5th Annual Touch-A-Truck Event a Honking Good Time

Peterswood Park resembled the set of a "Bob the Builder" episode on Saturday morning as families from Peters Township, as well as many surrounding communities, filled Grasshopper Field on a gorgeous and hot summer day for a chance to have their curious kids jump inside construction, municipal, public safety and industrial vehicles. Bringing the imaginations of those kids’ to life, The Fifth Annual Touch-A-Truck event, sponsored by Peters Township Parks and Recreation, was a tremendous success.

Horns beeped, sirens yelped and cameras clicked as local children made their rounds climbing inside a police car, fire truck, and school bus, on motorcycles and even inside a helicopter.

“We really appreciate all the folks who brought these vehicles here for the kids,” Parks and Recreation Director Michelle Harmel remarked. “This day could never happen without their willing cooperation.”

Participants who brought their vehicles included Peters Township police, fire and public works Departments; Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania; the National Guard; Fallon Electric; Chesapeake Energy; Killkarney Sanitary; Weavertown Towing; Waste Management; and West Penn Allegheny Health System LifeFlight.

Highlights of the event included a gas drilling crane that towered above the treetops, Peters Township Fire Department fire truck complete with more than a handful of uniformed firemen and West Penn Allegheny Health System’s LifeFlight helicopter landing.

Children mounted atop their parents’ shoulders shortly after 10 a.m. and watched in amazement as the WPAHS helicopter landed flawlessly on Grasshopper Field. Awestruck by the action packed landing, children lined up to take a turn sitting inside the helicopter’s very small cabin.

“We love this because it gives everyone the chance to see just how small it is inside these helicopters,” said Don McDermott, West Penn Allegheny Health System pilot. “An event like this helps us a lot because often times we have to tell loved ones they can’t ride with the patient and unless they see how little room we have, they don’t understand.”

With McDermott was Frank Pendice, a pilot for 21 years. ”We have the best job in the world.”  

McDermott explained to event-goers how, through the use of radio communication with local fire departments, EMS and First Response, the LifeFlight pilots are able to effectively set up a landing zone to coordinate a safe landing, avoiding hazards such as trees, electrical wires and slopes.

Admission to the event was free and local Boy Scout Troop 1320, sponsored by Trinity United Methodist Church, sold snacks and bottled water to keep the young, future police officers, fireman, crane and construction vehicle operators hydrated in the summer heat.

Touch-A-Truck, a popular family event among many local communities around the country, originated in Peters Township five years ago when Harmel brought the idea with her from her previous job in Streetsboro, Ohio, where she acted as director of the parks department for nine years.

Participants young and old were very pleased with the event. Touch-A-Truck’s success is due largely to Harmel’s idea and efforts along with help from Recreation Supervisor Lisa Whittaker. McDermott joked, “Our biggest complaint is they don’t let us sit in the trucks and beep the horns.”