Guess who is popping up in parks around the county this summer? Our ‘Get Ready to GROW’ bus, in partnership with the Monroe County Library! The Library, collaborating with WXXI and other community partners, is facilitating outdoor discovery and exploration in local parks. On June 23rd, the Get Ready to GROW team was at Highland Park providing comprehensive health and developmental screenings for children. Partners, parents, and children joined us, our ‘GROW Bus’ was shiny and clean, and the weather was perfect. Our community was ready to be out and about, together.

Project Coordinator, Kristin Lynch, told one story of a Mom who was there with her five-year-old to enjoy the park and the event. When she saw the ‘GROW Bus’ and learned about the free and quick screenings available, she asked if she could go home and return with her two-year-old. She had been a bit concerned for her child and was excited about this opportunity. She returned, the team checked on the child and was able to identify needs and information on follow-up services. This is exactly the reason for Get Ready to GROW, and the team was so pleased to be able to provide valuable support for this family.

Here are summer dates of future ‘Get Ready to GROW’ screenings at ‘Pop Up in the Park:’
•    Wednesday, July 7, from 9:00-11:30 am at the Maplewood Rose garden
•    Tuesday, July 13, from 9:00-11:30 am at Genesee Valley Park
•    Wednesday, July 21, from 9:00-11:30 am at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park
•    Wednesday, August 10, from 5:30-7:30 pm at Cobbs Hill Park

Check out the Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County Facebook page for details on future park events (and for weather-related cancellations).