Having Fun in the Sun | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

Smooth sailing at sheriff’s office, South Putnam event

Children and their families get an early jumpstart on summer during the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office’s Cops, Kids and Kayaks event Saturday at Lake Stella in Crescent City.
Kayaks line the shore of Lake Stella on Saturday during the Cops, Kids and Kayaks event in Crescent City.
Positively Putnam FL

CRESCENT CITY – Local families and police officers spent Saturday in the sun as they kayaked and frolicked on Lake Stella.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office teamed up with Crescent City officials and other local groups to host Cops, Kids and Kayaks for the first time since 2018.

“The PCSO staff, their spouses, all our many volunteers and our food vendors worked tirelessly to make this event a success and it was,” Crescent City Mayor Michele Myers said. “We had a tremendous turnout.”

Allison Waters-Merritt, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office, said about 300 children participated Saturday, and she didn’t count family members and volunteers.

“It was a good kickoff to summer,” she said.

Children played in the lake, learned to kayak, met deputies, flew down a waterslide and learned about recycling with Keep Putnam Beautiful. Waters-Merritt said the community event was part of efforts to introduce South Putnam residents to deputies who patrol the area.

The sheriff’s office began conducting the city’s law enforcement on an interim basis in December amid worries about the Crescent City Police Department’s certifications.

In March, the Crescent City Commission voted to abolish the police department and have the sheriff’s office take over on a full-time basis.

And the Police Athletic League gym is being relocated from East Palatka to Crescent City because many children who attend PAL events live in South Putnam. The event let residents know of summer opportunities for their children, she said.

Waters-Merritt said residents’ responses to Saturday were “tremendous.” Cops, Kids and Kayaks is something they are already planning to host again.

“We’ve had nothing but positive comments,” Waters-Merritt said. “… We’re very excited to bring this event back.”

Myers said she was happy to see the number of families who came out to spend their Saturday in Crescent City.

“Thanks to everyone, great memories were made on our beautiful Lake Stella, and we are already looking forward to next year’s event,” she said.