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The annual Touch a Truck event
was held at Scully Park in Lincoln on Saturday, September 12th. This
year’s event was the biggest one yet. Clinton Street, McLean St, and
Decatur Street were all closed off. Decatur Street was closed off
all the way from Clinton Street to Pulaski Street, two whole blocks.
Companies and organizations from all over Logan County brought
various types of trucks and vehicles. Almost every vehicle present
allowed kids to climb inside and sit. Mad About Trees, Ron’s Towing,
and Barrick Enterprises all had different types of vehicles present
from dump trucks to semis to a large crane.
Lincoln City Fire and Lincoln Rural Fire were both present with fire
trucks. Two paramedics were helping people into an ambulance to have
a look around inside. Lincoln Police Department brought police
vehicles and were letting kids both sit inside and honk the horn.
The Army National Guard had a military vehicle present and were
letting kids sit inside and try on a helmet.
Cole Gerlund, Sergeant with the
Illinois State Police, was present with a new, state-of-the-art
mobile command vehicle. The vehicle had cameras inside and outside,
with screens showing all angles around the vehicle. Sgt. Gerlund
shared some information on the vehicle. According to a press
release, the command vehicle “is designed to improve emergency
response coordination, enhance public safety, and provide crucial
on-site support during critical incidents across the state.” In
addition, it can be used for outreach programs and public events.
A couple of large tractors were set
up. Kids could climb up and sit inside, which situated them slightly
higher than a school bus. The school bus right in front of that
tractor was open, and two drivers were present to help kids get on.
It was quite cool inside, with a lot of open space on the back. One
of the drivers stated that it was a special needs bus and had AC in
the front and back of the bus.
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There was a second school bus
present. This one was there for kids to paint on. Several tubs
of paint were set up at a table nearby. Kids got to choose
between one of several colors, dip their hand inside, and then
press their painted hand onto the side of the bus.
Certainly, the most unique vehicle
present was a green monster truck. While it was not a monster truck
in the traditional sense, it was a truck in the shape of a green
monster with red eyes. Bob Freitag created the vehicle, stating that
it started with “a golf cart and big tires.” According to Freitag,
the majority of the vehicle is made of fiberglass and metal and took
him about five months to finish. When asked what inspired him to
make the monster truck, he shared that a friend’s father told him he
would not be able to do it, so he did.
In addition to the multitude of trucks present, several tents were
set up offering things like face painting and balloon animals. One
of the tents had free things to give away. At the start of the
event, they had free toy cars, stickers, rubber ducks, and several
types of plastic hats for kids to have. By 11:00, they were down to
just the rubber ducks and the stickers. Touch a Truck’s third year
was well attended and seemed very well received.
2026 Touch a Truck photo slideshow
[Matt Boutcher]
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