“Bennie Benitoite” will soon be coming to local parks as the new mascot for the parks and recreation commission.
“We participate in several public engagement activities – Kids At the Park, National Night Out and others,” said Dan Dungy, chairman of the San Benito County Parks & Recreation Commission.
He said the activities ad-hoc committee came up with the idea of a mascot that will be easily recognizable at local parks and events.
“One thing we wanted to do is create a mascot that families and children can identify,” said Commissioner Debra Cable. “We wanted it to represent something iconic and unique.”
The committee looked for an animal that is native only to San Benito County and other aspects that would be special to the county. Members came up with the idea of incorporating benitoite, the state gemstone that is found just in San Benito County. Then they wanted a cuddly critter that kids would like. Cable mentioned that Monterey has the sea otter and Pacific Grove has the monarch.
“The big-eared, bushy tailed kangaroo rat is the only animal that is only found in San Benito County,” Cable said.
Cable said local artist Kelli Doyle created the mascot with the description given by the activities ad-hoc committee.
“She offered her services free to create the mascot,” Cable said.
Along with the creation of a mascot, the commissioners presented a draft of a brochure they hope to give out to residents once a final draft is completed. The brochure lists all the parks in the county, including city, state and federal locations as well as the county parks. On one flap, the brochure includes a list of activities happening in local parks through November.
The brochure also calls for some interaction from kids, giving them an opportunity to take a picture with Bennie Benitoite at a local park and email in their photos or to draw a picture of their favorite park to be submitted for a contest. The drawings submitted will be displayed at the San Benito County Historical Park, with awards given out July 28.
The supervisors saw a poster of Bennie at the meeting.
“When I saw it, it put a smile on my face,” Barrios said. “If it can do that for an adult it will do that for children.”
Cable took a few suggestions from the supervisors, such as listing Bolado Park as a state park instead of a county park.
“It hasn’t not gone to publication so there are going to be some changes,” Cable said, adding that a Spanish brochure will also be made. “I’m hoping to launch it at Kids At the Park in June.”
