Public invited to weekly downtown Jamestown picnic

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John M. Steiner / The Sun Mitchell Roth has started a neighborhood picnic for the public at 2 p.m. every Sunday in the Arts Park in downtown Jamestown.

Talk about it

The public is welcome to join a neighborhood picnic at 2 p.m. every Sunday afternoon in the downtown Arts Park.

“It’s really informal. It’s up to people who come on how they want to participate,” said Mitchell Roth, Jamestown, who started the picnics in May. “It’s open to the public and anyone who wants some food.”

Roth’s idea is a simple one. Earlier in the year, he thought about how much he was looking forward to having a barbecue with his friends. Then Roth realized it was usually the same group of people attending, and thought it would be nice to branch out a bit.

“I paid off all my debt this year and after doing that, I realized I have more than I need — money and possessions,” Roth said.

He decided to start something for the community.

Roth brings food for the picnic, and materials for activities — a chess board, paint and canvas or sidewalk chalk. Some people bring Frisbees, musical instruments and jam together.

He borrowed some tables from the Arts Center, received some vinyl from Roughrider Signs & Designs for a “Neighborhood Picnic” sign and got a bit of scrap wood from Eric Haas for the back of the sign.

He chose the Arts Park for the picnic because of its central location in the heart of downtown Jamestown.

Roth hopes people attending the picnic will bring activities they want to share — making balloon animals, giving lessons or playing card games.

One possibility for the future is showing movies in the Arts Park at night, though not necessarily on Sundays, Roth said.

So far, there have been four picnics, with about a dozen people turning up at the first one and attendance varying since.

“It’s just about going out and enjoying yourself — having a nice lazy Sunday, you know, out in the park,” Roth said.

For more information about the community picnic, visit Roth’s website at mitchellroth.com, call him at 251-8608 or email mitchell.e.roth@gmail.com.

The event also has a Facebook page, “Jamestown Community Picnic,” which is maintained by Jacqueline Dotzenrod.

Sun reporter Kari Lucin can be reached at 701-952-8453

or by email at

klucin@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news