05/29/2026
DATE STARTS MONDAY! JUNE 1ST
If anyone saw the Evening Sun article for the 2026 Playground Program, please note that the start date is Monday, June 1, 2026 at 9AM to 12PM, Monday to Friday.
(They published the wrong date.)
The press release follows below the link.
https://www.eveningsun.com/story/life/2026/05/28/hanover-playgrounds-to-resume-free-summer-programs-and-events/90282946007/
May 27, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
BOROUGH OF HANOVER ANNOUNCES 2026 SUMMER PLAYGROUND AND SUMMER POP-UP PROGRAMS
Hanover, Pa. – The Borough of Hanover, in collaboration with the Hanover Area YMCA, announces the Hanover Area 2026 Playground Program scheduled to run June 1 to July 24, Monday to Friday each week, from 9AM to 12:00PM at the following Borough’s parks: Baer Avenue Park, Elm Avenue Park, DeGuy Avenue Park, Moul Field and Union Park. Staff from the YMCA, who will facilitate activities, hold the necessary childcare clearances and background checks through the YMCA.
This annual program is on a drop-in basis (pre-registration is NOT required), but an emergency contact form is required if a child is dropped off. The program is for grades K-8. Children under six are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent at all times during the program.
Throughout the program, children will have access to free games, art supplies, and sports equipment. Special presentations include Reptile Invasion, with their wide variety of entertaining critters, Lunch in the Park, Let’s Get Packing and an end-of-summer Pizza in the Park party. Each playground site creates its own agenda for each day. Last summer some activities included bingo, pinatas, bubbles, kickball games, snow making, spaceship building, and tie dyeing.
In the event of inclement weather or unexpected cancelations, announcements will be made on the Borough of Hanover Parks & Recreation page. For more information, contact Melissa Hartlaub at the Hanover Area YMCA at [email protected] or 717-632-8211 x 234.
Additional pop-up events scheduled through the Department of Parks & Recreation include:
Chalk & Play! with Miss Moriah (Tyler), executive director of Main Street Hanover, on June 16th at Baer Avenue Park and July 21st at Clearview Elementary Playground from 1-3PM.
Story Time & Crafts with Miss Kelly, Guthrie Memorial Library’s children’s librarian, on Thursdays June 11th to August 13th from 2-3PM at various parks in town. Locations are listed on the Borough’s website at HanoverBoroughPA.gov/198/Parks-Recreation.
Reptile Wonders / Nature Center on the Go on Wednesday, June 17th with two shows (11AM and 1:30PM) in the Bare Center, lower level of the Guthrie Memorial Library.
Splash & Dance Foam Party on Thursday, August 6th from 1-2:30PM at Moul Field. Swimwear is recommended for this event of laughter and play in a field of foam.
All events are free of charge and no registration is required. For more information about these programs contact the Department of Parks and Recreation at 717-637-3877 x 1029 or via email at [email protected]. Schedule of events is available online at www.HanoverBoroughPA.gov/198/Parks-Recreation.
Hanover Borough's free summer playground programs for kids will soon start back up, including chances to meet the scaly friends of Reptile Invasion.
