October 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 80

Park Bench
Valpo Parks Hosts Solar Eclipse Viewing Party
The special events team at Valparaiso (Indiana) Parks and Recreation (Valpo Parks) had been interested in hosting new pop-up
events in 2024 in addition to the normal roster of annual events. When we realized there would be a solar eclipse in April, we
knew we couldn't pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate. Although Valparaiso wasn't in the path of totality for
the 2024 eclipse, the city's 96 percent coverage was still quite a sight to see.
The team set out to make the viewing party both entertaining and educational for people of all ages. Thanks to our partnership
with the local Valparaiso University Department of Physics and Astronomy, we were able to provide an educational view of
the event. Professor Todd Hillwig and his team allowed guests to safely view the eclipse through their solar filter telescope and
DIY pinhole viewers, providing a closer view of the action in the sky as well as
explaining the details of the phenomenon to viewers.
Unsure how popular the event would be, we initially ordered only 200 pairs of
solar eclipse glasses to sell to spectators. We quickly learned that was not nearly
enough, and even after ordering more we still ended up selling out of all 500
pairs. In the neighborly spirit of Valparaiso, attendees were sure to share their
glasses so everyone could have an opportunity to gaze at the sun.
In addition to the eclipse, onlookers were entertained by the DJ playing
eclipse-themed songs, yard games and a chance to get lunch at one of the onsite
food trucks. What started as a small idea ended with more than 2,000 people in
attendance. Seeing the awe on everyone's faces during the eclipse truly elevated
the experience of this rare natural phenomenon.
- Cristina Darr, Director of Special Events, Valparaiso (Indiana) Parks and Recreation
More than 2,000 community members watched the solar eclipse at a viewing party in
Valparaiso, Indiana.
80 Parks & Recreation | O CTOBER 2 0 2 4 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARISSA GENTRY, VALPARAISO
(INDIANA) PARKS AND RECREATION

October 2024 – Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2024 – Parks & Recreation

October 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Intro
October 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Cover1
October 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Cover2
October 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 1
October 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 2
October 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 3
October 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 4
October 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 5
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October 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Cover3
October 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Cover4
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2024
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https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2021
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