Many of Federal Way’s retirement and nursing home residents headed into the outdoors on Saturday for a picnic at Steel Lake Park.

Five area retirement homes — Avalon Care Center, Woodmark at Steel Lake, Hallmark Manor, Foundation House and Evergreen Lodge — worked together to plan a resident picnic. Each home brought about 20 residents, and family members were encouraged to also attend.

“Our purpose was to show that Federal Way was a senior-friendly community,” said Linda Morris, outreach coordinator at Woodmark at Steel lake.

“Our seniors don’t just sit in their rooms. They go out and have fun in the community,” Morris said.

Attendees ate burgers, hot dogs, potato salad and corn on the cob. They also were treated to live entertainment including musicians, clowns and stilt-walkers.

Raeann Rogers of Sunshine for Seniors donated her time to entertain at the event. She said that entertained seniors are relaxed and require less medication, have better circulation, better appetites and better bowel movements.

Rogers chose music from the residents’ generation to play and dance to while on stilts.

“It puts them back into a time in their life when they were happy,” she said.

Residents said they enjoyed the opportunity to visit Steel Lake Park.

“It’s very relaxing and enjoyable,” said Woodmark at Steel Lake resident Patricia Beverage, 84. “It’s nice to get out.”

Contact Margo Hoffman: mhoffman@fedwaymirror.com or (253) 925-5565.