Hands-on Public Works Fair Set for May 18

For Immediate Release –

Marin County, CA –

Family friendly event will take over part of County Fairgrounds in San Rafael

Kids love hands-on learning experiences and who doesn’t love a petting zoo? During National Public Works Week, the Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW) will host one, but without animals. Instead, there will be huge tractors, backhoes, emergency vehicles, construction machinery and other heavy equipment, as well as demonstrations and presentations on related topics. There will even be a professional-grade demonstration on how to unclog a toilet.

Marin DPW’s family-friendly Public Works Fair is free for everyone and scheduled for 10 AM to 2 PM, Saturday, May 18, at the Marin County Fairgrounds in San Rafael. DPW’s various divisions will set up interactive stations adjacent to Lagoon Park, just behind Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium.

“This will be our first Public Works Week Fair here at Marin County DPW and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome everyone to come and meet us, ask us questions and get up close to some of our equipment,” said Rosemarie Gaglione, Director of DPW. “Parents, bring your little ones, the future accountants, heavy equipment operators, civil engineers, plumbers, environmental scientists and more to this family-friendly event. There is something for everybody in Public Works!”

The fair will feature demonstrations, presentations, hands-on activities, games, face painting, balloons, music, and raffle prizes. All free! Plus there will be internship and employment information for anyone interested in entering the world of public works one day.

Kids will get a first-hand look at the tools that help DPW serve public needs throughout Marin and meet the skilled experts who are usually behind the scenes. For instance:

• The Radio Communications team will talk about the equipment installed in public safety vehicles that allow for the quickest help possible to people in need. Various emergency services vehicles will be on display, such as a fire truck and sheriff cruiser.
• The Waste Management team will talk about the Zero Waste Marin initiative and diverting as much recyclable trash out of dumps as possible. Learn how you can help protect our natural resources by reducing waste through reuse, repair, and mindful purchasing to keep our environment clean for our shared future!
• The Road Maintenance and Traffic & Transportation Planning teams will talk about their roles in making travel as safe as possible for locals and visitors. There will be photo opportunities for fans of big construction equipment!
• The Flood Control team will show how levees and pumps work in Marin’s low-lying areas and how stormwater makes it way to the bay and ocean.

The County’s celebration of National Public Works Week is intended to increase awareness of the services that public works agencies perform for their communities. The Marin County Board of Supervisors plans to officially acknowledge the 64th annual National Public Works Week at its May 21 meeting, presenting a resolution stating how DPW helps make Marin a safer and better place to live by designing, maintaining, and improving infrastructure. Marin DPW oversees 52 public facilities, over 420 miles of roadway, 56 bridges, and eight watersheds.

With the Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium parking lot undergoing a repaving project, families visiting the May 18 fair are encouraged to park at the Exhibit Hall parking lot, located at 20 Avenue of the Flags in San Rafael. Another option is taking the SMART train to the Civic Center station and walking 5 minutes to the fair.

For additional information or general questions, please visit the event webpage, contact DPW via email or by calling 415-473-6530.