MINNEAPOLIS — At North Commons Water Park, admission is free for youth under 18. The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board waived those fees just a few years ago, in 2021.
Adults still need to pay up to $5 depending on whether they plan to swim or just chaperone. However, for 3 hours Sunday, people of all ages got into the water park for free.
Shemeka Bogan of Strong Roots Foundation says her organization and three other groups covered the costs in honor of Juneteenth and Father's Day.
"We're celebrating by purchasing for all the parents that come," Bogan said.
Each group contributed at least $5,000 to host a weekend full of free Juneteenth events. The Northside Juneteenth Weekend Celebration started Friday with a movie night at the historic Capri Theater followed by a street festival Saturday at West Broadway and North Aldrich Ave.
"My friend Artiesha Wilkins here, she's with HELP, which stands for Helping Each other Live Productively," Bogan said. "We've got TCRP, which is Twin Cities Recovery Project, and then KMOJ is one of our partners as well."
The 3-day series wrapped up at the pool with KMOJ's Rico Nevotion and Love Veil of Nevotion Enterprise spinning music and Lil Dipper Ice Cream Truck serving free ice cream.
Organizers also gave families Juneteenth-labeled reusable water bottles, swim caps and other items to help families, especially those with many children, save money. Bogan noted that swim caps aren't necessarily expensive but that they're not easy to find in stores on the north side.
She also says this was a way to discuss the meaning of Juneteenth, the 1865 date when slaves in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free.
"It has on here 'History, Culture, Legacy,'" she said, pointing to a cap. "That is kind of our goal - that even for those younger kids … that they'll be like 'Oh, I remember I went to this. Like, it celebrated Juneteenth and it was northside. That's where I live.' We want them to have a pride about the northside."
After all, this is only the second year Juneteenth is an official state holiday.
And with the final weekend event occurring on Father's Day, attendee Matthew Severin brought his young daughter. For him, this time of year has extra special meaning.
"I used to come here when I was a kid - I used to live right across the street on the corner over there," Severin said. "I was actually born on Juneteenth. 6/19 is my birthday … and Father's Day lands on my birthday like once every 3, 4 years."
History, culture, legacy.
"Fathers may want to bring their kids out, uncles may want to bring their nieces and nephews out," Bogan said. "For us, it was important to say like, 'This is really awesome. We should … highlight some great things that are already happening too.'"
Another collaborative Juneteenth event is coming up Wednesday in south Minneapolis. Soul of the Southside Festival is set to occur 12-8 p.m. in the Longfellow neighborhood. Admission is free.
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