On Friday, June 27th the Lyons Township Mental Health Commision brought together the park districts of Bridgeview, Justice, Summit, and Beford Park to host a “Summer Sunshine Round Up Rodeo Picinic” at the Summit Park District. The community event drew residents aged 55+ from throughout the Township for line dancing, walking through nature, planting native plants with the Lyons Township interns, and dining on delicious, freshly grilled cheeseburgers and hotdogs served in part by Bridgeview Park District Treasurer Mariam Ahmad.
74-year-old Bridgeview resident Ken Ejma and three of his friends rode the bus provided by Lyons Township to get to the activity-filled event.
“It’s funny because I came to this park decades ago as a kid, and now I’m back helping to plant this native garden,” explained Mr. Ejma with a smile as he filled dirt around the newest milkweed plant in the raised bed. He appreciated the opportunity to go out with his friends while giving back to the community he’s benefited from all his life.
In addition to swamp milkweed, attendees planted pale purple cone flower and aromatic aster to provide valuable resources for native pollinators and birds.
Residents also got their bodies moving through the line dancing that featured fun songs with simple instructions for the whole group to follow. The engaging social event put on by multiple local governments highlights the importance of cooperation for improving our community and environment.
