The Trenton Police Department in partnership with the Trenton Fire Department, City of Trenton, and numerous non-profits, hosted the Trenton Police Department 1st annual carnival themed summer kickoff,
TRENTON - Build it and they will come.
Last night the paved parking lot at Trenton Police headquarters became a 'Field of Dreams' of sorts.
Not baseball, but the kind of stuff kids dream of - carnival games, cotton candy, bounce houses, obstacle courses, art activities, rock climbing walls, a mechanical bull, a dunk tank, all free of charge.
Thousands of children and parents attended the Trenton Police Department's 1st annual carnival-themed summer kickoff event Thursday night.
When the gates were opened promptly at 6 p.m., a line of visitors who had been waiting in line, rushed in to the beat of loud music to start having fun at 23 stations arranged throughout the lot.
And there were prizes for every game.
Police Director Ernest T. Parrey did an extended shift in the dunk tank, with never more than a minute between dunks, since if the children weren't quite strong enough to hit the target with sufficient force, they were "helped" by an adult.
Coming up for air after one of the dunks, he was heard to say "Another good idea from Alexis" referring to Trenton Police Detective Alexis Durlacher, who hatched the ideas for both this event and department's Halloween party.
Trenton Police's 'Trunk or Treat' a frightening success
The summer kickoff, sponsored by the Trenton Police Department was presented in partnership with the Trenton Fire Department, the City of Trenton and numerous non-profits.
Michael Mancuso may be reached at mmancuso@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @michaelmancuso Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.