“Wait for it, wait for it” the parents of anxious kids told their children as they tried to hold them back from getting a head start. Children of Michigan City from toddlers to 12-year olds gathered in Washington Park on this beautiful Saturday at the 2nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt to find out what the Easter Bunny, well in this case bunnies, left for them scattered over the south lawns of the park. “Look a blue one,” “Ohhhh a GREEN one,” but all eyes were scanning for the coveted golden eggs for inside these golden eggs held a ticket for a grand prize!
“Eighteen thousand eggs have been stuffed, 4,000 I stuffed myself and my fingers still hurt,” Tim Richardson, Chief of Operations at MCPD, said over the loud speaker to the crowd.
Garden Estates was the location of the first Easter Egg Hunt, which was started by Detective Marty Corley and Officer Lendell Hood and was a huge success. They decided to expand the event to make it communitywide. The event this year was hosted again by the Michigan City Police Department and the Office of Mayor Ron Meer. Volunteers came from all over to help stuff eggs and donate candy. Captain Ed’s Candy Island brought his large pirate ship to entertain the crowds and shot T-shirts and stuffed animals out of his prize launcher.
“Thirty to 35 volunteers, some citizens and some police officers donated their time to this event,” Michigan City Chief of Police Mark Swistek said. “Eighty volunteers came in early this morning to plant over 20,000 items in about 40 minutes. We hope to have this continued support with our donors and volunteers and we can do this event yearly.”
As soon as the siren sounded all the children anxiously waiting swamped the field, moving forward in an ocean wave like manor. “MOMMY here’s one!” “DADDY look at that one!” many kids were yelling in excitement! “OOOO I got a GOLDEN EGG!” as one young girl yelled and raised her golden egg to the sky in celebration. The hunt lasted about 15 minutes but there wasn’t one child not going home happy!
“This event was awesome!” Chris Yagelski, MCPD’s Public Relations Officer, said. “The event went smooth as silk and the kids are loving it. Thanks to Captain Ed’s for donating 800 pounds of candy in addition to giving away tons of other goods. As soon as the word went out about this event people flocked to the police station to help.”
Along with Captain Ed, there was a display by the Washington Park Zoo, many Easter Bunnies were present and other animals from the zoo were also attending for pictures and to make sure everyone was having a great time.
“We were amazed at the tsunami of kids that washed over the park,” Captain Ed said. “Great weather today and so many happy kids, they loved it. It definitely will be back next year!”
For additional photos of the Easter Egg hunt, follow this link!!