The Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Department recently introduced a new giveaway program, encouraging residents to explore the county’s parks for a chance to win big prizes.
Every Wednesday in August, the department will post a photo clue on the Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Facebook page, and on Friday, department staff will be on hand at the mystery location corresponding to the photo clue. Participants will put their name in a drawing for weekly prizes if they can find the staff members at the correct park.
The first Find Us Friday took place Aug. 7, with staff members posted at Sunridge Park in Hillsboro from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Staff posted a photo of the lookout tower in the park as the clue for participants.
A new clue will be posted each Wednesday in August, with Find Us Fridays taking place on Aug. 14, 21 and 28.
Recreation manager Ryan Quirk said Find Us Fridays was created so that people can explore and get to know the county’s 15 parks.
“People who may not have been to some of our parks or may not know where some of our parks are, it encourages them to try to go find things and maybe see other parks that they haven’t been out to see before,” he said. “That’s why we’re offering little rewards and whatnot, like a free pavilion rental, free youth sports registration, and some classes at the civic center (in High Ridge).”
Each week, participants will be challenged to solve the clue and explore a new park, and will have the opportunity to win different prizes. The times on Friday to meet up with department staff will also slightly change week to week, Quirk said.
All information about Find Us Fridays will be posted on the department’s Facebook page, he said. Participants are asked not to reveal the park location in the comments section of the clue post, so as not to spoil the fun for other participants.