The Forks kicks it up a notch

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This article was published 02/08/2023 (796 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When it’s suggested you spend the day playing at The Forks, most might think it means grabbing an ice cream or having a pint, but now people can literally “play” at The Forks.

The popular tourist spot is offering a new pop-up in which visitors can play soccer, table tennis and basketball.

The basketball court and soccer field are both located beneath the CN stage and the table tennis is on top of the berm in the field. Additionally, there is a painted playground to the east of the field.

Zachary Peters, communications manager for the Forks North Portage Partnership, said staff came up with the idea.

“We know people already come to The Forks for many different reasons. We see people playing Frisbee or having a picnic on the field,” Peters said.

That inspired staff to test out specific play “elements” with Play at the Forks.

Peters said people of various ages use the different games at Play at the Forks: children like the playground while teens and adults use the basketball court. Peters noted that Play at the Forks only has regulation-sized basketball equipment, nothing specifically for children.

Participants can fill out a survey by scanning QR codes near each location. The survey asks them what they think about the attraction as is and whether they have suggestions.

“Were these the right elements? Are there other games and sports that people would like to see?” Peters said, giving examples of questions that appear on the survey.

“We’ve already heard things like bocce ball and pickle ball and some other examples of sports that people would love to see,” Peters said. “Once we have all of that data at the end of the summer, I think it would be a really good test for us to say ‘OK, how do we carry this forward?’”

Peters said The Forks is open to the possibility of continuing Play at the Forks in a different form throughout winter when the attraction would feature primarily winter sports and activities.

Organizers to continue to innovate, for example, Wednesday evenings feature freestyle dance battles.

Peters explained current attractions will continue until it becomes too cold to use them in the fall.

Equipment to be used at Play at the Forks, such as soccer balls, basketballs and table tennis paddles, can be rented with a form of ID from Bee2Gether Bikes located in the northwest of the Forks Market.

“They enjoy it very much. It’s nice environment, a nice place,” said Marcos Davila, father of two girls using the painted playground at Play at the Forks.

Davila explained he brings his children to Play at the Forks once every other week or so. He said he would return if they made it ongoing every summer or if they added new attractions in the winter.

graham.mcdonald@freepress.mb.ca