Merrill Park and Recreation Department announces City Wide Easter Egg Hunt
TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
The Merrill Park and Recreation Department is holding a City Wide Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, Apr. 3. But this year’s hunt will be a little less traditional. Due to COVID-19, the Park and Recreation Department won’t have a big in-person hunt.
Instead, Easter Eggs will be hidden throughout Riverside, Kitchenette, Stange, Normal, and Agra Parks and also at the Merrill Festival Grounds (former Lincoln County Fairgrounds) and will be available for children to find beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, Apr. 3. No eggs will be hidden in any shelters, stores, bars, or restaurants.
Between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon, children can search for and collect an egg from one of the parks and then bring that egg to Ott’s Park at 501 N. Foster St. in Merrill with their parent to redeem the coupons inside for a prize.
Each child may only pick up one egg and redeem tickets for one prize. If children bring in more than one egg, they will still only receive one prize. Prizes will be picked up via a drive-through system. Follow the cones at Ott’s Park to drive up to collect your prize. Please do not get out of your vehicle. The Easter Bunny will be there and will wave to the kids. Unfortunately, there will be no opportunities for photos with the Bunny this year.
Each egg will also have an entry form inside. Please fill it out prior to picking up your child’s prize and your child can then drop his or her entry form off at that time. Grand prize winners will be picked the following week from the entry forms received, and winners will be notified by phone.
For everyone’s safety, please follow these guidelines:
1. Parent/guardian must stay with child during the hunt and to claim their prize.
2. If you are feeling sick, please do not attend.
3. If you do not intend to take an egg, please do not touch it.
4. All participants must remain in vehicle for prize pick up.
“We are very excited to be able to start hosting some programs again this year for the community,” said Dawn Smith, Administrative Assistant for the Merrill Parks and Recreation Department. “Last year was a tough year, but we are all ready and excited for this year! The Easter Egg Hunt is a little different from past years, but I believe the kids will enjoy this just as much. The Easter Bunny will be at Ott’s to wave to all the kids as they drive through to pick up their goodie bag.”
“We are discouraging anyone from getting out of their vehicles,” Smith added.