Valley Play Day: A Wonderful Success
By Corey Cozzens - 13 September 2026
What began as an idea to bring together recreation groups, nonprofits, local businesses, schools, and community organizations became something much bigger than a single evening at Eden Park. It became a celebration of what happens when the valley works together.
The goal was simple: create an event where families could experience everything our community has to offer in one place. Instead of walking through rows of vendor booths, families were invited to participate. Kids climbed, threw baseballs, kicked soccer balls, learned new skills, created art, met local organizations, explored outdoor recreation, and discovered opportunities they may never have known existed.
More than two dozen organizations came together to make the event possible, each offering hands-on activities that reflected the incredible variety of programs available throughout Ogden Valley. From sports and outdoor recreation to music, arts, fitness, and community service, there truly was something for every age and interest. The Passport Challenge encouraged families to visit every booth, creating conversations and connections that may not have happened otherwise.
The day almost looked very different. About an hour before the event was scheduled to begin, powerful winds swept through Eden Park. Canopies toppled, displays blew across the grass, decorations scattered, and for a brief moment it appeared the event might not happen at all.
Then something remarkable happened. Without being asked, volunteers, booth partners, families, and neighbors jumped in. Everyone grabbed tents, secured tables, chased signs, picked up decorations, and helped one another rebuild. There was no concern about whose booth belonged to whom. It simply became everyone's event.
As if on cue, the wind settled just minutes after the official start time. What followed was three hours filled with laughter, friendly competition, music, learning, and neighbors spending time together. Children ran from activity to activity with passports in hand while parents visited organizations they had never met before. Recreation groups introduced families to their programs, nonprofits shared their missions, and local businesses became part of the experience instead of simply observing it.
Valley Play Day didn't happen because of one organization. It happened because an entire community believed in creating opportunities for families to connect, volunteer, and invest in one another. It was a reminder that recreation is about far more than sports or activities. It's about building relationships, strengthening communities, and creating memories that last long after the event is over.
Ogden Valley Recreation extends its sincere gratitude to every volunteer, organization, sponsor, and community member who invested their time, equipment, creativity, and energy to make the event successful. Your willingness to serve transformed an idea into an experience that hundreds of families will remember.
We would also like to recognize the sponsors whose generosity helped make Valley Play Day possible: Utah Eye Centers, Dip Pools & Spas, Valley Design Build, Brightline Electric, Ferree Electric, Community Foundation of Ogden Valley, Napa Auto Parts Eden, Sunny Field Farms, Argyle Acres, Grizzley Graphics, Ogden Valley Recreation, and Ogden Valley Little League. Their investment in recreation and community helped create an evening that brought the valley together.
To everyone who attended, volunteered, partnered with us, sponsored the event, or simply came out to enjoy the evening, thank you. Valley Play Day was a celebration of everything that makes Ogden Valley such a special place to live, work, and raise a family.
At Ogden Valley Recreation, our mission is to provide quality recreational opportunities that enrich the lives of residents of all ages. Valley Play Day reflects that mission by bringing people together, encouraging active lifestyles, and creating meaningful experiences for families throughout our community.
If the event inspired you to try something new, we invite you to stay involved. Throughout the year, Ogden Valley Recreation offers youth sports, adult leagues, outdoor recreation, fitness programs, camps, classes, and community events designed for every stage of life. Whether you're introducing a child to their first team, looking for a new hobby, or simply hoping to spend more time outdoors with your family, there's a place for you.
Learn more about upcoming programs, leagues, events, and registration at ogdenvalleyrec.org. We look forward to seeing you again soon and helping you discover your next adventure in Ogden Valley.
If Valley Play Day proved anything, it is this, the greatest strength of Ogden Valley has never been its parks, mountains, or scenery. It has always been its people.
Corey Cozzens,
Huntsville
By Corey Cozzens - 13 September 2026
What began as an idea to bring together recreation groups, nonprofits, local businesses, schools, and community organizations became something much bigger than a single evening at Eden Park. It became a celebration of what happens when the valley works together.
The goal was simple: create an event where families could experience everything our community has to offer in one place. Instead of walking through rows of vendor booths, families were invited to participate. Kids climbed, threw baseballs, kicked soccer balls, learned new skills, created art, met local organizations, explored outdoor recreation, and discovered opportunities they may never have known existed.
More than two dozen organizations came together to make the event possible, each offering hands-on activities that reflected the incredible variety of programs available throughout Ogden Valley. From sports and outdoor recreation to music, arts, fitness, and community service, there truly was something for every age and interest. The Passport Challenge encouraged families to visit every booth, creating conversations and connections that may not have happened otherwise.
The day almost looked very different. About an hour before the event was scheduled to begin, powerful winds swept through Eden Park. Canopies toppled, displays blew across the grass, decorations scattered, and for a brief moment it appeared the event might not happen at all.
Then something remarkable happened. Without being asked, volunteers, booth partners, families, and neighbors jumped in. Everyone grabbed tents, secured tables, chased signs, picked up decorations, and helped one another rebuild. There was no concern about whose booth belonged to whom. It simply became everyone's event.
As if on cue, the wind settled just minutes after the official start time. What followed was three hours filled with laughter, friendly competition, music, learning, and neighbors spending time together. Children ran from activity to activity with passports in hand while parents visited organizations they had never met before. Recreation groups introduced families to their programs, nonprofits shared their missions, and local businesses became part of the experience instead of simply observing it.
Valley Play Day didn't happen because of one organization. It happened because an entire community believed in creating opportunities for families to connect, volunteer, and invest in one another. It was a reminder that recreation is about far more than sports or activities. It's about building relationships, strengthening communities, and creating memories that last long after the event is over.
Ogden Valley Recreation extends its sincere gratitude to every volunteer, organization, sponsor, and community member who invested their time, equipment, creativity, and energy to make the event successful. Your willingness to serve transformed an idea into an experience that hundreds of families will remember.
We would also like to recognize the sponsors whose generosity helped make Valley Play Day possible: Utah Eye Centers, Dip Pools & Spas, Valley Design Build, Brightline Electric, Ferree Electric, Community Foundation of Ogden Valley, Napa Auto Parts Eden, Sunny Field Farms, Argyle Acres, Grizzley Graphics, Ogden Valley Recreation, and Ogden Valley Little League. Their investment in recreation and community helped create an evening that brought the valley together.
To everyone who attended, volunteered, partnered with us, sponsored the event, or simply came out to enjoy the evening, thank you. Valley Play Day was a celebration of everything that makes Ogden Valley such a special place to live, work, and raise a family.
At Ogden Valley Recreation, our mission is to provide quality recreational opportunities that enrich the lives of residents of all ages. Valley Play Day reflects that mission by bringing people together, encouraging active lifestyles, and creating meaningful experiences for families throughout our community.
If the event inspired you to try something new, we invite you to stay involved. Throughout the year, Ogden Valley Recreation offers youth sports, adult leagues, outdoor recreation, fitness programs, camps, classes, and community events designed for every stage of life. Whether you're introducing a child to their first team, looking for a new hobby, or simply hoping to spend more time outdoors with your family, there's a place for you.
Learn more about upcoming programs, leagues, events, and registration at ogdenvalleyrec.org. We look forward to seeing you again soon and helping you discover your next adventure in Ogden Valley.
If Valley Play Day proved anything, it is this, the greatest strength of Ogden Valley has never been its parks, mountains, or scenery. It has always been its people.
Corey Cozzens,
Huntsville