Mediaboss Marketing

Staff photo / Bob CouplandKarleigh Thompson, 10, of Warren, left, gets help from her grandmother, Lisa Bhaih of Warren, in preparing a kite for flying at the Kite Festival on Sunday at Austintown Township Park. Proceeds from the event will cover playground equipment at Leonard Kirtz School in Austintown.

AUSTINTOWN Many children, and some adults, from Mahoning and Trumbull counties gathered to fly kites at Austintown Township Park on Sunday as part of a fundraiser to get handicapped-accessible and other special playground equipment for the Leonard Kirtz School.

Dodging a few wet and muddy spots, children ran through the grass to launch their kites into the sky.

Johanna de Blok of Austintown said the event raised money to buy equipment for children with physical handicaps and other special needs at the Leonard Kirtz School playground in Austintown, similar to playground equipment in place at Walnut Grove in Canfield.

It is extremely encouraging to see the community come together for this. Its heartwarming that people are here for such a good cause. To be able to get this for our township makes me very proud, de Blok said.

She and her husband, Juriaan de Blok, brought their children and friends to the kite festival.

Brenda Rider of Austintown, event coordinator, said each child received a free kite, with nearly 400 given away.

Everything for the kids is free. They get a kite and fly them outside in the park or take them home, she said. Everything today was donated to help get the equipment for the playground.

Funds were raised through other activities at the kite festival, including a basket raffle and 50-50 raffle, as well as concessions.

Various other organizations and groups attended, including the Austintown Police Department, which did a drone demonstration. Rider said events like this allow the children to see fire and police staff and their vehicles, and learn they are here to help them.

Gina Rozzo of Austintown brought her daughter, Aria Rozzo, 4, to the event.

We were supposed to go to a tea party at Piccadilly Parlor but I got the times mixed up so we came here instead. I am glad we are here, Gina Rozzo said.

Jessica Coggins of New Springfield brought her daughter, Emma Gustafson, 8, to the event.

I am glad to be able to get her outside for some fun. Too many kids want to stay inside and play on their electronic devices, so this is a nice change, she said.

Chris and Amanda Ruffner of Hubbard brought their children, Ella, 8, and Avery, 6, to the event.

They wanted to fly kites and we went out with the kites and waited for good wind waves for flying them, Chris Ruffner said.

Officials previously said it would cost about $250,000 to construct the playgrounds base with a goal of finishing the first phase in two years.

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

See the original post:
Kites take to the sky in Austintown | News, Sports, Jobs - Warren Tribune Chronicle