More than 100 people of all ages gathered near the site of the old Swifts Beach Playground — now a vacant lot — to celebrate Labor Day with the Swifts Beach Improvement Association’s annual Labor Day field races.

The field races have been held on the Sunday before Labor Day for more than 40 years, said Kathleen Norris, an association member and volunteer at the event.  

Starting at 10 a.m. on Sept. 5, anyone in the area was invited to compete in a variety of outdoor races, including a 50-yard dash, kangaroo races, three-legged races, a mile run through the neighborhood and an egg toss. Prizes were available for winners of the races.

Enthusiastic canine residents of Swifts Beach were also invited to participate in the festivities in the form of a dog race.

Currently, the Swifts Beach Improvement Association’s primary project is fundraising for new playground equipment to replace the old and rundown equipment that was demolished around Memorial Day.

Christy Patalano is working with the association to raise money via the sale of personalized pickets made of recycled plastic milk jugs. The pickets cost $50 each. A similar fundraiser proved successful for the 2020 Lopes Playground rehabilitation.

Norris said the group has raised more than $6,800 so far. Patalano said she’d sold 100 pickets and encouraged people to act quickly. “Pickets are selling fast,” she said. “Place your orders now and add your family name to our new playground.

To donate or purchase a personalized picket, reach out to swiftsbeachpark@gmail.com and send checks payable to “Swifts Beach Improvement Association — Park” to P.O. Box 30 Wareham, MA 02571.

The Swifts Beach Improvement Association also extended its thanks to the Swifts Beach residents and local businesses who supported the association’s events this year.