The Hunt is on at Tates in La Grange

Kids and parents in La Grange have a new reason to visit the area's parks and enjoy this wonderful weather—it might just mean a free scoop of ice cream afterwards.

The hunt is on as children search for small wooden coins hidden at parks in La Grange and La Grange Park by owner Maria Marciniec.

"They're hidden on the equipment mostly, not in bushes, or anything like that," Marciniec said. "Sometime I even leave two in one location, just to change things up and keep people guessing."

For about two weeks now, Marciniec has been leaving coins daily around La Grange and La Grange Park which award those who discover it with a free scoop of Tates' popular ice cream.

The idea came to her last year, she said, after trying to give away coupons. The wooden coins (about the size of a half dollar) came back and could be used again, she said. Marciniec first used the idea with the baseball and soccer teams she supports, and was thrilled with the results."

"I got back 2,039 [coins] last year," Marciniec said. "I wanted it to be something like a golden ticket from Willy Wonka."

The kids are even making their own game of it, she added. When they find one, they'll leave their initials on it, so the next person to get it can see who has won before.

The coin hunt will continue all summer long, Marciniec said, so you'll have plenty of time to do some searching.

Tates has a lot of other fun events planned this spring and summer. Every day you can join other kids at Tates for crafts and a scoop of ice cream, or swing by on Friday and Saturday nights for their popular hula-hoop contests held at 7, 8 and 9 p.m. And for the pet parade this year, Tate's will be raffling off a chance for you and a friend to ride in their cow-topped limo float this year!

Asked what keeps families coming to Tates year after year—the store celebrates its 25th anniversary this year—Marciniec said she she's kept it the kind of place that families like to go, with more than just ice cream to offer. The ice cream shop also stocks vintage board games, hard candies (that the adults love) and provides a place to gather on warm nights.

With all the popularity of the shop, Marciniec said she's going to have to consider going incognito on her walks to deliver coins around town.

"It's getting difficult when I wear my Tates shirt around," Marciniec chuckled. "All the kids know I'm coming!"