MARGATE – Children had to be lifted into the cab of the life-sized Tonka trucks lined up on Benson Avenue Wednesday. The city’s Department of Public Works displayed their heavy equipment and vehicles, all cleaned up and some shiny and new, during the department's annual Touch-a-Truck event.
The display was enjoyed by children of all ages, including a dad who played with his son in a pile of sand loaded with Tonka trucks. Under a nearby canopy, the city’s Recycling Coordinator Anthony Edge had children spin the wheel to determine which prize they could pick from the display on a table loaded with giveaways.
Isabel “Isy” Nathanson chose a pink hard hat. “You can pick your own color, and I like pink,” she said standing in line waiting for a cup of water ice served up by the folks from Margate Dairy Bar and Burger. Skinny slices of pizza were offered as an appetizer before the dinner hour.
Like her young counterparts, some being lifted into the big machines, she said the event was tops in her book.
“This is really cool and fun,” Isy said. “My favorite part is being able to get into the tractors.”
Margate children are used to climing on swings and monkey bars across the street, but on Wednesday, they got to play on several blow-ups that featured a football toss and baseball swings.
A new feature for the annual event included a magic show performed by magician Bill Kerwood. His act included lots of audience participation and featured recycling education. The children enjoyed learning how they could replicate some card tricks at home with their parents. Although the trick seemed simple enough for anyone to do, the end of his card trick act proved otherwise.
“Now, say after me: How’d he do that?” an energetic Kerwood said.
Members of the DPW crew were on hand to answer questions about the riding mowers, tractors, surf rakes, street sweepers, front-end loaders and dump trucks on display. Parents joined their children for a tour of the inside of the recently refurbished water tower. Of particular interest to many was the cross section of a fire hydrant showing the inner workings of how water is delivered to firefighters during the course of performing their lifesaving duties.
The event is the second of several open houses provided by various city departments during the summer months. The Fire Department held its annual open house at the Margate City Library on June 25, and Margate City Police Department will hold its annual Law Day at the library the evening of Aug. 20.
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Margate Department of Public Works held its annual Touch A Truck event at the Benson Avenue yard, Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
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