City officials hope to possibly make the event an annual affair!
BY JIM BEERS
Tuesday September 1st was the first “End of Summer Hose Down”. This event couldn’t have come at a more convenient time with a late summer heat wave scorching the area. The event was well attended and a crowd favorite with all who experienced it!
The “Hose Down” took place on the Chester Dairy Queen parking lot, which was blocked off for safety and recreation. The Chester Fire Department kept the water flowing utilizing a pumper truck and another fire truck. Between the water cannon and the new Fire Department’s soaking hose, children kept cool and comfortable throughout the two-hour event.
Chester Dairy Queen Owner and Manager, Scott Rust, volunteered his parking lot for the “End of Summer Hose Down” and he even offered ice cream and food deals to participants. The slant to the drive-through lanes made a great place for a minor collection point for the run-off water from the hoses and water cannon and kids enjoyed playing in that area.
Some children braved a close-and-personal experience and got to experience the water park atmosphere close to the fire engines, while others stayed closer to parents by the sidewalks surrounding the Dairy Queen. Several pools of water up to three or four inches deep made for a great place for kids to splash and even lay around in the water.
Chester Park Board volunteers were handing out coupons for free or reduced items from the Dairy Queen and City Officials were on hand to oversee the event.
Chester Mayor Joe Eggemeyer said, “We hope to see if this is a good success so that we will offer it next summer on more than one occasion and at different locations. This will help get the community involved and spread the opportunity for several locations to experience the benefit of more people visiting their establishments.”
Greg Davitz, Organizer and Coordinator of the event said, “The End of Summer Hose Down was a success. A hot day, cold water, and ice cream made for a fantastic event. A BIG THANK YOU to the Chester Fire Department, Fire Chief Marty Bert, Scott Rust and the Chester Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, the Red Door Thrift Store, and to Mayor Joe Eggemeyer for his donation. We handed out about 85 FREE kids meals at the event.”
Nick Bert, City Alderman, provided some background regarding how the “Hoes Down” event came about. Bert said, “The Park Board went through a few changes a while back. We are trying to come up with some new ideas that don’t cost the City of Chester much money and that allow us to utilize what we already have at our disposal.”
“I actually saw this idea on TikToc from a mayor in another small town. I discussed it with the Park Board Chair and he loved it! He also had some of his own ideas that involved the Chester Fire Department.”
“It was taken back to the Park Board a few weeks later. We tossed it around and had some of our own ideas about it. Ultimately we decided to give it a try before summer was over to see if it was worth doing it multiple times next year.”
“Our Chairman, Greg Davitz, reached out to the Chester Fire Chief, Marty Bert, and Park Board member, Heather McCartney, reached out to the Chester Dairy Queen to see if they would be interested in hosting the inaugural event”
Fire Chief Marty Bert was all in for it. The Fire Department has monthly trainings and conducting the event would qualify as training. Everyone agreed that if we had to use the water anyway, such as in flushing the fire hydrants, why not use it to let the kids play!”
“The Rust Family with the Chester Dairy Queen is always ready to help the community. The Fire Department was on board. Everything came together. Scott Rust offered to donate all of the ice cream, but the Park Board made a donation to him to help cover the costs. The Red Door Thrift Store made a donation to help cover the cost for kid’s meals and Mayor Joe Eggemeyer matched that donation on his own.”
According the Bert, the “Hoe Down” was a quick, pop-up event and he is of the opinion that it went over great. His opinion is that more similar events can be brought up in the future.
By the smiles and looks on the kids’ faces, it can be assumed that the inaugural “Chester End of Summer Hose Down” was a huge success. Don’t be surprised of similar events don’t pop up in the summer of 2027!
Rosalie Cross, daughter of Ryan and Emily Cross of Chester, was absolutely thrilled with the “End of Summer Hose Down” Tuesday September 1st hosted at the Chester Dairy Queen. Jim Beers Photo
The Water Cannon on the Chester Fire Department truck blended in with the afternoon sun to form this pretty rainbow at the first ever “Hose Down” held at the Chester Dairy Queen and sponsored by the Chester Park Board. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester Dairy Queen, owned and managed by Scott Rust, was a very popular place Tuesday afternoon September 1st. Young and old participants alike enjoyed what is hoped to be the “1st Annual End of Summer Hose Down” event which drew a large crowd. Hot temperatures, cold water and delicious Dairy Queen Ice Cream and Kids’ Meals made for a great event. Jim Beers Photo
This little man took advantage of the pooled eater provided by the Chester Fire Department at the “End of Summer Hose Down” held at the Chester Dairy Queen and sponsored by the Chester Park Board. Jim Beers Photo
A good-sized crowd of parents and children enjoyed the “End of Summer Hose Down” Tuesday September 1st. The extremely hot temperatures helped make the atmosphere much more enjoyable in the cool, refreshing water provided by the Chester Fiore Department. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester Dairy Queen was the place to be Tuesday September 1st from 5-7 p.m.! It was the scene of the 1st Annual “Ends of Summer Hose Down, complete with FREE DQ ice cream and Dairy Queen Kids’ Meals, not to mention lots of cool, refreshing water sprayed by the Chester Fire Department. Jim Beers Photo