Fun for all at Kids Equipment Day in Shrewsbury

By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter

Shrewsbury – What’s more fun than climbing on a big dump truck? How about a bunch of trucks? Especially if one is a kid (or kid at heart.)

On Saturday, June 2, the Shrewsbury Parks & Recreation and Highway departments joined forces to host their annual Kids Equipment Day at the Municipal Highway Garage located at 211 South St.

“Kids Equipment Day has been going on for about 14 years,” Nick Repekta, a foreman with the Shrewsbury Highway Department said. “We put out all our trucks, loaders, sweepers, and the police and fire join us. We do truck rides out back and we have popcorn for the kids and little hard hats. It’s a great day.”

“This event is held annually in conjunction with National Public Works Week with the New England Chapter of the American Public Works Association. This year’s theme is ‘The Power of Public Works’ and it is a way to highlight all that we do,” Angela Snell, director of Shrewsbury Parks & Recreation noted.

Kids of all ages were able to climb on the town’s big trucks and equipment such as snow plow trucks, backhoe, tractor, parks mowers, and a fire truck and police cruiser. In addition to free replica hard hats and popcorn, kids also were given stickers and other trinkets.

This year, in accordance with National Public Works Week, the town held a “Fill the Truck” event as a service project, to give back to the community. They collected toiletry items and cleaning products that were donated to St. Anne’s Human Services Food Pantry in Shrewsbury.