Alabaster teens enjoy third annual slip n’ slide event

Published 2:19 pm Wednesday, July 19, 2017

ALABASTER – The Alabaster Teen Council hosted its third annual slip n’ slide event from on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 18, at Veterans Park. Mayor Marty Handlon said the event was run by volunteers from the Teen Council, Alabaster Fire Department and Alabaster Parks and Recreation Department.

“It’s a time for [teenagers] to come out and do something fun and enjoyable in the summer sun,” Handlon said. “We’re trying to keep them doing something fun and positive.”

During the event, visitors had the opportunity to enjoy a slip n’ slide, a water slide and a dunking booth for free. Handlon said the activities served as a way for visitors to keep cool while having fun.

Since the event was first held in 2015, Handlon said she has seen how the event has grown. After the first event was not as successful as the city had hoped, Handlon said she saw more people attend after more attractions were added and the location was changed from the Alabaster Municipal Park to Veterans Park.

“Municipal Park was flat, so there wasn’t a good place to have a slip and slide,” Handlon said.

Because there is no public swimming facility in the city of Alabaster, Teen Council member Noah Tanner said many teenagers took the rare opportunity to participate in water activities for free.

“It gets hot in the summer, and water activities are going to help us reach out to teens,” Tanner said.

Teen Council member Mary Kathryn Grill said the event also served as an alternative to staying indoors and playing video games or watching TV.

“It gives them the chance to go outside and soak up some vitamin D,” Grill said.

Tanner said the teen council is always looking for ways to improve its events, and will be hosting a bigger and better slip and slide event next year.

“Next year, we’re hoping to bring in another water slide or an obstacle course,” Tanner said.

For more photos from the Alabaster Teen Council’s slip n’ slide event, visit Shelbycountyphotos.com