May 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 11

tending the time from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. and admission was limited to
one-hour increments. Usually, tickets are sold for $2 per person ages
2 and older, but by changing them
to $5 per child, there was an accurate count for the number of prefilled treat bags. Then, adults and
babies just needed a free ticket in
order to have a precise head count.
(Adult tickets were limited to two
per child.) The first group was given from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. to enter,
look at the trucks, take pictures and
pick up their pre-filled treat bag on
the way out. The next group came
in from 11:20 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.,
and so on, with the fourth group
ending at 2:30 p.m.

STEP 3:

List all of the activities that are part of the event.
Look at each activity and ask, " Can
this be adapted to be physically distant and safe for all involved and
how? Or, should this activity be
removed from the event? " See the
chart on the right for reference.

QUESTIONS TO ASK:
Can we keep staff and participants
safe?

Yes

Is the event feasible with the current
restrictions?

Yes, as long as adaptations are made

Will we be providing the same
experience or better?

Different but equal experience

Will the budget at least break even?

Yes

Is it worth it financially and in value to
the customer experience?

Yes, without spending a lot we can
still provide a fun holiday-themed
experience and include the main
feature of trucks

Budget and Value.
By answering yes to all five of these
questions, a successful event can be
planned while adhering to all local, state and Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention guidelines.
All participants were emailed the
participant expectations ahead of
time, and all rules were followed.

Howard County Recreation and
Parks was able to provide the community with a fun and festive event
while maintaining safety, as well as
meeting the high expectations that
customers have come to know and
expect from the department.
Christine DiGioia is Event Coordinator for Howard County
Recreation and Parks (cdigioia@howardcountymd.gov).

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STEP 4: What new things can
be added that are budget friendly and meet physical distancing
guidelines?
* A scavenger hunt - printed and
handed out with a pencil
* Photo backdrops/frames -
children attending want to have
fun, see the trucks and get candy
and treats. The parents want cute
pictures of their children having
fun. " Photo frames " or " selfie
stations " can be set out using
borrowed and collected materials
to minimize costs.

STEP 5:

Ask five important
questions based on the following:
Safety, Feasibility, Experience,

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May 2021 - Parks & Recreation

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