Local museum hosts Kids to Park Day event

Staff hope to attract more people from community to local resource

As part of the National Kids to Park Day, the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover invited area children to explore the history of South Arkansas with a visit to the museum’s Oil Field Park on Saturday.

The National Kids to Park Day is always slated for the third Saturday in May and is meant to be a day of outdoor play that encourages children and families to explore the many different parks across the country.

The museum event allowed participating children to learn about the science of oil through water and oil experiments, followed by a tour of Oil Field Park and an “Art in the Park” activity where each child was able to paint a picture of their favorite part of the park.

Paula White, education director for the museum, said Saturday’s event was one way the museum is trying to invite the community in. She said there are many people who live in Union County and drive past the museum almost daily, but have never actually visited the site or simply don’t know that it’s there.

“This is such a wonderful place,” White said as participating children drew and painted pictures of the museum’s 1920s oil derrick. “We just want everyone to come out here to enjoy it.”

Madeleine Leroux can be reached at 870-862-6611 or mleroux@ eldoradonews.com.

Photos by Madeleine Leroux/News-Times Magnets: Amber Easter holds her 16-month-old daughter, Mary, while she plays with paints during the National Kids to Park Day on Saturday at the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover. Below, Easter holds Mary while showing her how to use magnets and marbles to paint a picture.

Painting: Milani James, age 7, paints a picture of a 1920s oil derrick during the National Kids to Park Day on Saturday at the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover.