LET'S GO TO THE PARK

Promoting Park Programs At The High School Level By Tom Suhs

Almost unnoticed, two guitarists appear on stage and start strumming a few haphazard chords. The crowd of junior high students continue to talk and eat their lunches.

Without warning, the guitarists suddenly start to play the rhythm to a 1950's rock and roll song. The attention of the students is aroused as the music starts to grow louder and louder.

On stage, three women suddenly appear from the wings. Dressed in 1950's garb of cuffed jeans, saddle shoes, ponytails and pleated skirts, they bop across the stage in time with the music. Then, as if on signal, they gather around a microphone and sing these highly charged words.

"Shoo-de-bop-de-shoo-de-bop-de-shoo Baby. lets go to the park".

This was the scene recently as the Oak Brook Park District playground staff went to area schools to promote the Park and its program.

The basic goal of the promotion was to make the children aware that the Park District was active in the community. Also, it was hoped that the enthusiasm that was generated in the production would be passed on to the children and this, in turn, would make the children interested and excited about the park's programs.

The above scene served as an introduction to what was the highlight of the show.

As the introduction to the song reaches a crescendo, one of the staff members, also dressed in bluejeans, rolled up T-shirt and greased pompadour, makes his appearance. With the demeanor and actions of the "Fonz" he steps up to a microphone and with a voice reminiscent of 57' coupes, 45's, nickel cokes, drive-ins and fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror, he sings his song of teenage lamentation.

1. Once I was a happy guy, sitting on top of the world
I had my own set of wheels, I had the most beautiful girl
Yes, I was sitting on top of the world until that awful day
When my baby turned to me and just had to say.
(Chorus)
Baby, let's go to the Park, they have a lot of things to do
Baby, let's go to the Park, there are things for me and you
There's softball, volleyball, and other dandy games
They have so many things, it is more than I can name.
2. Everytime I tried to whisper sweet things in her ear
She gave no indication that she'd hear
She kept talking about the Park District all summer long
And she would keep on singing that same old song.
(Chorus)
3. So if you can't beat them, join them, that's what wisemen say
So she and I work at the Park District everyday
So why don't you come to the Park, come over real soon
And you will hear us singing our favorite tune.

Then with all the "coolness" he can muster he snaps his fingers and indicates to the women to follow him off stage and bopping to the music, they disappear into the wings.

The second half of the show introduced to the audience the "typical teenager" in a "typical town" saying the "typical thing".

"There is absolutely nothing to do in this town. I guess I will turn on the tube".

Pantomiming turning on a TV, she is confronted by a series of commercials that all have one theme in common — the Park.

Tuggie McGraw, instead of complaining about caffeine, is queried by her teammates whether or not she would like to wash dishes.

"I don't want to wash dishes," sez Tuggie. "How about cleaning your room, Tuggie,"asks another."I don't want to clean my room!" "How about helping mom?" "I don't want to help mom," sez Tuggie, "I want to go to the Park and . . ."

Click goes the knob as the "typical teenager" quickly turns the channel. "Maybe there is something better on this channel," she says. Two deadpan actors appear. "I can't believe I wasted the whole summer." "Well, you did.""I can't believe I wasted the whole summer." "You did." "I can't believe I wasted the whole summer." "You did, I told you, you should have gone to the Park!"

Click A TV announcer appears. "And now let us return to our program, As the Soap Suds. As you may remember, John was anxiously awaiting Mary's answer to his burning question . . ."

One actor appears at each side of the stage. They pantomime running to each other in slow motion. They meet in the middle of the stage and embrace. "John," sez Mary breathlessly, "I can't marry you, I have a park program in 20 minutes!"

Click "You deserve a break today at the Park".

Click "Can I talk to you man-to-man, about the Park?"

Click "Boy, this is incredible, "says the "typical teenager," "Everything is about the Park District. Maybe there is something to do after all. I'm going to the Park to see."

And with that, our "typical teenager" pulls out a sign that says "See you at the Park" and the curtain falls.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tom Suhs is Director of Recreation at the Oak Brook Park District. He is a 1978 graduate of Southern Illinois University. He has served in a variety of capacities with the park districts in Blue Island, Chicago Ridge and Homewood-Flossmoor, as well as at the River Forest Community Center.

Illinois Parks and Recreation   27   May/June 1983