Nationwide Children’s Hospital Expands Free Summer Events for Families

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - PlayStreets events are expanding to reach more children and families this summer with the announcement of two new locations in the Linden and South Side communities. Maize Manor United Methodist Church and The Reeb Avenue Center will be the new locations, inviting children and families to get outdoors with free games, food trucks, music, activities and more.

PlayStreets events - organized by Nationwide Children's Hospital's Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families initiative - promote health and wellness through outdoor play and social interaction. The events, which began in 2019, return on Saturday, May 4, at the Linden Fresh Market and will continue on select Saturdays through August in the South Side and Linden communities. More than 4,800 children, parents, caregivers and volunteers have attended PlayStreets events since its inception.

"Physical activity and social connection are important for children's development and well-being. PlayStreets provides an environment where neighbors can connect with each other, and children can have fun and meet new friends," said Nick Jones, vice president of community wellness at Nationwide Children's. "PlayStreets is part of our commitment to healthy neighborhoods, because we know health happens where kids live, learn and play."

Locations, dates and activities include:

Linden Events

• Location: Linden Fresh Market, 1464 Cleveland Ave.
• Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Schedule*:
  • May 4 - Featuring Johnson's Ice Cream, an inflatable obstacle course, criss-cross basketball, face painting and Nationwide Children's Sports Medicine.
  • June 1 - Featuring Chilljoy Hawaiian Shave Ice, a petting zoo with a camel, an inflatable Spiderman playground, a high striker carnival game, speed pitch radar, face painting and Nationwide Children's Sports Medicine.
  • July 6 - Featuring Kona Ice, an inflatable obstacle course, inflatable ball rolling game, giant Plinko-inspired game and NACHO Band.
  • August 3 - Featuring Little Ladies Soft Serve, a Star Wars obstacle course, Ultimate Slam Dunk Basketball and face painting.
• Admission: Free

• Location: Maize Manor United Methodist Church, 3901 Maize Road
• Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Schedule*:
  • July 20 - Featuring Johnson's Ice Cream, an inflatable obstacle course, inflatable ball rolling game and giant Plinko-inspired game.
  • August 17 - Featuring Chilljoy Hawaiian Shave Ice, a petting zoo with a camel, a Star Wars obstacle course, Ultimate Slam Dunk Basketball, face painting and a NACHO Band.
• Admission: Free

South Side Events

• Location: The Residences at Career Gateway, 755 E. Whittier St.
• Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Schedule*:
  • May 18 - Featuring Johnson's Ice Cream, face painting, an inflatable obstacle course and criss-cross basketball.
  • June 15 - Featuring Chilljoy Hawaiian Shave Ice, a petting zoo with a camel, an inflatable Spiderman playground, a high striker carnival game, speed pitch radar, face painting and Nationwide Children's Sports Medicine.
  • July 13 - Featuring Kona Ice, an inflatable obstacle course, inflatable ball rolling game, giant Plinko-inspired game and NACHO Band.
  • August 10 - Featuring Little Ladies Soft Serve, a Star Wars obstacle course, Ultimate Slam Dunk Basketball and face painting.
• Admission: Free

• Location: The Reeb Avenue Center, 280 Reeb Ave.
• Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Schedule*:
  • July 27 - Featuring Chilljoy Hawaiian Shave Ice, an inflatable obstacle course, inflatable ball rolling game, giant Plinko-inspired game and face painting.
  • August 24 - Featuring Chilljoy Hawaiian Shave Ice, a petting zoo with a camel, a Star Wars obstacle course, Ultimate Slam Dunk Basketball and NACHO Band.
• Admission: Free

*Activities and vendors subject to change; event will take place rain or shine.

To learn more about PlayStreets, visit NationwideChildrens.org/PlayStreets

About Nationwide Children's Hospital
Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report's 2023-24 list of "Best Children's Hospitals," Nationwide Children's Hospital is one of America's largest not-for-profit free-standing pediatric health care systems providing unique expertise in pediatric population health, behavioral health, genomics and health equity as the next frontiers in pediatric medicine, leading to best outcomes for the health of the whole child. Integrated clinical and research programs, as well as prioritizing quality and safety, are part of what allows Nationwide Children's to advance its unique model of care. Nationwide Children's has a staff of more than 14,000 that provides state-of-the-art wellness, preventive and rehabilitative care and diagnostic treatment during more than 1.7 million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children's physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.

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