With Tinker the Elf popping up in playful scenes and the Letters to Santa mailbox open for the season, the Brook Park Recreation Center is in full holiday mode.
The bright red Letters to Santa mailbox sits outside the Brook Park Recreation Center, complete with a visit from Tinker the Elf.BROOK PARK, Ohio — Tinker the Elf has returned to the Brook Park Recreation Center, and he is not wasting a moment getting into holiday mischief.
From lounging by the rec center’s hot tub in goggles and flippers to perching in a Christmas tree with a tiny chainsaw, the pint-sized visitor from the North Pole has become a full-fledged seasonal celebrity. Tinker relaxes by the rec center’s hot tub in goggles and flippers as part of his daily holiday adventures.The elf’s return also signals the start of another Brook Park favorite: the bright red Letters to Santa mailbox set up outside the recreation center. The oversized mailbox, wrapped in red bows and tinsel, offers kids a direct way to send wishes to Santa without stamps or envelopes. According to the city’s flyer, children can drop off letters through Dec. 17 and will receive a reply as long as their name and address are clearly written. Santa’s responses are sent out no later than Dec. 18. The mailbox has been part of Brook Park’s holiday season for years, but participation continues to grow. “The Letters to Santa mailbox has been part of our holiday season for some time,” said Chris Wetmore, Brook Park’s director of parks and recreation. “We see more and more letters each year.” Last year, the city collected around 80 letters for Santa. Wetmore said this year’s totals are already on track to match or exceed that number. The messages themselves often become a highlight. “The letters we receive are very sweet and touching,” he said. “Some of them don’t ask for anything from Santa; they just want to say hi. Some ask for gifts for someone other than themselves, and some are direct and ask for that toy that they have always wanted.” As for Tinker, this is only his second year in Brook Park, but the elf is already a local star. Familiesand often stop by the recreation center to see where he will appear next. Tinker the Elf makes a mischievous appearance in the lobby Christmas tree, one of his many themed setups throughout the season.“This is Tinker’s second year with us,” Wetmore said. “We have seen many of our residents reach out through our Facebook posts.”“I started this tradition when I was working for the city of North Olmsted,” he said. “When I came to Brook Park, I thought it would be a great addition to our holiday cheer.” Behind both Tinker’s adventures and Santa’s steadily growing mailbag is a small team of staff who make sure everything runs smoothly. “Behind the scenes, we have a staff of elves headed by our main Elf, Elf Amanda,” Wetmore said. “Elf Amanda makes sure that nothing is missed and Santa is prompt in his responses. Elf Amanda is the glue behind all of it.” Wetmore said the goal is simple: create a little magic for families who stop by the rec center each December. “We here at the recreation department just want families to enjoy the holiday season,” he said. “We hope that these traditions bring a smile to everyone involved.”;
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