In the early 2000s, Cory Hoover grew up in an Española that was alive with local skateboarding and graffiti contests, lowrider competitions and community park gatherings.
Española has changed a lot since Hoover’s youth, however. Now, the city often makes headlines for issues like homelessness and drug addiction. That, combined with the ever-distancing effect of the Internet and social media, inspired the first event Hoover put on in 2022.
He is hosting the 4th annual BBQ and Water Balloon Fight from noon to 5 p.m. April 27 at Valdez Park, which is aimed to revive the Española community connection that defined the pre-Internet life of Hoover’s youth.
“Everything was a little bit funner growing up back in those days,” Hoover said. “Now that I’m older as an adult, it’s like there’s nothing for the kids to do.”
The epidemic of homelessness and drugs in Española, Hoover said, has shifted focus away from youth.
“I think everybody’s more focused on getting the homeless taken care of,” he said. “They’re forgetting about the youth.”
Inspired by his own daughter, Sunniva, niece Amora and nephew/godson Jordan, whom he helped raise, Hoover launched the event to bring the Española community together. April is Hoover’s birthday month and instead of gifts, he’s asked friends and family to donate time for the community event he’s created.
“I told everybody,instead of getting me Christmas, birthday gifts, to just donate some time and help me do something fun for the community,” he said.
In the event’s first year, Hoover prepared 80 to 100 sack lunches, but only about 20 people attended. The event has since expanded significantly. The second year introduced hot dogs, hamburgers and a water balloon fight, attracting 40 to 50 participants. Last year, the event grew substantially, with 100 hamburgers and 100 hot dogs consumed before supplies eventually ran out. A live DJ, local performers and activities like canvas painting and sidewalk chalk added to the excitement.
This year, Hoover plans to serve up to 300 people with the help of sponsors and the local Presbyterian church, which is sending a few volunteers to help at the event. Of course, as has now become tradition, the afternoon will feature a water balloon fight.
“A hot summer day, nothing like having a water balloon fight and really be an active physical activity, because everybody nowadays just wants to sit down and be on cellphones,” Hoover said.