The WKU PBS Pool Party marked its 15th year Sunday. For Dana Divine, WKU PBS program operations manager, the party has the same mission every year: Bringing families together. 

“I think our lives are enriched by spending time together,” Divine said. 

Held each year on the first Sunday of August, the party began as a way for the educational television station to reach out to the community, Divine said. 

On Sunday at the Russell Sims Aquatic Center, families enjoyed drawings for pool toys every 15 minutes, puppet shows by Kids on the Block, appearances by Arthur the cartoon character and, of course, the water park’s facilities. The first 300 children in the park received goodie bags that included a beach ball, pencils, erasers, candy, coloring sheets and other small toys, Divine said.

Alicia Brannon of Bowling Green said she loves spending time at the water park with her children.  

“I love just seeing how much they grow,” Brannon said of her children, who keep her laughing. 

Brannon’s 10-year-old son, Jaylin Harris, a student at Dishman-McGinnis Elementary School, won an inflatable surfboard during one of the drawings. 

Jaylin, who’ll be a fifth-grader, said he’s ready to go back to school Wednesday. Swimming is his favorite thing to do in the summer, he said. 

Rachael Pergler came from Portland, Tenn., to enjoy the party and water park. Pergler, who has 2-year-old and 4-year-old daughters, said it sounded like a good opportunity to spend time with her family. “We are really enjoying it,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun.” 

Other than the water park’s large pools, water playground and slides, children and their parents also were treated to a short puppet show by Kids on the Block puppeteers Regina Pedigo and Amanda Juerra. 

After an audience of about 20 to 30 children gathered, the puppeteers began a show focused on water safety. During the show, one character chased a duck into a body of water and began to drown and call for help. Another character wisely came to the rescue by lying on the ground and using a stick to pull the endangered puppet to safety. 

Ann Potter with WKU PBS has helped at the event since it started. She said the event is all about the children. “I think if we make them happy, we’re happy,” she said. 

— Follow Daily News WKU, county schools and general assignment reporter Aaron Mudd on Twitter at twitter.com/aaron_muddbgdn or visit bgdailynews.com.