Bethel Park hosts 4th annual Touch-a-Truck event

The weather cooperated fully, with a dose of mid-summer sunshine in mid-May, as Bethel Park hosted its fourth annual Touch-a-Truck event at the municipality’s public works garage.

Children and their families were able to take close-up looks at all kinds of vehicles, from fire engines and ambulances to the public works department’s backhoes, dump trucks and tow trucks.

Other features included horseback rides, a visit by the Washington Wild Things’ mascot and a 22-ton sand pile filled with more than 500 gifts for kids to explore.

Officer Amber DiFranco from the Bethel Park Police Department greeted guests who had the opportunity to check out the workings of a police cruiser. And Ed Schmidt from the Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company entertained youngsters by operating a remote-controlled fire truck and lending his voice to the vehicle through a wireless microphone.

“We try to think of new creative attractions to include for children who attend each year so that there’s always something a little different to look forward to,” public works director Susan Dolinar said. “Our public works staff also loves being part of it. They, along with their children, are featured in our custom coloring books that we hand out at the event.”