In a display of community spirit and engagement, the Colorado Springs Police Department is teaming up with SCHEELS to host the fifth annual BALLTOBERFEST this Saturday. The event promises to bring together families and law enforcement for a day filled with sports and positive interactions. A unique spectacle is set to kick off the festivities, as Colorado Flight for Life is scheduled to dramatically drop off the 10,000th ball to the PlayCOS program via helicopter at 10 AM.
Community members have the chance to meaningfully contribute by donating new sports balls to support CSPD's Play COS Program. This initiative has seen patrol divisions supplied with various sports balls to be given out to local kids and teens during officers' shifts. It's a simple program; officers keep a few balls in their cruisers, ready to hand out and to play a spontaneous game if the opportunity arises. The event at SCHEELS also features a 20% discount on sports balls, adding an incentive for participants to donate.
The Play COS Program, which has been active since 2021, aims to foster positive engagements between community members and the police. As described by the City of Colorado Springs, the program "allows our community to interact with officers in an organic, simple, and fun way." With nearly 200 PlayCOS events to date and copious donations to community centers and schools, the program has facilitated over 60,000 positive police/community interactions.
Acknowledged for its impact, the CSPD was awarded the 2022 International Association of Chiefs of Police Leadership in Community Policing Award. This honor recognizes effective partnerships that have made a substantial difference in making communities safer. According to the City of Colorado Springs, this initiative strives to become "a long-term, ongoing, sports program that will be a permanent fixture in CSPD’s department-wide community outreach efforts for years to come."
Coloradans interested in joining the BALLTOBERFEST can stop by the Colorado Springs SCHEELS on October 4, from 10 AM - 1 PM, to enjoy law enforcement vehicle displays, family-friendly games, and be part of a cause that's connecting the CSPD with the neighborhoods it serves. As BALLTOBERFEST enters its fifth year, the community can look forward to adding to the tradition of giving and engaging with local law enforcement in a positive and recreational setting.
