Fw: August 2010 Broward County Parks Newsletter

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AUGUST 2010 Newsletter

Focus on Woodmont Natural Area. 1

Camping Specials Continue. 2

Find Fulfillment – Volunteer at a Broward County Park. 2

All Aboard! 2

Dog Days of Summer 3

Splish-Splash. 3

Better Homes and Gardens. 3

“Rosewood Gets Hillyâ€. 3

When the Sun Goes Down….. 4

The Wonderful World of Reptiles. 4

Muddy Monday and Fun Friday. 4

Master Gardeners Promote Florida-Friendly Landscapingâ„¢.. 4

Quote of the Month. 5

Advisory Board Notice. 5

Special Attractions. 5

Mission Statement 5

Your Opinion Counts! 5

SWIM Central 5

Focus on Woodmont Natural Area

This 21.1-acre site, located in the City of Tamarac, has the distinction of being the first site to be fully planned, restored, and opened to the public under the 1989 Environmentally Sensitive Lands (ESL) Bond program. It was one of the county’s outstanding pine/cypress habitats sought for purchase through the program and opened to the public on August 27, 1999.

Originally slated for residential development, the site was preserved in 1992 thanks to the assistance of the Trust for Public Land and $702,889 in funds from the ESL program approved by Broward County voters. Since its acquisition, exotic plant removal and replanting have taken place at the site.

Woodmont is the largest remaining natural habitat in Tamarac. Resident and migratory birds such as the great horned owl, woodpeckers, wading birds, several species of hawks, and various wood warblers are attracted to this pine flatwoods and cypress/red maple wetland in the midst of urban development. Additional vegetation includes an understory of ferns, beautyberry, fire bush, wild coffee, and wild lime. The site has been designated an Urban Wilderness Area.

Amenities include a 6-foot-wide, 1,615-foot-long concrete pedestrian trail that traverses the pine flatwoods and a 2,154-foot boardwalk that meanders through the cypress wetland, as well as benches and interpretive signage. Wildlife observation is encouraged, although bicycles, in-line skates, skateboards, and motorized vehicles are prohibited on the trails, and as with all natural area sites, pets are not allowed.

For more information call the North District Office at . Woodmont is accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #57 and #62.

Camping Specials Continue

If you’re looking for a “staycation†special – a fun, affordable getaway close to home – look no farther than Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach. Two camping specials run through October 1 at the Rent-a-Tent campground, which offers 25 tent sites and two tepee sites. Each site includes a fully set-up canvas platform tent or tepee, equipped with water and electricity, as well as a grill, a picnic table, and a fire ring.

The Family Fun Package offers a two-night stay (Fridays and Saturdays only) for four campers for just $55; two more campers can be added at only $2 each. Along with your campsite, you’ll also get $6.50 all-day admissions to the park’s newly renovated Splash Adventure water park, along with Rent One/Get One Free boat rentals and 50 percent off admissions at the skate park.

The Escape Special offers a one-night stay (Sundays through Thursdays only) for four campers for only $20, and two additional campers can join you for just $2 each. This special also includes $6.50 all-day admissions to Splash Adventure.

Neither special applies during holiday weekends. For more information, call Quiet Waters at .

Our four other parks with RV/tent campgrounds – C.B. in Pembroke Pines, Easterlin in Oakland Park, Markham in Sunrise, and T.Y. in Hollywood – are also offering a Six Months of Savings special through October 31. The special discounted rate is $650 per month of camping, and for the purposes of this promotion, a month is defined as 31 days. Certain other restrictions apply. Contact the park of your choice for additional information: C.B. , ; Easterlin, ; Markham, ; or T.Y., .

Find Fulfillment – Volunteer at a Broward County Park

The great humanitarian Albert Schweitzer once said: “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.†At Broward County Parks, we encourage service through volunteerism by way of our VIP Program, which stands for Volunteers Improving Parks.

The VIP Program offers short-term and long-term opportunities for individuals, families, students, and groups both large and small to share their time and talents with the community. Volunteer opportunities are available throughout the park system, and we can work with you to schedule dates and times that are convenient for you. No experience is required – we will provide the necessary training and assistance to accompany any opportunity you choose, along with any special equipment needed.

The first step is to find a project that’s in line with your talents and interests and the amount of time you’re willing to commit. Our Website’s volunteer section includes links to lists that provide more information on our current volunteer opportunities. In most cases, potential volunteers should visit the park of their choice and pick up a volunteer application packet to be approved as a regular volunteer. Prior to their arrival at the park, those who are volunteering for a special event or a workday should download and fill out one of the applications, also available on the Website. For volunteers under 18, parental signatures are required. You should also bring a photo I.D. to the park when you sign up to volunteer.

For additional information, contact the Parks and Recreation Division’s Volunteer Coordinator at .

All Aboard!

Until recently rail transportation seemed more a remnant of America’s past than a harbinger of its future – an efficient way of moving freight, more than people, from one point to another. But as the consequences of our love affair with gasoline-powered automobiles become increasingly ominous, there’s a chance a newfound fascination with the possibilities of the railroad will emerge.

For one segment of the public – model train enthusiasts – trains have never lost their appeal. And you can share in their sense of excitement every month at Tradewinds Park, where a group of hobbyists gathers to experience the thrill of running and riding one-eighth-life-size choo-choos.

The Tradewinds & Atlantic Railroad club, which operates the Model Steam Train Rides at Tradewinds, was formed in 1972 as the Southern Division of Florida Live Steamers, whose mission is to educate people about railroading and metalworking. This volunteer group began building a track on the north side of the park in 1987 and completed the 5,800-foot, standard 7.5-gauge track three years later, after many hours of backbreaking labor.

On the third full weekend of each month (August 21 and 22 this month), passengers of all ages can ride the pint-size locomotives. The fare is only $1 per person for all ages, along with the park’s regular weekend and holiday gate entrance fee of $1.50 per person (children 5 and under free); adults must accompany riders under the age of 10, and pregnant riders are not allowed. The railroad is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting, and on average the trains haul about 1,500 visitors each operating weekend. Club members pay between $10 and $25 per year in dues, depending on membership level. For more information, call Tradewinds at , visit www.livesteamers.org, or e-mail info@....

Dog Days of Summer

The term “dog days†has long been associated with the final days of summer – just the time for kids to hit a Broward County park for a last recreational fling before heading back to school in late August.

Our four water parks – Paradise Cove at C.B. Park in Pembroke Pines, Tropical Splash at Central Broward Regional Park & Stadium in Lauderhill, Splash Adventure at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach, and Castaway Island at

T.Y. Park in Hollywood – will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. seven days a week for the first three weeks of the month only. Then, the week of August 23 through 27, as well as August 30 and September 2, the water parks will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. From September 3 through 6, they’ll open again from 9:30 a.m. to 5:20 p.m., and from then on through the 17th of October, they’ll revert to the 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule for weekends only.

For mountain bikers, there are nearly 11 miles of trails at Markham Park in Sunrise, ranging from novice to intermediate to expert/pro. And Quiet Waters offers 7.1 miles of novice and intermediate trails. Helmets are always required, and only mountain bikes are permitted on the trails, which are for all ages, although riders under the age of 17 must have written consent from parents/guardians. Riders of all ages must watch a safety video and sign – or have their parents/guardians sign – a release and waiver of liability.

And don’t forget our two skate parks. The 35,000-square-foot one at Piccolo Park in City is open daily except Tuesdays, while the one at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach, which is 20,000 square feet in area, is open on weekends and holidays only. BMX bikers have their own nights on Mondays and Thursdays at Piccolo and on Sundays at Quiet Waters.

For more information, visit or call the park of your choice: Piccolo (), C.B. (), Central Broward Regional (), Markham (), Quiet Waters (), or T.Y. ().

Splish-Splash

If you can’t make it to the islands for a real luau this month, stop by the newly renovated Splash Adventure at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach for our local version. The water park will host Splash Luaus, for all ages, from 6 to 10 p.m. on Fridays, August 13 and 27. The $5-per-person fee includes four hours of swim time, children’s games, a bounce house, prizes, and a movie. (The movies will be G-Force on August 13 and Where the Wild Things Are on August 27.) Refreshments will be available for purchase. For more information, call Quiet Waters at . The

park is accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #14 and #48.

Also on Friday, August 13, from 6 to 8 p.m., Castaway Island at T.Y. Park in Hollywood will reschedule the Family Fun Night that was rained out on July 23. The event, for all ages, will feature two hours of swim time, along with games for all ages, including relay races, pie-yourself-in-the-face, water musical chairs, and more. For more information, call T.Y. at . The park is accessible via Broward County Transit Routes

#3, #12, and #17.

Better Homes and Gardens

This month Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach continues its Summer Home Landscape Series 2010 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays, August 1, 8, 15, and 29. This annual series of seven free lectures is designed for average homeowners who are interested in adding to the beauty of their homes through landscaping. Participants will learn ways to save money on their cooling and water bills, attract wildlife, and preserve native vegetation; they’ll improve the appearance of their yards and neighborhoods as well as increase property values. All classes are held in the nature center’s air-conditioned Assembly Hall. The lecture series concludes on September 5 and is followed by a Native Plant Sale on Saturday, September 11. For more information, call Secret Woods at . The nature center is accessible via Broward County Transit Route #6.

“Rosewood Gets Hillyâ€

That’s how the Website for the Miami Masters, a United States Cycling Federation (USCF) team based in Miami Lakes, once described the new venue for its Rosewood Series. “Who would [have] thought that some day we could have a hilly racing course in South Florida,†the site went on. “Now we do!†The reference, of course, was to Vista View Park in Davie, one of the highest man-made elevations in South Florida and no doubt a formidable challenge to cyclists.

The Miami Masters Team competes in races regionally, nationally, and internationally, and on Sunday, August 22, the group will host a Rosewood Series Cycling Event at Vista View. The race, for registered cyclists ages 35 and up, gets under way at 8 a.m. and is free for spectators, although the park’s regular weekend and holiday gate entrance fee of $1.50 per person (children 5 and under free) will be in effect. The $23-per-cyclist fee includes USCF insurance. For more information, e-mail rosewood@....

When the Sun Goes Down…

…the wild things come out. From 8 to 9 p.m. on Friday, August 20, join a park naturalist for a Nature at Night Hike at Long Key Natural Area & Nature Center in Davie. This interpretive hike along the nature trails will focus on what happens when nature shifts gears and the site’s nocturnal wildlife emerges. There is a $3-per-person fee, and preregistration is required by the day before the hike. For more information, call Long Key at .

The Wonderful World of Reptiles

A lot of reptiles – snakes and lizards, mostly – often get a bad rap. Some of them, however, have long called Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach home, and you can join a park volunteer to meet and find out more about them at Wonderful Reptiles. This free program for all ages will run from 2:30 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 21. For more information, call Secret Woods at . The nature center is accessible via Broward County Transit Route #6.

Muddy Monday and Fun Friday

Kids can end one week and start another with nature activities at two Broward County nature centers this month. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, August 6, Long Key Natural Area & Nature Center in Davie invites ages 5 to 12 to Fun Friday Nature. Drop by the park’s Discovery Room for nature-themed games, crafts projects, and storytelling, with activities recurring over the course of the day. The fee is $3 per person.

Then, from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, August 16, Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek will host Nature Explorer: Muddy Monday, for ages 8 to 11. Participants should dress to get wet and muddy – in other words, bring a change of clothes, as the program involves going into a freshwater wading pond to catch fish, shrimp, dragonfly nymphs, crayfish, etc., then bringing them back to the amphitheater to look at under magnifying glasses and microscopes. The fee is $6 per person, and preregistration is required, as space is limited.

For more information, call Long Key at or Fern Forest at . Fern Forest is accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #31 and #42.

Master Gardeners Promote Florida-Friendly Landscapingâ„¢

When the University of Florida-Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF-IFAS) joined forces with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to develop and implement the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program, it was with a mission: to educate Floridians about science-based, environmentally friendly landscaping practices, as well as to encourage them to conserve and protect our water resources by applying the program’s principles in their landscapes. Think of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ as a collection of industry-tested best management practices involving aesthetically pleasing design, installation, operation, and maintenance, with the aim of

reducing the use of irrigation, protecting water quality from the overuse of fertilizer and pesticides, and reducing storm-water runoff.

In our area, Florida Master Gardeners trained by the UF-IFAS/Broward County Extension Education Section of the Parks and Recreation Division work extensively with the NatureScape Broward program to carry out yard inspections and recognize Florida-Friendly Landscapes. They also work closely with municipal authorities and their communities in 30 Broward cities. In Fiscal Year 2009, Master Gardeners provided more than 600 Florida-Friendly educational programs to nearly 49,000 residents.

At the residential neighborhood level, for example, two Florida-Friendly neighborhoods have decreased their fertilizer use by half, saving a total of 36,000 pounds of fertilizer annually at a savings of $21,000. Judicious selection of “the right plant for the right place†and limited use of properly calibrated irrigation systems – two of the nine Florida-Friendly principles – have been largely responsible for this fertilizer savings, as well as water savings on the order of 15 million gallons annually, which would otherwise have cost $38,250. These same communities have avoided the use of more than a thousand pounds of pesticides, valued at more than $7,500 annually, by implementing such integrated pest management techniques as regular inspection for pests, spot treatment, and the use of soft pesticides like insecticidal soaps and other “biorational†insecticides.

For additional information about Florida Master Gardeners, Florida-Friendly Landscapingâ„¢, and other Urban Horticulture Programs in Broward County, contact Dr. Pipoly at jpipoly@....

Events Calendar

Quote of the Month

“My creed is that public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people…with full recognition that every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration, that constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought, that smears are not only to be expected but fought, that honor is to be earned, not bought.â€

- Margaret Chase (1897-1995), U.S. Senator from Maine

Advisory Board Notice

There is no meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board scheduled for August. More information is available here.

Special Attractions

Batting Cages (AllGolf at C.B. Park) – Butterfly World (Tradewinds Park) – Cable Water-Skiing (Ski Rixen USA at Quiet Waters Park) – Campgrounds (C.B. Park, Easterlin Park, Markham Park, Quiet Waters Park, T.Y. Park) – Dog Park

(Barkham at Markham Park) – Educational Farm (Tradewinds Park) – Exhibit Halls (Anne Kolb Nature Center at West Lake Park, Fern Forest Nature Center, Long Key Natural Area & Nature Center, Secret Woods Nature Center) – Golf Facilities (AllGolf at C.B. Park) – Multipurpose Athletic

Fields ( Piccolo Park, Central Broward Regional Park & Stadium, Tradewinds Park) – Observatory (Markham Park) – Riding Stables (Tradewinds Park, Tree Tops Park) – Skate Parks/Tracks ( Piccolo Park, Quiet Waters Park) – Target Range (Markham Park) – Tennis Centers ( Piccolo Park, C.B. Park) – Velodrome ( Piccolo Park) – Water Playgrounds/ Waterslides/Swimming (C.B. Park, Central Broward Regional Park & Stadium, Quiet Waters Park, T.Y. Park)

Mission Statement

The Parks and Recreation Division is dedicated to providing exceptional services and facilities essential to the quality of life in Broward County while preserving our natural areas.

Your Opinion Counts!

We’d like to know what you think about our programs and facilities. Please take a moment to tell us how we’re doing by filling out this survey.

SWIM Central

Broward County Commission's primary resource and referral service for available swim programs in cooperation with various cities and nonprofit organizations.Call 954-357-SWIM (7946).

Founded in February 1956 and accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies, Broward County Parks and Recreation Division manages more than 6,500 acres, encompassing 19 regional parks and nature centers, six neighborhood parks, and 21 natural areas at various stages of development. Facilities include water parks, campgrounds, a target range, a stadium, skate parks, an observatory, mountain bike trails, an educational farm with stables, and a velodrome and other sports facilities. Hours and fees vary by location. For more information, visit www.broward.org/parks.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations in order to participate in County programs, services, and activities must contact the Special Populations Section at or TTY at least 10 business days prior to the scheduled meeting or event to request an accommodation.

Broward County Board of County Commissioners

Sue Gunzburger D. sAlbert C. Ken KeechlIlene Lieberman

Ritter E. Rodstrom Jr.Lois Wexler

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