Solon Backyard Games!

The Second Annual Backyard Games, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Solon, were held at the Solon Community Park on Saturday, July 20 and were a great success!  Morning rain hampered setup slightly, but the games were underway within 15 minutes of schedule, and all events were completed before the skies opened again (heavily!) in the late afternoon.

Sixteen teams - including corporate-sponsored teams as well as groups of individuals, from Solon and the surrounding area and from as far away as Orville and even Minnesota - competed in six sports (bocce, kan jam, badminton, around-the-world basketball, cornhole, and golf chipping), enjoyed music played by a DJ during the day and a performance by Cleveland-area band Pop Rocks, as well as a lunch and dinner prepared by The Tavern of Solon, within the confines of a beer garden encompassing the main Solon Community Park parking lot.  Team Swagelok 1 defended its overall championship from last year's inaugural games, with Minnesota Gold taking second place after travelling from Minnesota to participate and Walkers (of Orville) taking the bronze medal.  Individual event champions were also crowned.  Photos of the event available on the club's Facebook page.

Funds raised from the event will go to support the Rotary Club's local projects, including the monthly mobile food pantry held at the Church of the Resurrection, and additional projects relating to the new permanent Safety Town facility in the Solon Community Club.  The event would not have been possible without Gold sponsor Forest City and Silver sponsor Swagelok, event sponsors AssuraMed, Howard Wershbale & Co., Fastener Tool & Supply, Inc., SS&G, and Apple Growth Partners), to our teams and participants, the Tavern of Solon and other food sponsors (Joey's, Earth Fare, Giant Eagle, Joshen Paper, and Orlando Bakery), the City of Solon and the hard-working staff of the Solon Recreation Department, to Superior Beverage (who printed banners for us in addition to supplying beverages and equipment), and to the many volunteers who assisted with a wide variety of tasks.