The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is partnering with SCHEELS to hold the fifth annual Balltoberfest event on Saturday, October 4, 2025. The event will take place from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Colorado Springs Scheels location.
At the start of the event, Colorado Flight for Life will deliver the 10,000th ball for PlayCOS by helicopter. Community members are encouraged to donate new sports balls to support CSPD’s Play COS Program. These donations supply patrol officers with footballs, soccer balls, and basketballs that they can distribute to children and teens during their shifts.
Balltoberfest will feature activities such as a Touch-a-Truck experience with law enforcement vehicles, games, and a discount of 20% off sports balls at SCHEELS.
CSPD describes its mission through Play COS as follows: “CSPD is on a mission to increase positive community interactions across the city. Play COS is just a piece of that. Play COS allows our community to interact with officers in an organic, simple, and fun way. Nothing too serious, just officers and community members having a positive interaction.”
The program includes sports and giveaway events where officers engage with young people through recreation. According to CSPD: “The overall goal is for this program to become a long-term, ongoing, sports program that will be a permanent fixture in CSPD’s department-wide community outreach efforts for years to come.”
Since its launch in January 2021, nearly 10,000 sports balls have been given away by CSPD officers at almost 200 events. Donations have reached three community centers and 42 local schools. The initiative has led to more than 60,000 positive interactions between police and community members.
Play COS was recognized when CSPD received the International Association of Chiefs of Police Leadership in Community Policing Award in 2022. This award highlights effective partnerships that help improve safety locally and beyond.
More information about Play COS can be found at ColoradoSprings.gov/police-department/page/play-cos.
