Party in the Parks is returning this summer with more dates for kids to get out and have some fun.

The events are done by Impact Prevention and Prevention Specialist Eddie Neal was at the Lawrence County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday to update them.

He said in 2018, they held first Party in the Parks in Etna Street Park in Ironton and only 12 kids showed up.

“It didn’t seem like it was going to be anything that was going to continue,”

Now in its seventh year, the event has grown in popularity and in numbers.

“We are doing a total of nine Party in the Parks. We are going to do five in Lawrence County and four in Scioto County,” Neal said. “We’re going to alternate those week to week. The first one will be June 10 at Etna Street Park.”

The events have crafts, games, a dunk tanks, a Kona Ice truck and free food. Also on hand are fire, law enforcement and EMS squads at the parks and kids can look at fire engines, ambulances and patrol vehicles up close.

Neal said the final Party in the Parks in each county will do a Back to School Bash.

“Kids can get free school supplies. There is always a big need in our area, we want to partner with other entities and agencies to do those back to school drives.”

He thanked the commissioners, the Whole Child Committee, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, EMS and other agencies and people in the community that support the events.

“Thank you to those who take the time to help the children and families of Lawrence County,” Neal said.

The commissioners voted to donate $3,000 for the continuance of the Party in the Parks.

In other items on the agenda, the commissioners took the following actions:

• Approved the following floodplain permits submitted by the Soil and Water Conservation District, New: Jeffrey Fraser-Culvert project located at 9730 State Route 141 and Renewal Michael and Diana Donahoe-Stream maintenance project located at 17174 State Route 775.

• Approved a memorandum of understanding between the Statewide Consortium of County Law Library Resources Board and the Board of Lawrence County Board of Commissioners on behalf of the Lawrence County Law Library Resources Board, the consortium will provide a total grant award of $3,586.

The Commissioners meet at 10 a.m. Tuesdays on the third floor of the Lawrence County Courthouse.