Families diving into summertime fun will see more city government officials and staff members at community events through an initiative to make local government more accessible and engaging.

Karen Foley, the city’s neighborhood services coordinator, said city employees are organizing more kid-friendly events this summer through the #BGGovToGo initiative. It’s modeled after “pop up” city hall initiatives, as they are known in other cities.

Last year, the initiative replaced the traditional summer strolls city representatives took through neighborhoods each summer for 16 years. The new program brings officials and city government employees under a tent to offer information and hear feedback about community issues.

“We have more time to talk to people and learn about what the issues are,” said Brent Childers, director of neighborhood and community services.

Although the summer stroll program served a purpose, Childers described its replacement as more conducive to conversation with residents than a stroll through a neighborhood. City employees can learn more about residents’ concerns, he said.

“You can also have more time to go through more of an explanation of why things work this way” and what the city is doing to fix problems, Childers said.

An upcoming Family Fun Night sponsored by Independence Bank is one of the first events for the #BGGovToGo initiative.

The event will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Friday at West End Park at 517 W. Main Ave. with fun and games for families. A screening of the Disney movie “Moana” will begin at dusk.

“It’s just a great family event,” said Brad Howard, president of the bank’s branches in Warren County.

Independence Bank first hosted the event last year to help give back to the community.

“Our focus has always been on children,” he said, adding that the bank has given $1.6 million to communities through its branches across Kentucky.

The event, which is free, will also include free concessions, games and train rides on the Independence Express train. If there’s rain, the event will be moved to June 9.

“The employees volunteer, and it’s just a great family event,” Howard said.

Along with the Family Fun Night, Foley said the #BGGovToGo initiative will roll out at other upcoming events during the day and evening.

On June 8, the program will celebrate the Warren County Public Library’s Summer Reading program kickoff event. The event is from 10 a.m. to noon on the front lawn of Bowling Green High School. If it rains, the event will move indoors to the high school’s gym.

Foley said the initiative will also participate in Dishman-McGinnis Elementary’s Community Connect event June 13. The two-part event, with the first part beginning at 1 p.m., will feature food and clothing giveaways along with science and technology activities. The event will start up again that day from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

For Foley, the mobile city hall program acts as “another avenue for people to feel connected with their government.”

While information on government services and resources is available online, Foley said “there’s also something unique about being able to speak to someone face to face.”