- November 23, 2024
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The line wrapped down the sidewalk at Ralph Carter Park Thursday evening with people waiting for their free Brewster’s ice cream, courtesy of the city of Palm Coast Parks and Recreation.
I debated whether I should eat some (ice cream is one of my weaknesses). Initially I said no. I had a softball game in an hour and I wanted to be on top of my game. But as I looked at the sky as it was being swallowed by black storm clouds, I heard a crack of thunder in the distance and decided it would be safe to indulge; there would be no games that night.
The ice cream social was part of Parks and Recreation Month and meant to highlight the park. In the first 30 minutes, before the storm rolled in, about 150 people cashed in their tickets for a free scoop.
On the other side of the parking lot, the Flagler Sherriff’s Police Athletic League was taking full advantage of everything the park has to offer with its Dusk with Deputies program.
The program, which is in its third week, meets 6-10 p.m. every Thursday over the summer at Ralph Carter Park, every Friday at Hidden Trails Community Park, in Daytona North, and every Saturday at Eddie Johnson Park or Carver Gym, in Bunnell.
Dusk with Deputies has drawn students ages 6-15 and is growing each week. All the officers are involved in the program as school resource officers, so the students also get acclimated with deputies in a friendly atmosphere.
“With this age group, the majority of these kids don’t even see a law enforcement officer throughout the day. These are all mostly elementary kids, so they don’t have the advantage of a school resource officer,” said Cpl. Don Apperson. “The advantage for us is they are finally introduced to law enforcement in a positive way. They have not experienced us in a negative way — unless it has been out in the streets somewhere — so in their first experience with us, we’re not in uniform and we’re having fun with them.”
To participate in Dusk with Deputies, call 586-2655.
