Anjali Salazar, 6, enjoyed the balloons.
“We played with water balloons, and filled them up. I played with a Frisbee with the cops,” she said, standing in wet clothes on Friday, July 15 after a day of fun.
She was among the children who played with water guns, water balloons, and other wet toys in James Braddock Park’s soccer field on Friday July 15. The North Bergen Public Library and Police Department funded the second annual Water Olympics for kids. The Olympics was a way to bring the community and police together, as well as a way to have fun and cool down. It was scheduled for 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., but it ended closer to 1 p.m.
“I had fun with the police and the library,” said Myriam, 8, last week. “It was good. I’d come for sure if they had it again. I had so much fun.”
Her mother Assia said, “We had so much fun we’re going to keep doing it at home.”
“We ran a team and had to spray the other cops with water guns.” — Andres Pineda
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Rao added in an email, “From start to finish, the soccer field was full of laughter and excitement as kids, police officers, and library staff raced around the field dodging water balloons and endless streams of water.”
“We ran a team and had to spray the other cops with water guns,” said Andres Pineda, 8, who attended with his sister Briana, 3.
Library members David Evertz and his son Lucas, 10, participate in other library programs. “I’m in the Minecraft club,” he said. “ I’m in reading enrichment classes.”
Lucas said he had fun at the Water Olympics.
Rao said, “The children and officers quickly became enamored with each other. Children who were once shy and reserved formed a bond with the local officers, which they aren’t soon to forget.”
Rao said she saw one little girl walking around with a cop to protect him from the water.
“It’s a fun event,” Rao said. “Gave the kids a great opportunity to get to know the community police officers.”
North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue provided the water, and local North Bergen EMS made sure children were safe.
Rao said, “We would like to thank Mayor Nicholas Sacco for his continued support, which gives us the opportunity to provide the programming we do to the community.”
Samantha Meyers can be reached at samantham@hudsonreporter.com .