Here comes Peter Cotton Trail

Something has just hopped in to fill the spring void in Auburn.

By Robert Whale • March 24, 2021 5:15 pm
Auburn’s newest spring event, Peter Cotton Trail, invites seniors, adults without children, and families to root the elusive Easter Buuny from his many dens and hidey holes in Auburn’s parks and trails this weekend, and perhaps win prizes. Courtey photo, city of Auburn.

In a normal year, Auburn’s Parks, Arts and Recreation Department would be busy prepping for Petpalooza, the city’s May celebration of all things critter at Game Farm Park, and other spring happenings.

But this is not a normal year, and COVID-19 has forced cancellation of Petpalooza and other annual goings-on.

Well, it now appears that something has just hopped in to fill the void.

Staring Friday, March 26, through Sunday, March 28, the city invites everyone to hop around 15 of Auburn’s parks and down its various trails in search of the wily Easter bunny in his many hidey holes.

Find the bunny, have a shot at winning prizes.

This newest city event, called Peter Cotton Trail, is open to anyone looking for an opportunity to get outside and get active in an outdoor setting.

“We’ve never done an event like this before,” said Kristy Pachciarz, special events coordinator for the Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation Department. “This is just a twist, specifically for COVID.”

Here’s how Peter Cotton Trail works:

• Participants print a Bunny Scorecard from the city’s website. Scorecards are also available at the Auburn Community and Event Center, Painting with A Twist, and Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro.

• At 8 a.m. on March 26, the city announces the list of parks and trails where bunnies are hiding. There will be 15 parks and trail locations. Two of the parks will have more accessible bunnies which are in view from the trail/path to accommodate wheelchairs, strollers and wagons.

• Each bunny has a unique number that participants will write on their scorecards.

• Participants need to find 10 bunnies and fill in all 10 spaces on their Bunny Scorecard.

• Participants will search for bunnies March 26 – 28.

• Once completed, participants can mail the Bunny Scorecard to events@auburnwa.gov by noon on March 31.

• Winners will selected at random and announced on April 1. Over 60 prizes are available.

• Complete details at the city’s website; www.auburnwa.gov/events.

“When we were designing this event, since it’s an outdoor event, we thought, there’s no reason why seniors, or adults without kids, may not enjoy walking on the trails looking for stuff,” said Pachciarz. “Rock hunting, rock painting is always a popular thing right now, and this is kind of like that. We can see adults, and particularly our specialized rec population, enjoying this, and I’m sure they’ll will have a great time.”