Parks department outlines summer events including 'Big Wave' water day, movie nights and free mechanics clinic

La Verne Parks staff announced a series of summer events on May 2025, including a June 2 “Big Wave” water play event with the fire department, three family movie nights beginning June 13 and a free basic auto-mechanics clinic for teens.

The Big Wave will be held at Pavilion B at Veterans Park on June 2 from noon to 1:30 p.m., and will feature fire hoses connected to the park hydrant, popsicle giveaways and adult supervision requirements, Parks staff member Kathy said. “We are gonna partner with the fire department. So the big wave is they're going to shoot water out of fire hoses onto the kids in the back parking lot at Pavilion B. It's scheduled for June 2 from noon to 01:30, and we'll be giving away popsicles,” Kathy said. She added the event is rain-or-shine except in cases of lightning and that adults must supervise participating children: “Adults are actually, required to be there.”

Parks staff said outreach for the event will rely on social media, flyers at the library and handouts after library reading programs. Kathy said staff will not run school-based advertising because the event falls immediately after school ends.

The department also detailed a free auto-mechanics workshop for ages 15 and older, to be held at the multipurpose building on a Friday at 6:00 (time stated in the meeting). Kathy said seven participants were registered at the time of the meeting and staff will cap registration at 25, with La Verne residents receiving priority. “It's ages 15 and up. Starts at 06:00 at the multipurpose building. Right now I have 7 registered. We're gonna cut it off at 25. La Verne residents do have priority. It is a free clinic for a refresher or learning course in basic, tire pressure, check your tire pressure, jumping a battery, checking your headlights, anything basic maintenance,” Kathy said.

Parks staff outlined three summer movie nights to be shown indoors in the multipurpose building to avoid weather cancellations. The first screening is Encanto on June 13 with doors at 5:30 p.m. and the film at 6 p.m.; the second is Paddington in Peru on July 8; a third date on Aug. 8 is scheduled but the title has not been selected. Staff said low-profile camp chairs and blankets are allowed and free popcorn and water will be provided.

For Independence Day, staff confirmed a July 4 celebration with gates opening at 5:30 p.m., live music from the Rae Radick Band starting at about 6 p.m., vendor booths (18 registered at the time of the meeting) and fireworks around 8:30 p.m. Kathy said the event typically draws the largest attendance of the summer.

Committee members and staff emphasized basic logistics and crowd management: the multipurpose building was chosen for movie nights to avoid wind cancellations on the football field, and staff noted restroom access and staffing constraints for events. Outreach channels listed included Facebook and flyers at the library and Public Works building.

Smaller youth programs mentioned during the same segment included a recent bird-feeder workshop in which roughly 18 children participated and took home a feeder and seed, and an ongoing partnership with Public Works for some classes.

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee approved the minutes from the prior meeting at the start of the session (motion by Mary Jane, second by Chuck; vote: aye). Staff said they will continue advertising and finalizing logistics before each event.