EASTER BUNNY VISIT
Congress Park event coordinated by city police, fire departments
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Children of all ages gathered at Congress Park for a visit from the Easter Bunny, coordinated by the Saratoga Springs Police Department and Fire Department.
The weather was cold, with temperatures hovering around freezing and a steady breeze blowing, but it didn’t stop families from having a good day. After arriving and saying hello to all the children, the Easter Bunny got into a fire truck and was hoisted up overhead in the aerial bucket. Assisted by a firefighter, the Easter Bunny dropped bagfuls of plastic eggs onto the lawn below for the children to collect.
The children were split into three age groups, and each group got their own egg drop.
After everyone had a chance to collect eggs, families lined up for photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny. The photography station was set up to be socially distanced, so that families could remove their masks for the pictures. Photos are expected to be on the Police Department’s Facebook page, at https://www.facebook.com/sspdny/
The children also had opportunities to get close to the mounted officer units that were at the park. Officers chatted with the children and let them say hello to the horses. Another member of the police department went around and offered honorary of
ficer badge stickers to the children.
The event was spearheaded by Sergeant Jenna Hiltz and Officer Caitlin Freshwater, who coordinated the whole thing in about a week’s time.
“My wife came up with the idea,” firefighter Alan Hiltz said. “We wanted to do something nice for the kids; we knew they didn’t have school today. She asked me if the fire department was interested in helping, and of course we were.”
The effort seemed to be very well received and appreciated by the families who turned out.
“It’s cute, it’s something to get them outside,” commented Heather Corrigan, who brought her children Makenna, 5, and Connor, 10. “It seems good, everyone is wearing their mask.”
“I had fun,” Makenna added.
“Yeah, it was good,” Connor said.
Charlotte Ellithorpe, 6, and her sister Annabelle, 7, described the egg drop as “amazing” and “fantastic.” Their mother Amanda had another word for it: generous.
“This was very generous of the fire department and police department to do this for us,” Ellithorpe commented. “I think it’s the first social activity we’ve had since Covid started. And with all the criticism about the police department recently, it’s nice to see everyone come together.”
“It’s awesome,” Natasha Pratt agreed. “Our son enjoyed it.”
As families transitioned from one activity to the next or got ready to go, many parents thanked the police officers for putting the event together.
While waiting patiently in line for their turn for pictures with the Easter Bunny, one little girl summed up the event best: “It’s cold, but it’s worth it.”