Art In The Park

Programs

Sep 6

Art in the Park is a series of events during the summer and early fall that aim to bring resources and safe spaces for families and youth living in and around the Fourth Plain neighborhoods. The events offer a great opportunity for families and youth to enjoy, have fun, and create valuable memories together. They provide a variety of activities suitable for all ages, including face painting, dancing, games, and arts and crafts.

Children painting a mural provided by La Casita Art Gallery and Cultural Center.

Parents had been surprised and delighted to come across these events close to their homes. One mom had shared, "I was on my way home from the store when my daughter said, 'Look, there's a slide!'" After bringing her daughter, she also invited other family members to bring their kids. The children took turns sliding down an inflatable slide provided by Val’s Party House, while others took turns getting their faces painted and enjoyed snacks while waiting. Eventually, they had all gathered for a game of tag.

We love seeing families coming together and leaving with cherished memories. We are also grateful for the involvement of our partners and would like to acknowledge Fort Vancouver Regional Library for their involvement in all our Art in the Park events. They had generously provided every child with a complimentary book and a custom-designed pin. La Casita had also been a valuable participant in all of our Art in the Park events, providing community art and introducing culturally specific art to kids. Vancouver Ballet and Folklorico delighted kids with cultural dances and crafts.

During our first Art in the Park event we had the joy of having Airway Science for Kids who shared information about their summer programs, provided toy planes for the kids to assemble, and handed out fun swag. At our last Art in the Park event, the NAACP joined us and contributed back-to-school supplies, further enhancing the experience for the children.

Columbia Play Project, which had participated in both our inaugural and most recent Art in the Park events, had been instrumental in offering exploratory play through their Mobile Children's Museum. Vancouver Park and Recreation played a crucial role in allowing us to use neighborhood parks. They had invited kids to participate in deciding on activities they would like to see in their parks.

We also extend our gratitude to the Clark County Food Bank for generously providing invaluable contributions of food bank items for families who had attended Art in the Park, including WSU Snap-Ed for providing demonstrations of grilled veggies and healthy recipes.

The success of these events were made possible through the collaborations and contributions from the City of Vancouver, Port of Vancouver, Fourth Plain Forward staff including some of our board members, and our wonderful community members who had attended and supported these events.

Fourth Plain Community Commons Coordinator, Gemma Somol face painting children’s face at Art In The Park.

Art in the Park events have been successful in bringing families together, providing a space for families to come together and enjoy a day of fun. We are excited to continue hosting Art in the Park events in the future and hope to see even more families attend and enjoy the events. We are also looking to partner with more community members to make these events stronger and continue to build community.

Thank you to all of our community partners for their hard work and dedication to making Art in the Park a success. We are forever grateful for their support and look forward to working together in the future.