Attendees walk in during the Hallman Neighborhood Family Council’s inaugural “Fun Fridays at Northgate Park” event on Friday, July 9, 2021. The 2022 events begin July 8. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Salem families seeking free summer fun can head to Northgate Park Friday as a weekly community event returns for its second year.
The Hallman Neighborhood Family Council is resuming its “Fun Fridays at Northgate Park” program July 8 from 4-7:30 p.m. It’s an effort led by neighborhood parents to make the park, located at 4575 Fairhaven Ave N.E., more inviting and help families connect with resources to support health care, literacy and early education and other needs.
Friday’s event will include free hot dogs, chips and cold drinks, and a raffle with prizes including 50 Marion County Fair tickets, two bikes, and children’s toys, organizer and local parent Eduardo Angulo said. A DJ will play Latin, hip-hop, Hawaiian and children’s music.
More than 30 local organizations signed up to participate Friday, including Salem police offering rides in off-road vehicles, Boys & Girls Club, Salem Health’s Community Health Education Center and Marion Polk Early Learning Hub.
Angulo and fellow neighborhood parent Whitney Contreras first organized the council and events in 2021 as part of a larger Salem collaborative between business, education and nonprofit leaders aiming to help low-income kids in working class Salem neighborhoods be prepared for success in school and life.
Other 2022 Fun Fridays are scheduled for July 15, 22 and 29.
-Rachel Alexander
Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers city news, education, nonprofits and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade. Outside of work, she’s a skater and board member with Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby and can often be found with her nose buried in a book.
