While it’s based on one of CBS’ most successful reality shows, the town of Van Buren Parks and Recreation Department’s fall event probably won’t have 10 million sets of eyes on its participants. But your family’s sets of eyes could be searching for clues in B’ville next month if you sign up for “The Amazing Race.”
Based on the Emmy Award-winning globetrotting series of the same name, Van Buren’s Amazing Race will pit up to 20 four-person teams against each other for a massive scavenger hunt centered around Van Buren Park.
“We were looking to bringing more people into the park,” said recreation supervisor Heidi Anders.
Through the Amazing Race, Van Buren’s parks and rec staff hopes to highlight one of the town’s overlooked gems. Anders said the park’s pool is popular in the summer, but there are also basketball and tennis courts, pavilions and a huge hill in the park.
“Unless you pass the park a lot of people don’t even know it’s here. It’s to draw people in,” she said.
Anders said the department has held adults-only and children-only activities, but she wanted to create an event for all ages to come together.
“We were trying to incorporate a family activity,” she said.
As in the reality show, Anders explained, teams will have to “decipher clues to move on to the next [location] in the B’ville area.”
“There are a lot of fun activities, but some are very challenging too,” she added.
The Amazing Race features both mental challenges — such as putting together puzzle pieces to form a picture of the next destination — and physical challenges — like melting a block of ice to uncover a clue.
Anders said the parks and rec department hosts one major event per season. The staff has been formulating clues and challenges for the Amazing Race since the beginning of summer.
Depending on the success of the Amazing Race, Anders said the parks and rec department are looking into holding a “Survivor” challenge in the spring and future Amazing Races. (A summer “Survivor” challenge was canceled due to lack of participation.)
The Amazing Race begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, in Pavilion B of Van Buren Park, located at 7350 Canton St. in Baldwinsville.
Four-person teams participating in Van Buren’s Amazing Race must include at least one person between the ages of 8 and 14. Each team must have a cellphone capable of sending pictures; during one portion of the competition, teams must send a photo of the clue to the parks department in order to receive the next clue.
Registration costs $60 for a four-person team and includes a T-shirt for each team member. Parks and Recreation Director Cathy Perkins said two or three teams have already signed up, and there is a limit of 20 teams. To register, call 638-4727 or email [email protected].
