The city of Westfield is partnering with Village Park Plaza to host Westfield’s second annual Family Fair at Village Park Plaza.  The fair will open on Wednesday, May 27 and close on Sunday, June 6. 

The fair will be a Burton Brothers production and include approximately 12 to 15 large children to adult rides, and 6 to 8 little children’s rides.  There will also be several food vendors, including salt water taffy, funnel cakes, hot dogs and hamburgers. 

Admission is free but tickets will be sold to ride the rides or purchase food from vendors.  Tickets are a dollar and rides are approximately 3 to 5 tickets per ride.  A wristband can be purchased for $18 and that includes unlimited rides for an entire day. 

The city of Westfield’s community beautification program, Westfield in Bloom, kicks-off this month throughout Westfield.   The designated color for this year’s contest is red.   The deadline to register will be June 14^th and the winner will be announced at the July 15^th Westfield in Bloom celebration at Wood Wind Golf Club.  Judging will take place the last weekend in June so the City would like to encourage residents to get their planting completed as soon as possible. 

Westfield in Bloom is modeled after America in Bloom, a program dedicated to promoting nationwide beautification programs with community involvement through the use of flowers, plants, and trees and other environment and lifestyle enhancements.   The Westfield in Bloom committee has been meeting for months, planning the events and competition which will make up this year’s program. Local residents and businesses are already showing interest and registrations are beginning to come in to the park office.

“Last year our program was a huge success and we’re hoping to gain even more interest this year” says Melody Jones, the City’s Parks Director.  “We are hoping to raise awareness while transforming Westfield with a beautiful array of flowers,” says Jones.   

For additional information, please contact the Parks Office at 317-804-3184. 

Westfield Fire Department recently sent three firefighters to a weeklong personal trainer certification workshop hosted by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Professional Firefighters Local 416. 

This certification program called the "Peer Fitness Trainer" is just one part of a larger joint initiative cooperatively developed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).  The goal of this joint wellness/fitness initiative is to improve the health and safety of firefighters across North America.

The IAFC and IAFF partnered with the American Council on Exercise (ACE), which is the largest fitness certification organization in the world, to develop a certification program which is uniquely tailored to the physical rigors of firefighting and the larger goals of the IAFC/IAFF Wellness/Fitness Initiative.

A recent research study conducted by Indiana University revealed that firefighters often experience extreme levels of physiological stress while fighting structures fires. Every year roughly half of all line-of-duty firefighter deaths are the result of fatal cardiac events, all of which are directly attributed to over exertion and stress.

“Now that we have three certified Peer Fitness Trainers within WFD, we have the ability to develop focused and customized fitness regimens for each firefighter and paramedic,” says Chief Todd Burtron.  Additionally Chief Burtron said, “The PFT program enhances our overall Wellness Fitness Initiative, having the overall goal of a healthier and safer fire department.”

The Westfield in Bloom committee is looking for volunteers to help with this year’s Community Plant Day, a City beautification project at Quaker Park located at 17501 Dartown Road in Westfield.  The Community Plant Day is scheduled for May 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

“This year’s dominant color is red so we’re hoping to make Westfield a sea of red,” says Westfield Parks Director Melody Jones.  “We’re urging all residents to get involved and join us to help plant flowers and plant pride in our community.”

To volunteer or to learn more about Westfield in Bloom, contact Kathy Gray at 804.3184.