Butler's expanded summer recreation program kicks off Wednesday with a walk and talk tour of Ritts Park and ends with fall festivals at Memorial and Father Marinaro parks in September.

“I think we've come a long way in the last few years,” said Councilman Jeff Smith, director of city parks, recreation and public property. “I'm really excited about it.”

Members of the Shade Tree Commission will guide a walk and talk tour of Ritts Park at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. They will talk about the trees in the park and new trees recently planted by the Penn State Extension and Butler County Conservation District. Refreshments will be available.

A pickleball clinic will be held at 11 a.m. June 5 at Ritts Park. Participants will learn how to play and reserve a court online. Equipment will be provided.

The summer playground program will begin June 13 and run from noon to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at Rotary Park, Institute Hill Playground and Father Marinaro Park. Games and activities will be held for school-age children. Weather permitting, buses will take children to the swimming pool at Alameda Park on Wednesdays and Fridays.

From noon to 3:30 p.m. June 16, the Slippery Rock University Macoskey Center traveling farmers market will be held at the Diehl Shelter at Memorial Park. The market will feature fresh produce, handmade bath and body products, upcycled crafts, sustainability demonstrations and other activities. The market will be held at the park at the same times on July 14 and Aug. 11.

The South Side Park Group is having a skate event and community day at Father Marinaro Park from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 26. Activities include skateboarding events, food trucks and vendors.

The Butler Area Street Machines Association is hosting a car show in Memorial Park on July 4.

A Shade Tree walk and talk will be held at Father Marinaro Park at 6:30 p.m. July 7.

At 2 p.m. July 18, the Slippery Rock University Taiko Ensemble, under the direction of David Glover, associate professor of percussion, will present a concert of Japanese drumming at the Diehl Shelter in Memorial Park. Taiko is a form of Japanese-style drumming using wadaiko, Japanese drums.

At 5 p.m. July 26, the Butler City Basketball Regional Championships will hold regional round-robin basketball tournaments at Ritts, Father Marinaro and Rotary parks and Institute Hill Playground for boys in grades five to eight, girls in grades five to eight, boys in grades nine to 12, girls in grades nine to 12, and men's open and women's open. Winners in each category will advance to the final July 27 beginning at 5 p.m. at Memorial Park.

Another Shade Tree walk and talk at Memorial Park begins at the Fireman's Shelter at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 4.

At 6:30 p.m. Aug. 25, historian Bill May will put on a “Lost History of Butler” presentation at the Diehl Shelter in Memorial Park.

Activities will wrap up with the Fall Festivals on Sept. 11 at Memorial Park and Sept. 18 at Father Marinaro Park.