hometown in Leawood. The Reitz’s saw the need for an inclusive playground that was centrally located in Salina and open year-round, and worked with the Salina Regional Health Foundation to make it a reality.
The Reitz’s also have helped lead efforts to bring the holiday lighting display to the playground this year, according to information from the foundation. Funding for the project was supported through a significant grant from the Don C. and Florence M. McCune Foundation and a gift from the Reitz family.
“Our family has always enjoyed seeing the various Christmas displays and we felt it would be wonderful to use the park, and the walking path, and make it a winter wonderland for everyone to enjoy,” Sid Reitz said. “We have always loved Christmas and we wanted to share the magical spirit of the holidays with all ages and abilities.”
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The lights at Center Street Park will be on each evening through the holidays and the Salina Regional Health Foundation plans to make decorating the park an annual event.
“The addition of holiday lights is another way for the community to enjoy the beauty of the park and we hope to be able to continue to build on it in the future,” said Marla McElderry, executive director of the Salina Regional Health Foundation.
Downtown holiday celebration
Activities downtown begin in the morning when the Big Brothers Big Sisters 11th annual Frosty Fun Run takes off at 9 a.m. on N. Santa Fe Avenue near the giant mural on the old H.D. Lee Mill elevator. Participants who haven't yet picked up their packets can do so beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday at the event location. Additionally, the children's Santa Sprint is scheduled to being at approximately 10 a.m., once the 5K and one mile participants have completed their races, according to information from Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Other downtown holiday activities include the following.
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Make your own Christmas Cards at the Salina Art Center, 242 S. Santa Fe Avenue
Noon-6 p.m.
Letters to Santa at Streit Sandblasting and Stickit Vinyl Graphics, 111 S. Santa Fe Avenue
Photos with Santa at Sharp Performance, 131 S. Santa Fe Avenue
1-3 p.m.
Free Christmas cookie decorating kits and canned food drive sponsored by the Bank of Tescott, outside Martinelli's Little Italy, 158 S. Santa Fe Avenue
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Live nativity performed by members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in the parking lot at Pioneer President's Place, 245 S. Eighth
4-6 p.m.
Animals from Rolling Hills Zoo and sugar cookies baked by Seraphim Bread, The Flower Nook, 208 E. Iron Avenue
4:30-6 p.m.
Cocoa and bottled water at Wedel Financial Group, 144 S. Santa Fe Avenue
5:15 p.m.
Pre-Parade of Lights performances in front of the Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue
6 p.m.
30th annual Downtown Parade of Lights. The parade will travel from the Elm Street/N. Santa Fe Avenue intersection south on Santa Fe to the intersection with Prescott Avenue.