Fw: Broward County Parks July 2012 Newsletter

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JULY 2012 Newsletter

broward.org/parks

July Is Parks and Recreation Month!

Independence Day Hours

This Just In…

We’re Still Listening

Oohing and Ahhing

Giddyup!

Water Fun for Everyone

Fridays = Fun at Long Key

Dog Days

Heavy-Duty Athletics

Keep Your Critters Cool

Growth Potential

When the Sun Goes Down…

Quote of the Month

Special Attractions

Mission Statement

Your Opinion Counts!

SWIM Central

Broward County Board of County Commissioners

July Is Parks and Recreation Month!

So says the

National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), which 27 years ago started a tradition that continues to this day. The

Florida Recreation and Park Association (FRPA) supports the initiative and recently promoted Governor Rick ’s proclamation.

Among the benefits of parks and recreation:

·

Parks and recreation programs enhance our quality of life by contributing to a healthy lifestyle, increasing communication skills, building self-esteem, teaching life skills, and providing places for enjoyment.

·

Parks and recreation programs boost the economy, enhance property values, attract new business, increase tourism, and reduce crime.

·

Recreation builds family unity, strengthens neighborhood involvement, offers opportunity for social interaction, enhances education, develops creativity, and promotes cultural diversity.

·

Our parks and trails ensure ecological beauty, provide space to enjoy nature, help maintain clean air and water, and preserve plant and animal wildlife.

·

Recreation, therapeutic recreation and leisure education are essential to the rehabilitation of individuals who have been ill or disabled.

In other words, “Find It All – At a Broward County Park.†Get out and enjoy. For more information on Broward County Parks, visit

www.broward.org/parks.

Independence Day Hours

All Broward County regional parks and nature centers, neighborhood parks, and natural areas, as well as water parks and campgrounds, will be

open on Wednesday, July 4 (with the exception of

Deerfield Island Park, which will be closed). The holiday gate entrance fee of $1.50/person (children 5 and under free) will be in effect at applicable parks. The Parks and Recreation Division administrative offices will be closed.

This Just In…

Broward County Parks and Recreation Division’s use of social media has just been acknowledged with two

Meritorious Awards in the annual Awards of Excellence presented by the

National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO). In the Social Media category, Parks won for its Facebook page and for its YouTube channel.

NACIO, an affiliate of the

National Association of Counties, has members from more than 3,000 counties, parishes, and boroughs nationwide. Its Awards of Excellence Competition honors the best public information and community outreach

efforts by local governments throughout the country. Broward County Parks won two of the 10 awards won by the county.

We’re Still Listening

Back in late April we invited the public to provide input at a series of focus groups designed to assess customer satisfaction with our county park system and identify potential partnership opportunities

and strategic planning issues, as well as to supply feedback about the community’s recreational needs.

Now the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division, in conjunction with the consulting firm

GreenPlay, is ready to report back on the initial findings from those focus groups and begin to shape our vision for the future in two more public forums. These

Findings/Visioning Workshops will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18, at Central Broward Regional Park & Stadium in Lauderhill, and from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, July 19, at Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek. You are

welcome to attend.

Central Broward Regional is accessible via

Broward County Transit Routes #18, #36, #40, and #81.

Fern Forest is accessible via Routes #31 and #42.

Oohing and Ahhing

The Fourth of July equals fireworks, right? And what better place for

Fireworks Viewing than one of the highest elevations in South Florida? That would be Vista View Park in Davie, where the hill, at 65 feet above sea level, ranks as the highest manmade elevation in Broward County. This year the park will be open till

10 p.m., and depending on weather conditions, visitors may be able to see the displays from Davie, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Sunrise, and possibly even Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood.

Most of these shows are scheduled to begin at 9 p.m., but you’re welcome to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets and come early to get a good spot – the park opens at 8 a.m., and the entry fee is

good for admission all day; present your receipt for reentry. You are also invited to bring your own refreshments, although no hard liquor and no glass containers are allowed. Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis, and no fireworks (including sparklers)

will be permitted in the park. The park’s playgrounds and shelters will be closed.

Admission before 7:30 p.m. will be the park’s regular weekend and holiday gate entrance fee of $1.50/person (children 5 and under free); admission will go to $2/person at 7:30 p.m. For more information,

call Vista View at .

Giddyup!

Stop stalling, use your horse sense, and learn how to saddle up at the

Summer Horse Camp at Tradewinds Park Stables in Coconut Creek. The day camp is currently under way and runs through August 16. (There is no camp July 2-5 due to the Independence Day holiday.) The program, for ages 9 through 16, is from 8:30 a.m. to 4

p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.

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 goes on for as long as openings are available. 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 $300 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.

Water Fun for Everyone

·

Splash Ahoy – Fridays, July 13 and 27, 6-10 p.m. – Splash Adventure at Quiet Waters Park (); $6/person, includes splash time, pirate games, a bounce house, and a movie. Refreshments available for purchase. Advance ticket

purchase required.

And remember, all four of our water parks –

Splash Adventure, along with

Paradise Cove at C.B. Park (),

Tropical Splash at Central Broward Regional Park & Stadium (), and

Castaway Island at T.Y. Park () – are open daily. Fees vary; call the park of your choice for additional information.

C.B. is accessible via

Broward County Transit Routes #3, #5, #7, #23, and 95 EXPRESS;

Central Broward Regional via Routes #18, #36, $30, and #81;

Quiet Waters via Routes #14 and #48; and

T.Y. via Routes #3, #12, and #17.

Fridays = Fun at Long Key

One of Broward County’s best-kept secrets, Long Key Natural Area & Nature Center in Davie, is the place for fun on three Fridays this month. On July 6, 13, and 27,

Fun Friday Nature invites ages 3 to 10 to drop by the park’s Discovery Room for nature-themed games, crafts projects, and storytelling. The program runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the fee is $5 per person per program. For more information, call

Long Key at .

Dog Days

Well over a third of U.S. households – 39 percent – have at least one dog. And every day’s a “dog day†at Broward County Parks, because no matter where you live in the county, you’re not far

from a park that offers dog obedience training. The details of these ongoing programs vary from park to park, so call or go online for more information.

·

C.B. and

Vista View parks –

Humane K9, , www.humanek9.com

·

Markham Park –

PlayTrain, , www.playtraindog.com

·

Plantation Heritage Park –

Oh Behave, , www.ohbehavedogtraining.com

·

Quiet Waters and

T.Y. parks –

K-9 Charm School, , www.k9charmschool.com

·

·

·

Sunview Park –

American IDogs, , www.americanidogs.com

·

Tradewinds Park –

A Dog’s Best Friend, ,

www.adogsbestfriend.com

·

Vista View Park –

Purely Positive, ,

www.purelypositivedogtraining.net

Once your pooch has completed training, visit the

Barkham at Markham Dog Park for three acres of leash-free play. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are also welcome to visit all Broward County Parks except

Hollywood North Beach and all our nature centers and natural areas.

Heavy-Duty Athletics

While many of us look forward to the Fourth of July holiday as a day to kick back and enjoy a cookout, hardier folk may opt to participate in the

22nd Annual Independence Day Duathlon & Triathlon, to be held at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek. The triathlon features a quarter-mile swim, followed by a 10-mile bike ride and a three-mile run; the duathlon starts with a three-quarter-mile run in

lieu of the swim.

Spectators are welcome at the event, which gets under way at 7 a.m. The park’s holiday gate entrance fee of $1.50/person (children 5 and under free) will be in effect. For more information, call

Tradewinds at or visit

www.multirace.com.

Keep Your Critters Cool

Summertime, and the living is easy, right? Just because you’re enjoying sun and surf, however, don’t neglect your pet’s summer needs. Did you know, for instance, that July 5 is the busiest day

for animal shelters? That’s because many pet owners don’t take precautions to prevent Independence Day stress. The fireworks you and friends and family find exciting may provoke confusion and exhaustion in your pet. Dogs, especially, are sometimes upset enough

to crash through windows, jump fences, or break chains to escape.

If loud noises disturb your pet – its reactions to thunderstorms should provide a clue – consider leaving the animal behind while you go out for Fourth of July festivities. At home, have someone

remain inside with your pet while fireworks go off outside. Your vet may provide tranquilizers for particularly sensitive animals.

Another summer hazard, especially in subtropical South Florida, is heat stress. Never take a pet with you in the car if it will be unattended for any length of time. An outdoor temperature of

85 degrees can translate to an interior temperature of 120 degrees in just 30 minutes.

Even at home, supply drinking water and shade if your pet is to be left outside on hot days. And if you “strut your mutt†in one of our parks, remember that early morning and after sundown are

easier on the heat-sensitive pads of your dog’s paws.

Growth Potential

Time for another round of

Propagation Classes at Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach. The popular program runs for three sessions, each focusing on a different hands-on technique for propagating plants. On Sunday, July 8, the focus will be on “Seeds.†Session two, on Sunday,

August 12, covers “Cuttings.†And the final class, on Sunday, September 9, is all about “Grafting.†The series is designed for ages 12 and up and runs from 2 to 3 p.m. The fee is $5/person per class. For more information or to preregister, call the nature

center at .

Secret Woods is accessible via

Broward County Transit Route #6.

When the Sun Goes Down…

…the fun is just beginning at two nature programs this month at Long Key Natural Area & Nature Center in Davie. From 8 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 14, the park invites you to join a naturalist

and explore the nature trails after dark on a Nature at Night Hike. The program is $3 per person, and preregistration is required by the day before the hike.

Then, on Friday, July 20, and Saturday, July 21, also from 8 to 9 p.m., spend the darkest nights of the month hiking the park’s nature trails on a

New Moon Hike. The fee is $5 per person, and again, preregistration is required by the day before the program.

For more information on either hike, call

Long Key at .

Events Calendar

Quote of the Month

“We should every night call ourselves to an account: What infirmity have I mastered today? What passions opposed? What temptation resisted? What virtue acquired?†–

Roman philosopher, statesman, and dramatist Seneca (5 B.C.E.-65 A.D.)

Special Attractions

Airboat Rides (Everglades Holiday Park) –

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 Park/Track ( Piccolo 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 a countywide park system with diverse facilities and recreation opportunities, along with natural area conservation and research-based educational outreach, to enhance the well-being

of residents, businesses, and visitors.

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 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, a skate park, 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

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