Families find joy and wellness at mental health park event hosted by Kane Community Coalition

It was sunshine, smiles and serenity at the Jacob Hamb­lin Park on Monday, May 12 as the Kane Community Coalition (KCC) and Kane Com­munity Youth Coali­tion (KCYC) hosted a Family Fun Night dedicated to promot­ing mental health and community con­nection. The Kane Community Coalition would like to thank so many wonderful vol­unteers and the Kane County Commission who helped make it happen.

Photos via Kane Community Coalition.

With a strong turn­out of families and community members, the event offered some­thing for everyone - from calming yoga sessions to hands-on art activities - all thoughtfully designed to highlight the many ways we can care for our mental well-being.

Booths lined the grassy park, each of­fering a unique lens into mental health. Children and adults explored stations fo­cused on things like Art Expression - where they expressed emo­tions through painting and color with Jennifer Andrews; Animal Con­nection - where friendly therapy animals from Best Friends Animal Society brought joy and comfort to visi­tors; and a Yoga Zone with Amy Burggraaf, where adults and chil­dren could stretch and breathe together. Guests also stopped by Desert Healing, learning how food and supplements can af­fect mood and energy levels. Several booths focused on the impor­tance of physical activ­ity in mental wellness, offering games and guided exercises, as well as lots of infor­mation for parents to take home and create conversations with­in their families. We were grateful for the support from AA, Al Anon, Southwest Pub­lic Health, Southwest Behavioral Health, the Dove Center and Senior Center.

The laughter and curiosity around the booths created an in­viting and relaxed environment where learning came natural­ly. “We wanted people to walk away not just feeling good, but feel­ing supported,” said a KCYC youth represen­tative. “Mental health can be a big topic, but events like this make it easier to talk about.”

Throughout the eve­ning, the park was filled with soft music and calming messages - pre-recorded mindful­ness thoughts shared by KCYC members, reminding everyone to slow down, breathe deeply, and enjoy the moment. These af­firmations added a peaceful rhythm to the evening and reinforced the event’s message of self-care. Thank you to Tegan Owens for run­ning our sound for the event.

No one went hungry either! Approximately 200 hundred attendees enjoyed a delicious free dinner (catered by Sub­way) and Cotton Can­dy, which gave families a chance to picnic in the park and connect with others while relaxing in the late afternoon sunshine.

Organizers from KCC emphasized the importance of creating events where mental health can be explored in a fun and engaging way. “When we bring people together like this, we’re not just rais­ing awareness - we’re building a stronger, healthier community,” said one representa­tive.

As the sun dipped behind the trees, it was clear the event had struck the perfect balance: fun and infor­mative, lighthearted yet meaningful. Fam­ily Fun Night served as a joyful reminder that taking care of your mental health can be as simple - and as powerful - as a shared moment in the park.

As May’s Mental Health Awareness Month concludes, re­member: sometimes life’s challenges can be difficult. Whether you’re facing men­tal health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug abuse concerns, or just need someone to talk to, car­ing counselors on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline are here for you at any time. You are not alone.