Hey, come out and play!

For most kids, getting the call to come inside when the street lights came on sent a wave of panic, followed by a plea: "Just five more minutes, please."

But today, with all the technology available to children, some aren't outside as often as previous generations. An event hosted by the city of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department hopes to change that.

Parks and recreation will host the sixth annual Come Out and Play event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 19, at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Park in Yuma. The event is free, along with admission to the pool.

Debbie Wendt with parks and recreation said the idea started from a children's cable television station that went off the air for a day each year, encouraging children to go outside and play.

Now Come Out and Play is in its sixth year and Wendt says it just keeps getting better.

And they'll have something for all age groups.

Something new this year will be professional skateboarders at the skate park. They will be doing demonstrations and raffling off skateboard decks, T-shirts and stickers.

The event will also offer kayaking in the pool and scuba diving for children to try under the supervision of certified instructors.

Outside the pool, they'll have relay races, disk golf, obstacle courses, hula hoops, pogo sticks, an inflatable jumper and games such as dodgeball.

In addition to all the other activities going on, children will be able to play "monster basketball" and "monster soccer," Wendt said. The rules are the same, but the inflatable balls are at least 6 feet tall.

And Yumans know how to play. This is the third year in a row that Yuma has received the "Most Playful City" award, which is given to cities across America that foster play.

Now the event also helps honor that commitment to play, Wendt said.

In the end, she said, she hopes the event encourages kids to get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors.

"Children are forgetting what it's like to go outside and play, so that's what we're really trying to encourage children to do: go outside, play and enjoy the outdoors."

But Wendt said the day isn't just for the children. "And the parents can get back in touch with nature, what they used to do as a child."

For more information about the event, call 373-5243.