LOWER FREDERICK PA – More than 3,000 brightly colored and candy-filled plastic eggs, and a select few with messages that said their finders were entitled to additional special prizes, covered the field Saturday morning (April 8, 2023) at Coble Park. Most were retrieved in about five minutes, during the township Park and Recreation Board’s 2023 edition of its annual Easter Egg Hunt.
The crowd in attendance was estimated to be larger than that of 2022, and attracted hundreds of eager children and their helpful parents. Participants began arriving at 9:20 a.m. at the park, on Little Road near Route 29, for the 10 a.m. hunt.
Kids and adults alike surged ahead at the start (at right), then sprinted to capture the treasures awaiting ahead of them in plain view. Several hunters were determined to find whatever eggs that remained and stayed out on the field for up to 20 minutes longer, according to board members.
There was special motivation behind their methods. For the first time this year, the board created six special eggs, each containing a coupon (above) that announced the finder had won either one of two marshmallow “Peeps” kits, two foot-high chocolate rabbits, or two chocolate dinosaur eggs. They delighted the winners, naturally, but also caused a pre-hunt “buzz” among the park audience.
Park board members are said to have already begun discussing how to improve next year’s hunt.
Board Chair Pam Reich publicly thanked board members for their hard work and efforts over many months. She also thanked many volunteers who helped make the day possible, including members of the Lower Frederick Fire Company fire police unit, the Plymouth Community Ambulance Association and its Lower Frederick team, and Lower Frederick Police Department Ofc. Karissa Lauer (at left, with a friend).
Photos by Greg Reich and Bill McGovern, used with permission
