Frankenmuth

B Y M E G A N C A R I G A N The strange times that we are currently living in certainly seem to have details plucked out of a storybook. Perhaps this provided the perfect backdrop for the Frankenmuth Community Education's first in-person activity since Spring. The community education department had robust plans for daytime activities, summer camps, and the yearly children's play. While much of the calendar was canceled, participants were thrilled to hold the 2020 Summer Stock Workshop and Technical Camp. In order to be prepared for students, the "Muth Youth Community Players" leadership team utilized Zoom and conference calls as they considered safety protocols, developed schedules, delegated duties, and found ways to ensure that the fun aspects of children's theater were present. With just a few adjustments, twenty-eight children actively participated in the eight- day workshop which led to the production of "Aesop's Fables Reimagined." Written and directed by Lauren Masud Visuri, students built sets and analyzed the technical elements within the parameters of the venue of the Farmers Market. The young group also enjoyed not only practicing for their lines in the show, but also the musical and dancing elements. Over the course of the workshop, they played theatre games as their warm ups for each day. Frankenmuth Community Education thanks the Frankenmuth Farmers Market for the generous donation of space to hold this event outdoors for not only the practice, but also for the final production for families. As always, there is much gratitude for those many familiar volunteers who stepped up to make this productions successful. Since at least the 1980s, the City of Frankenmuth has diligently updated it's Five-Year Plan for Parks, Recreation and Open Space. The plan is intended to be a guide for improvements in parks facilities, identifying needs and trends in recreation programming, and plotting a course for long term park development in the City. As we kick off the planning process, our first step is to understand the existing conditions. City staff and Parks and Recreation Commissioners will complete audits of our City Parks. But, we thought, let's use this opportunity to get a park audit into the hands of local experts – our residents and park users! You can access and print off an audit form at the City's website. Just go to frankenmuthcity.com and look under the "News" section or visit muth.life/parks-rec If you would prefer a hard copy, please call the City office at (989)-652-9901. The filled out questionnaire can be emailed to Amcknight@frankenmuthcity.com or turned in to the drop boxes at City Hall. If you have questions about the plan, the audit, or other ways to get involved, please call Ashley McKnight at 989-652-9901 or email her at the above address. In search of Park experts AESOP'S FABLES REIMAGINED Eric Johnson works with campers on scenery. 20

• Cover