Westerly Sun Column | Summer Fun Abounds

Summer has arrived, and I’m personally on a mission to spend as much time outdoors as possible over the next few months. Thankfully, it just so happens that I have a beautiful park just down the stairs and around the corner from my desk — Wilcox Park is absolutely teeming with activities over the next few months, and we invite you to come out and spend some time with us!

The park is an arboretum with many impressive plantings, including seven that are the largest of their species in the state of Rhode Island (known as our Champion Trees). You can learn more about them through the signage in the park, or attend one of the guided tours given by the Master Gardeners of Rhode Island. These take place on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. The Master Gardeners also set up a kiosk where they can answer your gardening questions and even test your soil on the spot!

If you’re a fitness fanatic (or even if you’re apprehensively looking to dip your toes in the fitness world), you can take a free yoga class out in the park on Mondays at noon or Fridays at 10 a.m. Classes are appropriate for all levels, including beginners. For something very low-impact, try the Essentrics class on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m., which will help you relieve pain and stiffness through dynamic stretches. I love jogging in the park, following the path that loops all the way around the pond, but you can also enjoy a leisurely stroll. For a change of scenery, climb the stone staircases and explore the outer edges!

It may surprise you to learn that books aren’t the only thing you can check out from the library to enjoy in the park — take a look at our “Library of Things” next time you’re in! This is a collection of nontraditional items that can also be checked out with a library card. Among the many offerings, you can borrow outdoor games like bocce balls, soccer balls, Frisbees, and even a corn hole set. The collection is always growing, so check back to find even more options available.

Of course, there are activities that will appeal to the entire family. On the 29th at 2 p.m. we’ll have a bubble show with Circus Dynamics, which will be sure to thrill kids and parents alike (who doesn’t love bubbles?). If you like scavenger hunts, amp things up and search for our letterboxes, which are hidden in the park all summer. Just grab a set of clues from the Reference Desk, and see if you can locate the “treasure”! Make a whole day of it: bring a blanket and some snacks, and wrap things up with a picnic in the park. And, if the sun and heat aren’t your thing, mosey on into the library where the AC is blowing, and the chairs and staff are inviting, and you can relax as long as you wish (or at least until closing).

by Cassie Skobrak, Adult Services Librarian