Warm weather play
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on December 28, 2016 10:04 AM
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Zy'Lon Fisher, 4, left and brother Zaylen, 6, stand on a downed tree at Herman Park Tuesday. The warmer weather has brought many families out to the park to enjoy themselves.
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Kivette Vaughan, 3, slides down the side of a playground structure taking advantage of unseasonably warm winter weather at Herman Park Tuesday. Vaughan like many kids in the Goldsboro area enjoys the warmth which is expected to continue over the coming days.
A cool breeze wafted through the air at Herman Park Tuesday afternoon as children on vacation from school laughed and chased each other while their parents talked or even joined in.
Newly-vacated swings rocked back and forth in the brief moments before a new occupant sent them on their way again.
It had all of the markings of a beautiful summer day. Except, of course, for the fact that it was Dec. 27.
Unseasonably warm temperatures Tuesday brought with them dozens of people looking to enjoy the outdoors. At Herman Park, nestled back in a wooded area off of Ash Street, families of all kinds came together to take advantage of the unexpectedly nice day.
Trena McCoy and Mary Suggs brought McCoy's three grandchildren to the park with them. A'mienia, 7, Ny'emia, 5, and Mikell, 3, raced ahead of her in a line, disappearing into the jungle gym and popping back out just as quickly as they played.
Mrs. McCoy said that she'd been spending time with the kids during the day, and their trip to the park had been a spur-of-the-moment decision.
"We were driving by in my car and they - they always do this - they just yelled 'Grandma can we go to the park?'" she said. "So I just said 'let me go home and rest up a bit and then we'll go out there.'"
Mrs. McCoy said she brings the kids to Herman Park when she can, as both she and the children's mother spend a lot of time at work.
Because they live in the surrounding area, Mrs. McCoy said the park is convenient to reach. It is also a safe place to play, she said.
"I've never heard of anything happening here."
While the children screamed and played, Davia Webb, 17, sat alone on a bench under the shade of a tree. Also a local resident, Ms. Webb was waiting for her boyfriend, with whom she routinely spends time at the park.
"I live in the area, so I walked here, and he lives around the corner," she said. "It's nice to be able to come out here and just relax, I like the fountain there."
And, of course, the park itself isn't half bad.
"Honestly, I like to get on the swings," she said with a laugh.
Ms. Webb said she and her boyfriend had been to the park two days before, and also two days prior to that. Within a few minutes, he arrived at the park; a few minutes after that, to the swings they ventured.
As the sun began a slow descent, Joshua Tye and his son Kaleb, 5, strolled up to the park with a football. They stopped next to a large leaf pile, which Kaleb proudly took a position on top of before tossing the ball to his father.
A few throws later and the two switched places at Kaleb's behest. However, upon seeing his father feigned falling over onto the leaf pile after catching the ball, Kaleb apparently decided he'd made a mistake and jumped back into the pile himself.
Tye said he'd brought his son out that day specifically because of the weather. Kaleb, hearing the question, jumped in with his own opinion.
"Because it's a beautiful day, and we don't have to wear long pants," he said, grinning from ear to ear, "And the leaf pile!"
Kaleb promptly turned and hurled himself back into the pile.