Courtesy Photo Children will learn about birds and more on Sunday at McRae Park in Alpena.

ALPENA — The Alpena Lions Club invites children ages 8 to 10 to attend Learning in the Park from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday at McRae Park. At this free event, children will learn about birds from the Alpena Bird Center, build bird feeders, courtesy of Home Depot, play the Great Migration Game, and more.

Registration is not required, but to ensure your child’s spot, register by emailing alpenalions1926@gmail.com.

The program will be available to the first 144 kids who register.

McRae Park, which the City of Alpena owns but the Alpena Lions have adopted, is located at 1301 N. 2nd Ave., Alpena.

Alpena Lion Steve Murch said the Club adopted McRae Park shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re trying to get more interest in the park, and this is one of the programs we want to get going,” said Alpena Lion Joe Bonfoey, member of the McRae Park committee.

“It took a couple years for us to develop any kind of a plan,” Murch said, referring to McRae Park. “I’m excited about the things that we’ve already got finished, and the things that we still want to do, moving forward. We’ve talked about using the park as an educational tool, and this is the first step to doing some of that.”

Bonfoey said Ashley Kolnowski from the Alpena Bird Center will teach children what to do and what not do if they find a wounded bird, among other educational and interactive activities on Sunday at McRae Park.

“She is going to be there to educate the kids a little bit more,” Bonfoey said.

He added that Sunday’s program will be one of many more fun opportunities planned at the park.

“We visualize this as more than just once,” Bonfoey said. “We want it to be a monthly thing to keep the kids’ interest, and keep the activities going at the park so the community knows it’s their park. Come and use it.”

He said another program is planned for Sunday, Aug. 24, with details upcoming.

Murch added that the Lions want to partner with others in the community to promote all that McRae Park has to offer, which currently includes basketball courts, baseball fields, a pickleball court, and more.

“We really want to make sure that we partner with people,” Murch said. “We want to utilize anybody who wants to work with us and help us, because the more partners we have, the more we can do over there. And Home Depot is hopefully the first of many.”

Murch and Bonfoey noted that the Lions have painted the dugouts and done some beautification projects at the park, and that a group led by Ron Fusina headed up the addition of the pickleball courts, and the Alpena Democratic Party painted the main building at McRae Park.

Reach News Community Editor Darby Hinkley at 989-358-5691 or dhinkley@TheAlpenaNews.com.