The heat didn’t keep area kids out of Central Park this June for the Washington Public Library’s summer reading program.

After cancelling in-person events last summer the library held all of its storytimes and children’s activities in Central Park this year, as well as family programs with the Absolute Science Bubble Show, magician Mikayla Oz, and musician Mr. Taylor Sings. Library Director Bryna Walker shares the results of having these events outside, “So we’ve been really happy with having it scheduled in the park. So that was a decision that we made back in February along with some other southeast Iowa directors we decided, ‘Yes, because we don’t know the COVID, what it will be like in the summer, let’s go ahead and just schedule them, have them approved by council to be in the park.’ It is like the best thing that we have ever done, because our numbers are very, very high. Jenisa [Harris] has had great turnout with the programs.”

As this year’s summer reading theme was “Reading Colors Your World,” the library wrapped up the program with a color and water balloon fight for the kids in their back alley this Saturday. There is still some fun being offered by the library this month with Miss Iowa Grace Lynn Keller having songs and storytime at 10 a.m. in Central Park tomorrow, and an Olympic-themed take and make bag on July 23rd.