Children find Olander, Ottawa parks hopping with Easter activities

An inquisitive duck nudges at a plastic egg, just to make sure the animal hasn t misplaced one, at Olander Park.

The Blade/Lori King
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Ryan Whelan, 2, of Plymouth, Mich., finds an egg that's right for his reach during the egg hunt at Olander Park in Sylvania.

The Easter Bunny's appearance in Sylvania's Olander Park was so quick, no one even saw him there.

But in his wake - three times throughout the morning, actually - were dumped hundreds of colorful, plastic eggs to be grabbed up by Sylvania-area children.

The Olander Park System's seventh annual Easter Egg Hunt was one of several family activities planned around the area yesterday to give youngsters a chance to satisfy their urge to seek out eggs and their sweet tooth at the same time. The rules in Sylvania were simple: Get an egg of each color and take only six.

"It's not chaotic," said Jean Keating, who was with her 4-year-old daughter, Ciara. "There are no tears, nobody hysterical because they didn't get eggs."

Shelly Taylor and her daughter, Nicole, 3, left, of Sylvania, and Tammy VanHorn and her son Donovan, 3, of Lambertville decorate their egg bags during the hunt at Ottawa Park.

The line into Nederhouser Community Hall in Olander Park started forming about 15 minutes before the doors were to open for the last time of the day. Because of the number of families that participate in the Sylvania tradition, organizers set up three egg-hunt sessions.

Gidget DiRienz and her two grandsons chose to come at noon. The three were among the first into the hall yesterday where they found everything needed to color Easter-themed bags to collect their eggs in.

And when they were finished, they returned the eggs in exchange for candy.

"It sounds fun," 9-year-old Zachary DiRienz said of the event, adding more truthfully: "I want some candy."

An inquisitive duck nudges at a plastic egg, just to make sure the animal hasn t misplaced one, at Olander Park.

Bhumika Jakkaraddi, 7, decided to collect eggs in a bright basket that she brought from home.

Although she had been to the event in the past, Bhumika admitted she forgot that they gave each egg hunter a bag for collecting treasure.

One of the first to find her six eggs, Bhumika stood with her mother, Vidya, patiently waiting for the line to move through each of the six candy stations.

"I just like it," she said of the egg hunt.

In Toledo's Ottawa Park, more Easter activity was under way at Egg Xtravaganza. A four-hour afternoon event organized by the city's Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry, the program included an egg hunt, face painting, a bounce ride, and a hug from the Easter Bunny.

In line for her chance to meet the big, white rabbit, Ameyah Johnson, 4, and her mother, Latrese Lofton, stood in the chilly afternoon air. Ameyah said she was there for eggs and candy but mostly for a hug.

"This is the first year we've come to it," Ms. Lofton said. "I think we'll be back."

It was also the first year at Egg Xtravaganza for Amanda McCloskey and her 4-year-old daughter, Taylor. Ms. McCloskey said they live near the park, so they walked over for some of the fun. With a bunny rabbit painted on her face and carried in her mother's arms, Taylor said she was able to find five Easter eggs.

"It was convenient and fun," Ms. McCloskey said.

Contact Erica Blake at:

eblake@theblade.com

or 419-724-6076.