The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Editorials

June 13, 2009

Our View: Cures for summer boredom

Parents in the Mankato region should have plenty of answers this year to the old summer complaint from kids that there is nothing to do and they’re bored.

By even a cursory examination, there are plenty of youth activities this summer, and the support for them continues to grow. The recent YMCA Strong Kids campaign recently surpassed its goal by raising $132,000 this year. That money helped more than 2,000 children, teens and adults become members of the YMCA and helps pay for some 750 programs.

Even smaller events, like the Songs on the Lawn every Thursday in June, helps get kids out of the house and involved in some activity, even if it’s for a couple of hours over lunchtime.

This past weekend, Mankato again hosted the Nature Valley Grand Prix bicycle race, which showcased hundreds of terrific athletes involved in a exciting racing event that carries riders for dozens of miles through the Mankato region. There was even a kids race event sponsored by Minnesota Iron and Metal.

The region also hosts a number regular places and activities that offer an answer to the summer boredom challenge. Sibley Park has a new farm animal zoo and has redeveloped park spaces. The gardens and playgrounds are now complemented by a new pergola built from a historic model of years past. There is swimming at Tourtellotte Pool and Spring Lake Park, not to mention the Hiniker Pond “pit.” Waseca has a new waterpark that has become popular with area residents. New Ulm has a unique sand-bottom pool at Flandreau State Park.

There are places for kids to gain some education at the same time they have fun. Farmamerica in Waseca offers a look into the area’s agricultural history. Mankato has the Hubbard House historic site and St. Peter offers the E. St. Julien Cox House.

Parents looking for children’s activities should also explore some of the area’s hidden treasures. Blue Earth and Nicollet counties both have beautiful county parks with walking trails and access to lakes and creeks. The region has top notch biking and waking trails that allow one to go from Rapidan to Faribault on a bike if one has the ambition. The Red Jacket Trail is connected to the Sakatah Trail via a nice trail along the Minnesota River. At one end of that trail is Mankato’s new Riverfront Park, expected to open later this summer.

Numerous opportunities exist for families to camp and fish and enjoy the outdoors in the region.

The Mankato region’s summer activities offer parents support for keeping the boredom to a minimum this summer. These activities also help keep the community strong and help maintain its national ranking as a good place for youth to grow.

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