'Swing into Spring' set for Friday

Annual event scheduled for Mill Creek Regional Park

In this 2013 file photo, Sammy Garcia, 5, of the Statesboro Floor Covers Reds, front, decides to switch from offense to defense by outracing his Olive Branch Landscaping Braves opponents Beckham Jarrard, 4, center, and Cameron Crawford, 6, right, to the ball from third base after a hit by a teammate during a t-ball game at Swing into Spring. The annual event is set for this Friday at Mill Creek Regional Park.

032213 SWING INTO SPRING 01 — In this 2013 file photo, Sammy Garcia, 5, of the Statesboro Floor Covers Reds, front, decides to switch from offense to defense by outracing his Olive Branch Landscaping Braves opponents Beckham Jarrard, 4, center, and Cameron Crawford, 6, right, to the ball from third base after a hit by a teammate during a t-ball game at Swing into Spring. The annual event is set for this Friday at Mill Creek Regional Park.

The Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks and Recreation Department will host the 14th annual “Swing into Spring” celebration from 5–9 p.m. Friday at Mill Creek Regional Park.

This event is free to the public and is the official opening of baseball and softball season. Entertainment including music, interactive games, and bounce houses will be organized throughout the park. The traditional first pitch of the season will be held during the celebration. As always, the event will end with a fireworks show.

Swing into Spring has been a long-standing tradition at the Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks and Recreation Department to kick off the beginning of baseball, softball and soccer season with a parade of more than 1,300 players, 105 teams and a huge display of fireworks. The festivities will begin at 5 p.m. with inflatable games, and other attractions taking place at field one. Exhibition games between recreational teams will begin at 5:30 p.m. The parade of players will begin at 7:45 p.m. with fireworks to follow after the ceremonies end.

The celebration has become a hit with the public. With a large crowd expected, local and highway safety officials have instituted the following traffic plan: after 8:30 p.m. the back entrance to the park will be used for exiting only. There will be no traffic allowed to enter or exit from the main entrance on Georgia Highway 24 during the fireworks display. Traffic exiting the main park entrance will be directed left onto Highway 24 and will go straight to the bypass for access to U.S. highways 80 and 301.

Traffic using the back exit of Mill Creek will turn right onto Brannen Street and then left onto Beasley Road toward Highway 80. Once all cars have exited from Mill Creek Regional Park, traffic from Mill Creek Elementary will be directed right onto Beasley Road to Highway 80. Traffic exiting from Bible Baptist, Trinity Church, and Barnes Lumber will be directed right onto Highway 24 to the bypass for access to highways 80 and 301. Exiting preference will be given to people parked in designated areas within Mill Creek Regional Park.

Sponsors for the event include Coca-Cola, Northland Cable, Statesboro Rotary Club, Chick-fil-A, Statesboro Kiwanis Club, Statesboro Golf Carts and Sunbelt Rentals. For more information and a full schedule of events call (912) 764-5637 or visit www.bullochrec.com

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