It was the first night for Recreation Opportunities For Kids' Pals on the Playground Program in Portage la Prairie.

"For 3 weeks we'll be doing it," says ROK Recreation Supervisor Lynne Parker. "We'll be (at Fort la Reine) Monday nights for 3 weeks, Tuesday nights we're at La Verendrye and Wednesday nights we're at North Memorial. We just play, they play whatever they want. There's some soccer, there's blowing bubbles, there's sidewalk chalk, some kids are just using the play structures, and there's some basketball happening."

Parker says it's an important program because it gets kids out of the house and active. She adds it also helps them build life skills on the playground.

Parker

"You constantly see kids making new friendships. If there are any problems that arise we talk to the kids, and they get it. They know we have a certain expectation when they're here, they need to be respectful, they need to be using their manners, and they keep coming back all the time."

The program starts at 6 p.m. and runs Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.