Fw: May 2011 Broward County Parks Newsletter

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MAY 2011 Newsletter

www.broward.org/parks

Focus on Markham Park

Happy Birthday to Us!

Find Your Getaway

Attention, Runners

Think Greenery

Saddle Up

Find Focus

Play Ball!

When the Sun Goes Down…

That ’70s Sound

Find the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars

For a Good Cause

Quote of the Month

Advisory Board Notice

Special Attractions

Mission Statement

Your Opinion Counts!

SWIM Central Broward County Board of County Commissioners

Focus on Markham Park

If you were compiling a list of “onlyâ€s for Broward County Parks,

Markham Park would be at or near the top of the list: only target range, only observatory, only model aircraft field, only personal watercraft area, only dog park. Markham is one of the county’s most diverse parks. (At 669 acres, it is also one of the

largest.) Back in 1977, you could have included “only zoo†among Markham’s unique attractions. The park, which had opened in May 1973, at one point had as many as 155 animals housed in a five-acre zoological

complex. The zoo lasted only five years, however, and although it was slated to reopen in 18 months, that never came to pass, thanks to financial problems. Nor did the park ever get the horse stables and riding area that were once in the works. Some attractions proved more durable. The Fox Observatory dates back to 1976. The observatory is operated by the

South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association, which opens the facility to the public for free from dusk to midnight every Saturday, weather permitting. The group also hosts special events there from time to time. Today Markham is perhaps best known for its

target range, which opened in 1984. It is one of the few public outdoor shooting ranges in all of South Florida. The complex comprises three distinct shooting venues: skeet and trap fields, a pistol/rifle range, and a sporting clays course. The skeet and

trap section consists of five lighted combination skeet and trap fields, along with a five stand that is used as an abbreviated sporting clays practice area. The pistol/rifle range includes 66 lighted shooting stations on a 100-yard range and 44 stations on

a rentable 50-yard range. And the milelong sporting clays course features 14 stations spread throughout the woods adjacent to the target range. The range sells such supplies as ammunition, targets, and protective eyewear and earwear, and vending machines are

on site for snacks. There is also a clubhouse that has a meeting room available to rent, where the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission regularly schedules hunter education classes. Among the park’s other current attractions are the three-acre

Barkham at Markham dog park; a 26-acre lake that’s open to personal watercraft on weekends from mid-March through the end of October (a launching fee is charged); an airfield that includes

more than 50 acres of ground space for use by remote-control model airplanes and helicopters, with a runway that has been both renovated and extended; and two boat ramps on the park’s southern and western edges, with the western one connecting to the L35A

canal adjacent to the Everglades Markham boasts the largest of the park system’s five campgrounds, which borders that same canal along the edge of the Everglades and features 88 sites. Each site has water, electricity, and sewer,

along with a picnic table and a fire ring or grill. The campground includes three restroom facilities with showers. The park also offers one of two mountain bike trail areas in the system. (The other is at

Quiet Waters.) There are nearly 10 miles of trail, with sections designated for novices, intermediate riders, and expert/pro riders, all constructed and maintained with the generous

support of volunteers. Other amenities include a marina for boat rentals, jogging paths, nature trails, two playgrounds, courts for tennis and racquetball/handball, and areas for fishing, horseshoes, and volleyball.

A corporate shelter has a capacity of more than 250, and there are also two large shelters (capacity 61-90), four medium (41-60), and one small (20-40). All in all, not bad for a piece of property that was long ago used primarily for cattle grazing. The park takes its name from C. Markham, who was Broward County’s property appraiser from

1964 until his death in 1966 and whose son, , held the office from 1968 until his death in 2004. For more information on

Markham Park, call . The park has a gate entrance fee of $1.50/person (children 5 and under free) in effect on weekends and holidays. The park is also accessible via

Broward County Transit Route #23.

Happy Birthday to Us!

Along with Markham Park

(see above), three other parks celebrate birthdays this month: Sunview Park turns 48,

Lafayette Hart Park celebrates 37 years, and Secret Woods Nature Center observes its 33rd birthday. For more information on these parks, call (Sunview), (Lafayette Hart), or (Secret Woods).

Sunview is accessible via

Broward County Transit Routes #18, #30, and 441 Breeze;

Lafayette Hart via Routes #11 and #40; and

Secret Woods via Route #6.

Find Your Getaway

Looking to get away without going far away? For a fun, affordable getaway close to home, look no farther than

Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach, where the campground offers 25 Rent-a-Tent sites and two tepee sites. The tent sites feature a canvas platform tent already set up for you –

all you have to do is move in. Each site comes with water and electricity, as well as a grill, a picnic table, and a fire ring. Tepee sites are similarly equipped. Two camping specials run from June 1 through October 1, 2011. 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 $1.50 each. The

Escape Special, which runs from Sundays through Thursdays, offers a one-night stay for four campers for only $20 per night per site, or three or more nights for $17.50 per night per site; two additional campers can join you for just $1.50 each per night.

Both specials may include discounts to other park attractions; inquire at the office when you reserve your campsite. For more information, call the park at .

Attention, Runners

Whether you run for fun or fitness, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Road Runners Club invites you to take part in its next big event, the

Run for the Roses 5K, which gets under way at 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 7 at T.Y. Park in Hollywood. Fees vary. The park’s regular weekend and holiday gate entrance fee of $1.50/person (children 5 and under free) will be in effect. For more information,

call , or visit www.gflrrc.org.

T.Y. is accessible via

Broward County Transit Routes #3, #12, and #17.

Think Greenery

Looking for some plants to spruce up your home landscape? Look no further than the

Broward County Plant Affair. The popular annual event takes place the weekend of May 7 and 8 at Plantation Heritage Park, where you’ll find a plant show and sale with up to 30 vendors. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase. Hours are

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. For more information, call the park at .

Plantation Heritage is accessible via

Broward County Transit Route #30. The next weekend, on Saturday, May 14, Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach will host a

Go Native in Broward County Plant Sale, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Native plants from nurseries and other vendors will be on display and for sale, including plants to attract butterflies and other wildlife. Florida Master Gardeners will also be on hand to

answer questions about common gardening problems. For more information, call the nature center at .

Secret Woods is accessible via

Broward County Transit Route #6.

Saddle Up

Put your horse sense to good use when Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek offers its popular annual

Horse Camp. The program, for ages 9 through 16, runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays starting on June 13 and ending on August 18. (There is no camp July 4-7.) Each four-day session includes daily riding instruction, weather permitting. Instruction also includes: breeds and colors; anatomy of the horse; appropriate riding equipment, tack, and general

care of the horse in the show ring and on the trails; nutrition and feeding; and routine, preventive, and therapeutic maintenance. Other activities include videos, indoor/outdoor games, and farm activities. Registration is offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays only, beginning on April 30, at the stables on the north side of the park. Class size is limited and early registration is

recommended. Fees must be paid and a release and waiver of liability signed at registration. The fee is $350 per session. Children must provide their own lunches and refreshments. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required. Participants should also bring

a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a towel. For more information, call the stables at .

Tradewinds is accessible via

Broward County Transit Route #34.

Find Focus

Learn more about nature photography when Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach hosts a free

Photography Workshop. It’s from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 1, and is led by photographer Gunter. For more information, call the nature center at .

Secret Woods is accessible via

Broward County Transit Route #6.

Play Ball!

If you’re into league sports like softball and flag football, it’s not too soon to start thinking about joining a summer league at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek.

Summer Flag Football and Softball Leagues are now forming at the park, with ongoing registration continuing through Monday, May 9. League play commences on Monday, May 16. Softball leagues play Mondays through Fridays from 6 to 10 p.m., and C, D, recreational, coed, corporate coed, and masters (40+) divisions are available.

Flag football leagues play Tuesdays and Wednesdays, also from 6 to 10 p.m. The athletic complexes at Tradewinds are newly renovated and include a four-field softball complex and a three-field multipurpose sports complex with a cricket pitch between two of the fields.

The new season will mark the first time these facilities are operational. For more information, call the park at .

Tradewinds is accessible via

Broward County Transit Route #34.

When the Sun Goes Down…

…nocturnal animals emerge at Long Key Natural Area & Nature Center in Davie. Be there when it happens from 8 to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 20, when the park hosts a

Nature at Night Hike. A park naturalist will lead participants as they explore the nature trails of

Long Key. The fee is $3 per person. For more information, call the nature center at .

That ’70s Sound

Ages 13 to 21 with developmental disabilities are invited to enjoy deejay music, dancing, socializing, and refreshments this month when the Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood hosts a

Sounds of the ’70s Teen Social. The free event is from 7 to 9:30 on Friday, May 13, and preregistration is required by May 8. For more information or to register, call the Parks

Special Populations Section at .

Anne Kolb is accessible via

Broward County Transit Route #12.

Find the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars

One of South Florida’s best-kept secrets is the Fox Observatory at Markham Park in Sunrise, and the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association (SFAAA) would like to change that. The SFAAA regularly

opens the observatory to anyone who’s curious about the heavens above on Saturdays from dusk to midnight, weather permitting. Saturday, May 7, however, is

Astronomy Day, and the nonprofit group will open the Fox at 2 p.m. for a rare opportunity for solar viewing. The observatory will then remain open for the remainder of the day and through the evening for viewing of the night sky as well. And it’s all

free, although the park’s regular weekend and holiday gate entrance fee of $1.50/person (children 5 and under free) is in effect. The SFAAA has been around since 1965 and is dedicated to, as its Website puts it, “bringing the universe closer to all South Floridians.†The group has a wide variety of telescopic equipment at

its disposal, and you’re also invited to bring your own telescope. Members will be on hand to help you learn more about your gear and how it operates. The group also has its monthly meetings at the Fox at 7:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month, and there

are monthly members-only events as well. Regular club dues are $20, and student memberships are $10. One membership fee covers the entire family and includes the organization’s monthly newsletter. For more information, call the park at or the SFAAA at , or visit

www.sfaaa.com.

Markham is accessible via

Broward County Transit Route #23.

For a Good Cause

Did you know that more than 1.5 million American have lupus, and of those, 100,000 live in Florida? No cure or satisfactory treatment currently exists for this misunderstood and often misdiagnosed

disease, which is why more research is needed. You can contribute to the cause by participating in one of the many

Walk for Lupus Now events, which raise funds for the Lupus Foundation of America. The next one in our area will be on Saturday, May 14 at T.Y. Park in Hollywood, with check-in at 8 a.m. and the walk at 9 a.m. The park’s regular weekend and holiday gate

entrance fee of $1.50/person (children 5 and under free) will be in effect. For more information, call the foundation’s Southeast Florida Chapter at , or visit

www.lupusfl.org.

T.Y. is accessible via

Broward County Transit Routes #3, #12, and #17. Events Calendar

Quote of the Month

“What people say you cannot do, you try and find that you can.†– American writer Henry Thoreau (1817-1862)

Advisory Board Notice

The public is invited to the next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, which is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4. The meeting will take place at

Fern Forest Nature Center, 201 Lyons Rd. South, Coconut Creek 33063; . 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 manages nearly 6,500 acres, encompassing 18 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

Dale V.C. Holness

s

Chip LaMarca

Ilene Lieberman

Ritter

E. Rodstrom Jr.

Barbara Sharief

Lois Wexler Subscribe/Unsubscribe

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