Family create an obstacle course out of chalk for their street to enjoy
A kind and caring family have come up with a fun way to support their community during the pandemic by creating an obstacle course on their street for all to enjoy.The Rodenhurst family took to the pavement with their chalk and got to work making an enormous obstacle course on 10 April 2020.Mum Natalie and dad Paul had got married on 7 March 2020 just before lockdown and sadly had to postpone their family honeymoon to Orlando, Florida in May 2020 so have been coming up with fun things to make their kids smile at home instead.Residents on their street in Castle Donington have since been hop-scotching, jumping and running as part of the obstacle course whilst keeping a safe distance from their neighbours.It was mum of the family, national account manager Natalie Rodenhurst, 35, who came up with the idea of creating a chalk obstacle course for the community.She had been inspired after seeing hopscotch chalk outlines and decided to branch out with different playground markings to make their 144 foot obstacle course more extensive.Natalie said: "At first, I made a short obstacle course just to try and get our kids smiling again after the disappointment of such a huge holiday not going ahead."I used standard chalk to make the course initially and posted a photo in our community's Facebook group so people could come and enjoy it."It got such a great reaction that I asked my neighbours if they would mind me extending it - they loved seeing people play on it so I did exactly that!"I added the giant alphabet snake and changed a few activities as it started to fade."My neighbour to our left has taken part in the course daily and our neighbours at the bottom of our road are 70 years old and have both taken part every day as well."Not only did the obstacle course keep Natalie's daughters Kaitlyn, 10, Izzy, 8 and Imogen, 3, entertained, it also proved popular with Natalie's neighbours during the sunny weather.With a forecast of rain, the family were sad to think of their chalk masterpiece being washed away until dad Paul, 41, came to the rescue with weatherproof spray chalk on 18 April 2020.Natalie said: "I went over the snake with the weatherproof spray chalk just to try it out and when the rain came, all was lost apart from the snake! "It was still standing proud so I asked the hubby to get me two more colours to make four and jet washed the rest of the course away before redoing it when the pavement had dried."People kept coming to take part and were posting photos of themselves on our community page saying how much they enjoy it "Yesterday the true test came and it's rained a lot here but the course is still there and looking ok so people can now enjoy it, rain or shine!""I have a great sense of happiness that what was originally an idea for my children to take part in has become part of the community."Seeing the laughs and giggles of so many people of so many different ages is just fantastic in these challenging times."
A kind and caring family have come up with a fun way to support their community during the pandemic by creating an obstacle course on their street for all to enjoy.The Rodenhurst family took to the pavement with their chalk and got to work making an enormous obstacle course on 10 April 2020.Mum Natalie and dad Paul had got married on 7 March 2020 just before lockdown and sadly had to postpone their family honeymoon to Orlando, Florida in May 2020 so have been coming up with fun things to make their kids smile at home instead.Residents on their street in Castle Donington have since been hop-scotching, jumping and running as part of the obstacle course whilst keeping a safe distance from their neighbours.It was mum of the family, national account manager Natalie Rodenhurst, 35, who came up with the idea of creating a chalk obstacle course for the community.She had been inspired after seeing hopscotch chalk outlines and decided to branch out with different playground markings to make their 144 foot obstacle course more extensive.Natalie said: "At first, I made a short obstacle course just to try and get our kids smiling again after the disappointment of such a huge holiday not going ahead."I used standard chalk to make the course initially and posted a photo in our community's Facebook group so people could come and enjoy it."It got such a great reaction that I asked my neighbours if they would mind me extending it - they loved seeing people play on it so I did exactly that!"I added the giant alphabet snake and changed a few activities as it started to fade."My neighbour to our left has taken part in the course daily and our neighbours at the bottom of our road are 70 years old and have both taken part every day as well."Not only did the obstacle course keep Natalie's daughters Kaitlyn, 10, Izzy, 8 and Imogen, 3, entertained, it also proved popular with Natalie's neighbours during the sunny weather.With a forecast of rain, the family were sad to think of their chalk masterpiece being washed away until dad Paul, 41, came to the rescue with weatherproof spray chalk on 18 April 2020.Natalie said: "I went over the snake with the weatherproof spray chalk just to try it out and when the rain came, all was lost apart from the snake!
"It was still standing proud so I asked the hubby to get me two more colours to make four and jet washed the rest of the course away before redoing it when the pavement had dried."People kept coming to take part and were posting photos of themselves on our community page saying how much they enjoy it "Yesterday the true test came and it's rained a lot here but the course is still there and looking ok so people can now enjoy it, rain or shine!""I have a great sense of happiness that what was originally an idea for my children to take part in has become part of the community."Seeing the laughs and giggles of so many people of so many different ages is just fantastic in these challenging times."
