Cincinnati police Officer Darryl Chatman plays a little one-on-one with Jeffrey Chambers, 10, of English Woods on Friday. (Michael Snyder photos) | ZOOM |

        Amid the games, food and hoopla, Jessica Kiffmeyer had her thoughts on a more serious topic during Friday's third annual “A Day in the Park.”

        “I just like the fact that the blacks and whites — we're all together,” said Jessica, 16, who is African-American. The Lower Price Hill teen spent part of the day with her mostly white friends at a picnic table in Mount Airy Forest. “I think it's important that we come together.”

        The six-hour program, organized by the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission (CHRC) and Cincinnati police, drew together about 2,000 Cincinnati youths.

Tierra Everett, 11, plays with the hair of Tyra Hills, 10. | ZOOM |

        With the recent racial unrest in Cincinnati, the program took on extra meaning, said Valeisa George, a community relations specialist with CHRC.

        “This whole day focuses on our youth having direct contact with the Police Division in a way to help build better communications and better understanding,” Mrs. George said. “A lot of officers are out here; the fire department is out here. Their whole time is dedicated to making this day enjoyable for the youth.”

        Drameco Bennie was impressed with the firetruck he toured. But what had a greater impact on the 16-year-old from College Hill was spending time with the firefighters because “they put their lives on the line every day, and they have time to come out and talk to the kids. I appreciate them coming.”

DAY IN THE PARK

• Attendance: 2,000 youths.     • Hamburgers: 800.     • Hot dogs: 2,000 hot dogs.     • Boxes of cookies: 300.     • Games: Jump rope, water balloons, tug-of-war, volleyball and basketball.

        Cincinnati police officers involved in the division's Drug and Crime Intervention Program donned plainclothes and shorts as they mingled with the youths and flipped burgers.

        The program was created after Mrs. George and her husband, Officer Shawn George, moved into Findlater Gardens, a public housing community run by Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority.

        The couple's goal: to improve police-community relations.
       

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