Creating a safe family fun zone for Oklahoma fans
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NORMAN, Okla. — Volunteers in the Norman Oklahoma Stake created a "Sooner Family Fun Zone" for this season's home games of the University of Oklahoma. Located at the adjacent campus institute building, the fun zone offers a smoke-free and alcohol-free environment for families during this year's football season.
There has long been a need for a safe family environment that allows close involvement with the Sooner football spirit, said stake President Robert Keyes. "The Sooner Family Fun Zone will provide an opportunity for fans to get involved with the Sooner football tradition in a family-safe environment, free of charge, 300 yards from the stadium. We have the perfect location to offer this wonderful service to the public at the parking lot of our institute building adjacent to the campus. Everything will be free. We will even provide security with off-duty policemen to help families feel safe."
Several local businesses and sponsors are assisting with the project by providing free hot dogs, popcorn, sodas and water. DISH Network is supplying large-screen TVs, and a local T-shirt design company is providing volunteer T-shirts as well as a shirt booth.
Families are what the fun zone is about, say institute representatives. Centered amid the activities is a huge copy of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." Copies of the proclamation are available to anyone interested in studying the document. Face painting, balloon animals, helium balloons, a football toss, and activities for small children are available to all. The volunteers are equipped with the colors of opposing teams and are happy to paint faces to match the teams.
"I think it's a great opportunity for families to come with their kids, and enjoy the company of other Sooner fans," said David Storm. "The kids can enjoy the activities and the parents can relax."
The long-time Norman resident learned about the activity from his sister, who discovered the Fun Zone during the Oklahoma's first game against Bowling Green Sept. 4. He stopped by with his daughter, two brothers-in-law, and their children en route to the game against the University of Houston Sept. 11. A local businessman, Mr. Storm said he appreciated the effort and time required to set up and carry out an activity like the Sooner Family Fun Zone, concluding, "This sends a great statement to the community."
President Keyes surmises this new way of using the lot is service-oriented. "We all benefit from living in this wonderful community," he added. "It is time for us to give something back."
The fun zone will be held in conjunction with each of the remaining home games this season, except for an Oct. 2 game when October general conference begins.
