Syracuse Police Officer Jason Veenstra, left, assists Payton Scheeren, age 2, with getting a fingerprint. Looking on is Payton’s sister, Kendall Scheeren, age 5.

SYRACUSE — There is something about big trucks, heavy equipment and emergency vehicles. Kids are fascinated with the bells and whistles and the sheer size of those vehicles.

During the Touch-A-Truck event hosted by the Syracuse Parks Department Saturday morning, May 6, at the Syracuse Community Center, there were several trucks, vehicles and equipment for kids to see, touch and explore.

The event was formerly known as Kids Safety Day, but was changed this year, noted Tyler McLead, program director for the Syracuse Parks Department. “We added vehicles to it to make it more vehicle based,” he said.

Last year the police, fire and DNR vehicles were available, as well as fingerprinting, the bike rodeo, American Red Cross and more. They returned this year and were joined by Greenmark Equipment, Crouse Body Shop, Adams Auto Salvage, Lippert Components and others.

Turkey Creek Fire Department brought fire trucks and a rescue boat. Syracuse Police Department had a police car and provided fingerprinting. Wawasee Community School Corp. brought a bus. Greenmark had large farm tractors.

Other organizations with information and displays focusing on children’s safety included, among others, Syracuse Lions Club, Syracuse-Wawasee Trails, Lakeland Youth Center, Camp Mack, Kosciusko County Tobacco Free Coalition and MedStat.

It was a chilly morning with the temperature below normal for early May, but the sun was out and the turnout overall was good, McLead said.