Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Executive Director of Parks Buildings and Recreation Management (PBRM) Tom Ashe extend their thanks to the art students from Springfield Central High School who joined with Parks staff at the Monkey House inside Forest Park on Wednesday morning to begin carving 250 pumpkins in preparation for the city’s “Pumpkin Stroll After Dark” event, which is taking place on October 29-31 from 5:00-8:00 inside Forest Park.
The Parks Department has partnered with Springfield Public Schools and the Department of Elder Affairs to get the help of our senior residents as well as art students from Springfield Central High School to transform the Aquatic Gardens at Forest Park into a glowing garden of imagination where pumpkins, whimsy, and gentle Halloween Spirit come to life. The carved pumpkins will be lit up and featured at the “Pumpkin Stroll After Dark” event next week at the Park.
Today, the students from Central got the carving party started and began pumpkin-carving at the newly renovated Forest Park Monkey House. Later this week, our seniors will be busy carving more pumpkins at the Raymond Jordan Senior Center.
Come out and enjoy their creativity next week at the Pumpkin Stoll After Dark. From October 29–31, guests are invited to stroll along winding paths in Forest Park that trace the over a century-old lily ponds — a serene landscape seemingly untouched by time — as they enjoy an enchanting fall atmosphere filled with imagination and friendly Halloween spirit. Complimentary cider and doughnuts await those who linger beneath the harvest moon.
Admission and parking are free, and shuttle service is available at no charge from the parking area to the Aquatic Gardens for added convenience. Join us from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. nightly for a spellbinding celebration of community creativity and seasonal wonder at Pumpkin Stroll After Dark — where the beauty of Forest Park will shine brightest under the harvest moon.
Mayor Sarno states, “First of all, I would like to direct a big thank you to our Springfield Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management Executive Director Tom Ashe and Team for their efforts on various projects and collaborations throughout the city. A very special thank you to our talented art students from Central High School for contributing their time and talents toward this collaboration. A special thanks to our Elder Affairs team and our seniors too who will be carving more pumpkins this week. God Bless you all and thank you! We have all experienced winter holiday magic at our idyllic Forest Park with Bright Nights – now I am also looking forward to seeing the Park come alive with Halloween/Fall/Harvest magic next week at the Park’s Pumpkin Stroll After Dark!”
