Becky Ginos
The City Journals
Lagoon is all about family fun and making memories, but its top priority is safety. With that in mind, Lagoon, in collaboration with Parents Empowered and Central 3 Communities That Care Coalition, recently unveiled a new statewide initiative to prevent underage drinking.
Guests will find interactive signage, activities and prizes throughout the park encouraging parents to connect with their children and educate them about the dangers of underage drinking.
“We’re so honored to be a part of the Central 3 Communities That Care Coalition and working with Parents Empowered,” said Julie Freed, director of special events at Lagoon. “It has been a natural fit for us. Here at Lagoon our No. 1 priority is — and must remain — safety.”
Parents Empowered is also all about keeping kids safe, she said. “Parents Empowered is about the safety of our kids’ brains and what better place to talk to your kids than while waiting and running in line for a roller coaster?”
Families have been coming to Lagoon for decades, said Freed. “We’ve been open for 140 years. They’ve been coming here to make memories. Parents bring their kids here to bond, and bonding is really what drives the message home. If you have a strong bond with your kids, they’re going to listen to what you’re saying.”
Central 3 Communities That Care (CTC) is a volunteer-based coalition, said Tonja Schilling, Central 3 CTC coordinator. “It’s a substance use prevention coalition that serves Fruit Heights, Kaysville and Farmington.”
Schilling said that in Davis County, most kids are alcohol-free. “We have a lot of positive experiences and outcomes already. However, we do show on our local chart data that those who have had alcohol in the past 30 days, a high percentage of that is at home with parent permission.”
That’s why this is a good partnership, she said. “To bring this messaging here at Lagoon where families are already spending time bonding and engaging and connecting. Those are all factors against underage alcohol use.”
While at Lagoon, they’ll be able to engage in interactive games and activities, said Schilling. “We have digital chitchat cards so they can have conversations with their family while in line for rides. Research shows that parents who spend time with their child daily and interact with them and be a part of their world actually reduce the likelihood of underage alcohol use.”
“Farmington is proud to support the efforts of strengthening families and keeping our youth safe,” said Farmington City Councilmember Melissa Layton. “This work matters to me. I have seven children and I’ve worked in the Davis School District for over 12 years and I’ve seen firsthand the effects that alcohol can have on underage children. When we connect as families, we take our power back to protect our children.”
Underage drinking can change these developing brains and impair memory, learning and good judgment, she said. “In addition, it can be linked to poor academic performance, to violence, to depression, suicide and many other mental illnesses and behavioral problems.”
The earlier a person begins drinking, the more likely they are to abuse alcohol as adults, said Layton. “Simply spend time with your children, connecting, talking with them and opening up conversations about all the things that can prevent them from underage drinking.”
“This is a meaningful and fun launch of our newest Parents Empowered partnership at the Department of Alcohol Beverage Services (DABS),” said Tiffany Clayson, executive director. “Our mission includes promoting the safe and responsible use of alcohol and that begins with prevention. Parents Empowered is one of the most effective tools we have to reach families with that message.”
The significance of messaging placed at Lagoon is the number of Utah families and many others, even from out of state, who will travel to the park and take in this important message, said Clayson. “More than a million visitors come through the gates here every year. That’s a massive impact and massive reach.”
For more information about CTC visit dbhutah.org/CTC.
