The Park District of Forest Park planned to host its first kickball tournament on its softball fields Saturday. But after only one team registered, the park district decided to cancel it.
Jackie Iovinelli, executive director of the Park District of Forest Park, told the Review that the low registration could be because it’s a holiday weekend and many families have other plans.
The park district has held different events on this weekend in past years, like a softball tournament or a fall festival. Last October, there was no event because the softball fields were under repair. But for Oct. 11 this year, the park district decided to organize a Halloween kickball tournament for all skill levels.
“We thought if we did kickball, it would give more people an opportunity [to play] than just those that know how to play softball,” Iovinelli said. “Most people know how to play kickball. It doesn’t take as much skill and talent to do kickball.”
Participants were encouraged to wear a costume to the tournament, and a costume contest was planned.
“You never know what kind of costumes people are going to come up with. But people had a lot of fun with it,” Iovinelli said of teams who dressed up for a softball tournament in a past October.
The cost to enter the kickball tournament was $100 per team. The tournament was for those ages 18 and older, though 16- and 17-year-olds could participate with a signed waiver.
“Everybody can play kickball, and it’s a great chance for people to come out to the park on a beautiful day with a group of friends,” Iovinelli said.
But without local participation in the inaugural kickball tournament, Iovinelli said the park district is “back to the drawing board” to offer an event on the holiday weekend next year.
The Park District of Forest Park’s next event is Trunk or Treat on Oct. 25 at 11 a.m.