Best of the Best: Looking Back at RPR Summer 2012

We say the same thing every year around this time in August, but only because it's so true - we can't believe how fast the summer flew by! From Kickers and Sluggers to Friday Field Trips to Discover Your Parks, Summer 2012 was packed full with fun activities for the whole community to enjoy!

But don't take our word for it...check our numbers! Each summer we are reminded how fortunate we are to have the excited and energetic participants we do. So thank you for returning to our programs year after year and showing us that parks really do "Make Life Better"!

Summer Camps 2012: A whopping 1,031 participants
Friday Trips & Adventures: 244 participants
Passport to Play: 98 participants
Preschool Offerings: 211 participants
Summer Spectacular: 133 participants
Summer Sports: 570 participants
Kicker & Slugger Sports: 417 participants
Youth Leagues: 103 participants
Teen Offerings: 54 participants
Adults: 178 Adult Softball Teams, 24 Sand Volleyball Teams, 9 Co-Rec Soccer Teams, 1,750 golfers, and 71 trip participants
Plus...events like the Puppet Wagon and Discover Your Parks drawing hundreds to various parks

And what do these numbers add up to? About 5,000 participants in RPR programs this summer! Way to go Roseville! Check out some of our highlights of Summer 2012 below.

Hi-Fives after every "Kickers" game!

Showing Olympic Spirit at Summer Spectacular.

Preschoolers had a blast at Sports of All Sorts, which for many was their first athletic experience.

The whole team strikes a pose.

Even just playing on the playground is a blast!

Driving around the Puppet Wagon...always a fun job!  

Tire Swing!

Jumping the hurdles at our Youth Track program!

And who can forget Rosetown Playhouse's "Twist of Fate", which debuted to great reviews at the MN Fringe Fest!

Summer Entertainment at the Central Park Ampitheatre provided lots of opportunities to get up on your feet.

The Leaders In Training Car Wash raised over $200 for Feed My Starving Children! Great job!

Discover Your Parks brought events and presentations to many of their events, giving kids a chance to learn about all sorts of critters...even baby crocodiles!

Thank you for your support this summer, and be sure to keep in touch with us throughout the year on Facebook and Twitter. Don't forget to register for Fall and Winter programs!  

Join us at the first ever Flying Colors Community Festival next week

Even though August and some of the last days of summer are upon us, we can still enjoy recreation, the outdoors and other events while they last. And next Thursday evening, Roseville Central Park Foundation is hosting their first ever Flying Colors Community Festival.

The first event of its kind by the Foundation, Director Harv Moen said the previous annual fundraiser of a dinner and raffle was too expensive and tickets were sold at too high of prices.

"We asked ourselves, what can we do differently?" Moen said.

Partnering with Roseville Parks and Recreation, the Foundation decided to host a more community and family-friendly event, and the Flying Colors Community Festival was born.

Admission to the event is free, and attendees can enjoy a variety of fun activities. Inflatable fun, removable tattoos, a bird release by the Raptor Center, an animal release, live entertainment, puppet shows, raffles and kite stunt demos are all included in the event lineup. Some of the notable events for the night include kite building and tethered hot air balloon rides.

Moen said the Foundation's last major project was installing bathrooms at the Central Park Arboretum, which are now enjoyed by visitors and greatly appreciated by wedding parties.

"The next main project is way signage...replacing the signs along the paths at Central Park" Moen said. The Foundation hopes to have the first sign built and displayed at the upcoming Festival.

If you would like more information about the Flying Colors Community Festival, please contact the Roseville Central Park Foundation or check out rosevillecentralpark.com. And don't forget to join us Thursday August 9, 5-9pm at the Dale Street Fields!

Rosetown Playhouse's "Twist of Fate" a success, with performances at the MN Fringe Festival!

Although we have mostly blogged about our sports and playground programs this summer, Roseville Parks and Recreation offers many programs in the arts and theater thanks to a longstanding partnership with the Rosetown Playhouse.


 "Twist of Fate" debuted last weekend at Villa Park. The play depicts two worlds and two cultures working together as one. Stranded on a deserted island after cyclones hit Burma and the U.S., both Karen and American teens learn to work together to survive.

Check out pictures from their show below!

Playwright and Director Tyler Olsen welcomes the audience to the show.

The group of American teens curiously checks out their surroundings after being stranded on the island.

The Karen teens, with some dressed in traditional outfits, also survey the island and their new home.

With the conflicts of living on a deserted island inevitable, the teens face off.

The two groups eventually learn to work together.

Dancing was scattered throughout the show!

St. Paul teen Sarah Smith leads the group in a dance.

Missed the shows this weekend? Come see Roseville teens perform at the Minnesota Fringe Festival!

All shows are at the Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis.

• Thursday, Aug. 2 at 7 p.m.
• Friday, Aug. 3 at 8:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 5 at 4 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 9 at 8:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 12 at 1 p.m.

 Hope to see you there!