Valley Parks and Recreation invites families to make memories over movies

BY KADIE TAYLOR

THE LAFAYETTE SUN

VALLEY — With the legendary mix of popcorn in a ballpark, Valley Parks and Recreation is holding Cinema in Centerfield on Saturday, May 9, 16, 23 and 30 with a movie starting at sunset at the City Park Langdale Ballfield. 

“We’re going to play a movie and we’re going to have a little concession stand,” said Valley Parks and Recreation Program Coordinator Annabel Thompson. “Locals can  bring their lawn chair, a blanket and their own snacks. We’re just going to have a fun time.”

A way to enjoy fields in the off-season, Thompson said Cinema in Centerfield is the result of Valley Parks and Recreation looking for a way to utilize fields that needed some extra care to make sure the community is enjoying the spaces year-round. 

“The sportsplex is awesome and amazing, it’s a really nice venue, but we have other places in Valley that we want to bring back up to their former glory,” she said. “Since the beginning of April, our crew has been out at Langdale Ballfield. They scraped it, they’re redoing the grass, they’re making it a standard playing ball field again, which is awesome.”

Thompson said community members have already expressed excitement for the event and the opportunity to spend time together at a local outdoor space. 

“We have had all the comments like, ‘Oh, this is so awesome. I remember playing ball down here,’” she said. “People are saying this is going to be so cool to be back down here for a fun opportunity, and that are excited to go down there with their kids now. So, I think it’s been a pretty positive response. I’m very excited myself, I can sit back and just watch a movie.”

For families who are looking for affordable spring fun, Thompson said through Cinema in Centerfield, locals can enjoy the sunset and a movie for free. 

“Times are hard for everybody, and you don’t ever want to have somebody excluded because of an admission fee or anything like that,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of families in Chambers County who have big families, which is an amazing thing, but that can be hard when you’re [going to something and it costs] $5 a person, that adds up very quickly. With things like this, we don’t see a need to charge a gate admission fee or anything like that. You just come, bring everybody, bring your friends, bring your whole family and you can bring your own snacks. We think it’s very important to offer opportunities for everybody to enjoy a fun evening and weekend outing with their family and not have to worry about any associated costs that may come with that.”

A movie for every age, Thompson said the movies played at Cinema in Centerfield will be safe and fun for young eyes. 

“They’re all family-friendly, they’re all PG-13, PG and G-rated movies,” she said. “So they’re good for your children and for little children. We’re going to have some animated movies, some live-action remake movies and then a few throwbacks, so they’re still family-friendly, but parents will be like, ‘Oh, I loved that movie as a kid.’ So we’re going to have a throwback night too.”

For more information, follow Valley Parks and Recreation on Facebook.

Langdale Ballfield is located at 5801 24th Ave. in Valley.