NATIONAL ‘KIDS TO PARKS DAY’ EVENTS PLANNED AT HODGKINS PARK IN SOMERVILLE, MAY 18

SOMERVILLE - The City of Somerville

will join more than 300 communities across the country to celebrate National

Kids to Parks Day on May 18. Kids to Parks Day, in its third year, is organized

by the National Park Trust to celebrate the First Lady's Let's Move Outside! Initiative, encouraging active play and utilizing

open space in cities and towns across the 50 states. On Saturday, May 18 from 1

to 3 p.m., the City of Somerville will host family-friendly activities at

Hodgkins Park on Holland Street, including Somerville Youth Football League

registration and info sessions, Parkour and Shobu Aikido demonstrations, and

youth activities by Somerville Recreation. The event is free and open to all

members of the public.

"In a City of just 4.1 square miles,

our parks, playgrounds and open spaces are at a premium. We have made a strong commitment

to preserving, updating and increasing open space throughout the City, and we

take every opportunity we can to showcase our community gems and to encourage

opportunities for being active," said Mayor Curtatone. "First Lady Michelle

Obama has been a tremendous activist and role model in terms of addressing

childhood obesity by promoting physical activity, and National Kids to Parks

day is a great extension of her Let's

Move! initiative. We look forward to continuing to grow our own Kids to

Parks Day movement here in Somerville. This year, it also happens to coincide

with our popular PorchFest, so it will be a great day to get out and enjoy the

outdoors on May 18."

For a full list of national Kids to

Parks Day events go to www.kidstoparks.org