This all comes together with help from a lot of different partners.”

Paige Marschall, Recreational Specialist with the Hastings Parks Department

On a breezy summer afternoon in Hastings, kids were squealing for two reasons: one, they were holding live snakes, and two, they didn’t have to go home for lunch. That’s how the latest Arts, Rec and Police event unfolded last Wednesday at Pioneer Park, part of a summer series that’s quickly becoming a local favorite.
The event is part of the city’s “Rec, Art and Police” programming, a biweekly pop-up at different parks across Hastings. Running from 1 to 2 p.m., the program packs a punch into 60 minutes, combining hands-on art projects, live shows, snacks, and the occasional boa constrictor.
“It’s just to get kids out and about,” said Paige Marschall, Recreational Specialist with the Hastings Parks Department. “Outdoors, active in our park system, hanging out, and something free to do.”
This week’s highlight? A live animal presentation by Snake Discovery, where kids were encouraged to touch, hold, and learn about reptiles in a safe, interactive setting. The stars of the show slithered and coiled their way into children’s hands and hearts.
Parker Bahl, a young attendee, summed it up: “It was good. It was lighter than I thought.” His surprised expression betrayed his words, but he grinned as he added, “My favorite part was when I got to hold the snake.”
Also featured at the event were rock painting activities hosted by the Hastings Prescott Arts Council, who brought not only supplies but youth volunteers to help guide creativity. Tables were scattered with smooth stones, bright paints, and brushes as children hunched over their masterpieces, occasionally glancing toward the snake show to see what was slinking across the stage next.
“This all comes together with help from a lot of different partners,” said Marschall. “SC Toys here in Hastings helps fund awesome programs like the Snake Discovery show. Country Financial also helps fund it, and we have in-kind donations too.”
Those donations keep the events free for families, a point that Marschall emphasized. Hastings Family Service provides lunch and snacks, a vital contribution that allows families to stay and play without worrying about packing a meal. The Hastings Prescott Arts Council not only supplies the art materials but also brings teen volunteers with fresh ideas. According to Marschall, “They bring their ideas and what their friends would want to do at their age. So, it is more relatable, versus an adult planning it.”
That youth input is a critical part of the event’s success. Marschall herself visits the local middle school each spring to ask students directly what they’d like to see at their parks in the summer. The result is events that actually resonate with the age group they're meant for.
It’s not just kids and parks staff showing up either. Local police officers attend each event, not to patrol, but to play. They chat with children, answer questions, and share in the activities. It’s a low-key way of building trust and connection with the community, especially younger residents.
“Our police are on site, connecting with the kids, answering their fun questions, and joining in the fun,” Marschall said. “Lots of fun playground time and free events open to all ages.”
The vibe at Pioneer Park was relaxed and friendly, with families scattered across the grass, kids darting between stations, and officers crouched next to kids painting rocks or watching a lizard crawl across a table.
This was only one stop in the summer-long series. The next event is set for Wednesday, July 24, at Roadside Park. Marschall gave a sneak peek at what’s coming up: “We’ll have a foam party. A company will come out with music and a foam sprayer, as well as another art activity, lunch, and snack.”
If snakes were the draw this week, soap bubbles and foam machines are sure to draw an even bigger crowd. And like all events in the series, it’s free, open to all ages, and focused on fun, creativity, and community.
Other supporters behind the scenes include the Hastings Rivertown Lions Club, which contributes both funding and volunteers to keep things running smoothly. With this kind of collaboration, the program becomes more than a one-time event. It’s a shared investment in making Hastings a place where kids can connect with nature, art, and each other.
“This is about building community,” Marschall said. “It’s simple, but it works. You give kids something hands-on, creative, exciting, and they’ll come out. Families will come out.”
And they do. At Pioneer Park, they came with strollers, water bottles, sunscreen, and curiosity. They stayed for the snakes, the snacks, and maybe even the small-town joy of watching their child hold a reptile for the first time.
The Rec, Art and Police series has more events lined up through the summer, with each one shaped by direct feedback from the kids who attend. It’s youth-centered by design and made possible by an ever-growing network of local supporters. From SC Toys’ financial support to the hands-on efforts of arts council teens, the program reflects what Hastings does well: making things happen together.
If a kid walks away with painted fingers, a full stomach, and a story about a snake that wasn’t as heavy as it looked, that’s a good day. And in Pioneer Park, last Wednesday, there were a lot of good days happening all at once.