Children got a chance this past weekend to see and touch emergency trucks and equipment.

“We do these events at the park as we don’t have a downtown. We want a community feel and this allows for that,” Holly Rivera, chairwoman of Penn Forest Parks, explained at the “Touch a Truck” event.

Five fire companies; Franklin, Hazleton, Lake Harmony, Penn Forest No. 1 and Penn Forest No. 2, sheriff deputies, ambulances and other types of trucks were available for kids to explore and learn more about.

The crowd enjoyed climbing on and sitting in tractors belonging to the Meckes family. Roger Meckes is chairman of the Penn Forest Township Board of Supervisors.

Firefighter Daniel McFeeley said that Penn Forest Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 has a truck with a ladder that goes up 105 feet. It was exciting to watch the demonstration of the ladder being extended. McFeeley, who has been a firefighter for 11 years, said, “It’s a family thing — my father, brother and sister are firefighters.”

Four-year-old Olivia Sica, visiting from New Jersey, liked the ladders best.

Jackson Ziccardi, 4, likes “when dad brings the big boy truck home.” His dad, Josh, works for Good Tire Truck, and said that he drives an “earthmover,” which picks up and changes tires for over the road drivers. There was also a kid size version of this and other trucks to play with.

Youngsters had the opportunity to have their face painted by Olivia Sander of Nesquehoning. Balloon animals were being made and carried around by smiling faces.

And a Mickey Mouse bounce house let kids get out some of that extra energy.

Stephen Williams brought his three children to the event. Williams noted that the family attends other events at the park and the kids really like to come to the park to play.

Members of Penn Forest Fire Company No. 1 manned the snack stand. All proceeds go to the fire companies.