Memorial Park Closes Season with Community Appreciation Day

It has been a long hot summer that drew thousands of visitors to Morrisons Cove Memorial Park. Whether cooling off at the pool, enjoying weekend skating, bowling on the new lanes at the bowling alley, or a picnic in one of the pavilions, the park once again proved to be a favorite recreation destination.

To close out the summer season, the park hosted Community Appreciation Day on Sunday, Sept. 3, with free swimming, free skating, discount food at the pool as well as food specials at the Johnson Pavilion.

The theme of the day was "Stay Drug Free at MCMP," with Operation Our Town, and local police and firefighters were on hand to talk safety.

Martinsburg Borough Police Chief Kerry Hoover was set up with goodie bags for the kids. Hoover said events like Community Appreciation Day is an opportunity to show kids that police are their friends and not people to be afraid of.

"Sometimes a child's first interaction with a police officer is during a call and that can be scary for them," Hoover said. "This is a chance to let them see the car, see the equipment we use and ask questions about what police do to help the community."

Hoover said it is important for children to know that police work is not all about catching the bad guys.

"It's about serving and protecting and showing kids we are here for things other than just arresting people," he said.

Martinsburg and Roaring Spring fire companies brought fire trucks to the park and used the opportunity to teach fire prevention and safety.

Martinsburg Fire Chief Randy Acker said with summer ending and winter approaching, it was a good event to reach out to kids.

"We do a lot of programs during the year, and we will be going to school's again this year, but we like to take advantage of every opportunity to get kids involved in fire safety and prevention," Aker said.

Acker said teaching kids about fire safety and prevention benefits their families because once kids learn some of the steps their families can take to stay safe, they eagerly share that information with their parents.

"Children take it very seriously," Acker said. "They absorb what they learn and are excited to take that home and share it with their parents."

Roaring Spring Fire Chief James Musselman agreed that children take fire safety and prevention seriously and that transfers to other people in their house.

"When your kid comes home and wants to know if you are doing everything you can to prevent a fire or how to safely escape a fire, you start to take a closer look and make changes that need to be made."

While Community Appreciation Day marked the end of summer fun at the park, the pool will host one more day of swimming on Sept. 9, with Doggie Dip Day from noon to 3 p.m.