Focus on the Chili Cookoff
Holiday Hours
Top Seven Signs Your Holiday Tree Has Been Up Too Long
Lights Out – Soon
Post-Holiday Glow
Dancing in a Winter Wonderland
Find Fitness – At a Broward County Park
Sit! Stay!
S’More of What You’re Looking For
You’re Invited!
Double, Double Toil and Trouble
Learn While You Lunch
Trail Mix
Quote of the Month
Special Attractions
Mission Statement
Your Opinion Counts!
SWIM Central
Broward County Board of County Commissioners

Focus on the Chili Cookoff

What do Trace Adkins, Alabama, Jason Aldean, the Band Perry, Clint Black, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Dixie Chicks, Vince Gill, Gloriana, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Montgomery Gentry, Brad Paisley, LeAnn Rimes, Taylor Swift, Tanya Tucker, Keith Urban, Wynonna, and the Zac Brown Band have in common?

If you answered that they are or have been among the top names in country music for the last quarter of a century, you’d be only partially correct. They’re also just some of the dozens of acts that have appeared, often multiple times, at the Chili Cookoff over the years.

The combination food competition and country concert started off modestly back in the mid-1980s. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and the Charlie Daniels Band pretty much took turns being the headliner for the first few years, when the show was held at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach. The music component of the event really took off in 1994, when the concert was a superstar double bill of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. By then the show had shifted to C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines, where it has been held ever since, attracting thousands of fans to the park’s outdoor special event field.

The 28th Annual 99.9 KISS Country Chili Cookoff is scheduled for Sunday, January 27, with Luke Bryan (Tailgates & Tanlines) topping the bill, having paid his dues as one of the opening acts last year. Other acts include Ronnie Dunn (formerly of the legendary duo Brooks & Dunn, which performed at the event back in 1996), Thompson Square (“If I Didn’t Have You”), Florida Georgia Line (Here’s to the Good Times), and Kacey Musgraves (“Merry Go ‘Round”).

Tickets are $45 (not including service charge) from completeticketsolutions.com, which also offers parking passes for $5 each for the Pines Boulevard lot (open at 1 a.m.) and the Taft Street lot (open at 6 a.m.). Handicapped parking will be available at the Johnson Street lot with an official handicapped parking placard only. Concert gates open at 8:30 a.m., and the concert begins at approximately 10 a.m. Other ticket outlets include Walmart stores in Cooper City, Pembroke Pines (both locations), and the Sawgrass Mills area; and Pet Supermarket locations in Broward and Miami-Dade.

This is a rain-or-shine event, meaning no refunds will be available. Also, no cans, coolers, bottles, video cameras, flags/flagpoles, weapons, umbrellas, backpacks, or pets allowed. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase. Chili from the competition cannot be tasted by the public unless the contestant has a registered food vendor permit.

For additional information, call 305-654-1700, email chilicookoff@completeticketsolutions.com, or visit www.wkis.com. C.B. Smith is accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #3, #5, #7, #23, and 95 EXPRESS.

Holiday Hours

All regional parks, nature centers, natural areas, and neighborhood parks will be open on Tuesday, January 1 (New Year’s Day), as well as Wednesday, January 2, and Monday, January 21 (Martin Luther King Day). The exception is Deerfield Island Park, which will be closed. The schedule for special attractions varies; contact the individual attraction for additional information.

Top Seven Signs Your Holiday Tree Has Been Up Too Long

1.     You’ve taken to using it as a coat rack.

2.     The bird that got into your house stayed – and nested.

3.     Visitors ask how you’ll be decorating it for the spring holiday.

4.     It’s sprouted roots and started growing again.

5.     Squirrels gather at your window and look in longingly at it.

6.     You can no longer see the carpet through the layers of dried needles.

7.     You’ve decided just to go ahead and leave it up for next year.

Is there anything sadder than a holiday tree that’s still standing around in someone’s living room well into the new year? If the holidays are long gone but your tree isn’t, it’s time to chip in and donate your used evergreen to our annual Chip-a-Tree initiative. Last year Broward County Parks recycled more than 9,000 trees, representing more than a hundred tons of material that would otherwise have gone to landfills, and this year your tree can join those recyclable thousands.

The free program encourages Broward County residents to remove all decorations from their holiday trees – no decorated trees will be accepted – then bring the trees to a participating park, where they are chipped and used for landscaping throughout the county park system. There is a limit of two trees per vehicle, artificial trees are not accepted, and no commercial vehicles or garbage trucks are allowed.

This season’s program began the day after Christmas and is still going on, through Monday, January 21, giving you plenty of time to take advantage of those after-the-holidays sales before taking your tree to a park. And remember, the regular weekend and holiday gate entrance fee will not be in effect for recyclers, so there’s no excuse not to do the right thing. Hours vary; call the park of your choice for details.

· Brian Piccolo Park & Velodrome, 9501 Sheridan St., Cooper City 33024; 954-357-5150

· C. B. Smith Park, 900 N. Flamingo Rd., Pembroke Pines 33028; 954-357-5170

· Easterlin Park, 1000 N.W. 38th St., Oakland Park 33309; 954-357-5190

· Fern Forest Nature Center, 201 Lyons Rd. South, Coconut Creek 33063; 954-357-5198

· Markham Park & Target Range, 16001 W. State Rd. 84, Sunrise 33326; 954-357-8868

· Plantation Heritage Park, 1100 S. Fig Tree Lane, Plantation 33317; 954-357-5135

· Quiet Waters Park, 401 S. Powerline Rd., Deerfield Beach 33441; 954-357-5100

· Reverend Samuel Delevoe Park, 2520 N.W. Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale 33311; 954-791-1036

· Snake Warrior's Island Natural Area, 3600 S.W. 62nd Ave., Miramar 33023; 954-357-8776

· Tradewinds Park & Stables, 3600 W. Sample Rd., Coconut Creek 33073; 954-357-8870

· Tree Tops Park, 3900 S.W. 100th Ave., Davie 33328; 954-357-5130

· T.Y. (Topeekeegee Yugnee) Park, 3300 N. Park Rd., Hollywood 33021; 954-357-8811

· Vista View Park, 4001 S.W. 142nd Ave., Davie 33330; 954-357-8898

· West Lake Park, 751 Sheridan St., Hollywood 33019; 954-357-5161

Lights Out – Soon

Just a few more days are left to see Holiday Fantasy of Lights at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek. The drive-through light show, under the management of Brandano Displays, runs through Saturday, January 5 and is open nightly from 6 to 10 p.m.

Admission is $10 per vehicle Mondays through Wednesdays and $13 per vehicle Thursdays through Sundays. (The cost is for 20 or fewer passengers per vehicle.) For more information, visit www.holidaylightsdrivethru.com.

Post-Holiday Glow

The disc golf course at Easterlin Park in Oakland Park will again be aglow on Friday, January 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. That’s when the park will host the third installment of its Disc “Glow” Golf Series, a tournament in which the participants guide themselves through the course using flashlights. (Bring your own flashlights and discs – the park will not provide them.) The program is designed for ages 13 and up, and ages 13 to 17 must have a parent/guardian with them to participate. Fees are $5 per person if you preregister, $8 per person if you wait until the night of the program. For more information, call the park at 954-357-5190. Easterlin is accessible via Broward County Transit Route #14.

Dancing in a Winter Wonderland

Adults with developmental disabilities are invited to Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach on Friday, January 18, when the park, in conjunction with the Parks Special Populations Section, will host a free Winter Wonderland Dance, from 7 to 10 p.m. Activities will include music, dancing, socializing, and refreshments. The event will be held outdoors, so participants are urged to dress appropriately.

Registration is required at least seven days prior to the event by calling Special Populations at 954-357-8170 or emailing SpecialPopulations@broward.org. Quiet Waters is accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #14 and #48.

Find Fitness – At a Broward County Park

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get fit, back up your good intentions with a visit to one of our parks. Whatever your activity of choice, there’s a park for you:

· Baseball/softball – Brian Piccolo, Central Broward Regional, Sunview, Tradewinds

· Basketball – Brian Piccolo, C.B. Smith, Central Broward Regional, Easterlin, Franklin, Lafayette Hart, Quiet Waters, Reverend Samuel Delevoe, Roosevelt Gardens, Sunview, T.Y., Vista View, West Lake

· Biking – Brian Piccolo, C.B. Smith, Central Broward Regional, Hollywood North Beach, Markham, Plantation Heritage, Quiet Waters, Reverend Samuel Delevoe, Tradewinds, Tree Tops, T.Y., Vista View, West Lake

· Cable water-skiing – Quiet Waters

· Cricket – Brian Piccolo, Central Broward Regional, Tradewinds

· Disc golf – Easterlin, Tradewinds

· Football/soccer – Brian Piccolo, Central Broward Regional, Sunview, Tradewinds

· Inline skating – Brian Piccolo

· Jogging – Brian Piccolo, C.B. Smith, Central Broward Regional, Hollywood North Beach, Markham, Plantation Heritage, Quiet Waters, Roosevelt Gardens, Tree Tops, T.Y., West Lake

· Mountain biking – Markham, Quiet Waters

· Netball – Central Broward Regional

· Tennis/racquetball – Brian Piccolo, C.B. Smith, Central Broward Regional, Lafayette Hart, Markham, T.Y., West Lake

· Volleyball – Brian Piccolo, C.B. Smith, Deerfield Island, Easterlin, Franklin, Hollywood North Beach, Lafayette Hart, Markham, Plantation Heritage, Quiet Waters, Reverend Samuel Delevoe, Tradewinds, Tree Tops, T.Y., West Lake

· Water-skiing/wakeboarding – C.B. Smith

And, of course, you can engage in those most basic of physical activities, walking and hiking, at any of our parks, nature centers, and natural areas. For more information, visit our Website at www.broward.org/parks.

Sit! Stay!

Does your dog take you for a walk? Are you trampled when you set foot in your own home? You’re not alone! Solve these common and annoying problems by learning tools for effective training at Basic Obedience Classes, offered at Plantation Heritage Park in by Oh Behave Dog Training. These group classes will help you teach your dog to respond to such commands as sit, down, come, and stay, as well as loose leash walking. Problem behaviors such as jumping up, leash pulling, and play biting are addressed through a positive, reward-based program. Games and fun contests are incorporated into the classes.

K-9 Fun Nosework Classes focus on teaching you how to encourage and develop your dog’s natural scenting abilities by using his or her desire to hunt and love of toys, food, and exercise. It’s a great way to have your dog build confidence and burn lots of mental and physical energy.

Both sets of classes start on Saturday, January 12, and preregistration is strongly encouraged. For fees, required registration forms, and other class information, visit www.ohbehavedogtraining.com, or contact Dawn Hanna at 954-587-2711 or dawnhanna@ohbehavedogtraining.com.

S’More of What You’re Looking For

You’ve made it through the holidays. Now treat yourself to an old-fashioned Family Hayride and Campfire, complete with one of the ultimate comfort foods, s’mores. There’s one such event from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, January 4, at T.Y. (Topeekeegee Yugnee) Park in Hollywood, and another one from 7 to 9:30 p.m. the next Friday, January 11, at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach, followed at the end of the month (7-9:30 p.m. on Friday, January 25) by one at Tradewinds Park & Stables in Coconut Creek.

Tickets are $3.50/person for all three events and include one hayride and the fixings to make s’mores. (Advance purchase is required for the Quiet Waters and Tradewinds events.) Reservations are required for groups of 15 or more. For more information, call T.Y. at 954-357-8811, Quiet Waters at 954-357-5100, or Tradewinds at 954-357-8870. T.Y. is accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #3, #12, and #17, Quiet Waters via Routes #14 and #48, and Tradewinds via Route #34.

You’re Invited!

Find out more about one of our key partners – the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), which works closely with the Parks Extension Education Section – this month when the agencies host their Open House. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 12, at our Extension Education complex in Davie.

At this free event, you and your family and friends will learn about a variety of topics:

· Geomatics (GPS, GIS, and you – great careers in an expanding field of study)

· How to keep a lake healthy by stocking fish and managing aquatic plants

· UF’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) degree programs

· Pollution monitoring (how does the county monitor waterways?)

· Beneficial insects (honeybees) vs. destructive insects (termites)

· Managing your landscape (turf grass, trees, palms, and more)

· Where you can find natural Florida the way it used to be

· Nutritional guidelines (what’s on your plate?)

· Insects that help control invasive weeds

· 4-H youth development programs

· FWC Python Challenge

Food trucks will be on site with a variety of food and beverages available for purchase. For more information about this annual event, call Extension Education at 954-357-5270.

“Double, Double Toil and Trouble…

…Fire burn, and caldron bubble.” The witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth conjured up a hellish mix that included “Eye of newt, and toe of frog / Wool of bat, and tongue of dog.” Don’t expect to come up with anything quite that exotic when Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach offers Concoctions, Potions, Blends, and Brews, a combination lecture/workshop. But you will learn how to make a wide variety of herbal preparations, including extracts, elixirs, oils, salves, and teas. The all-day program, for ages 18 and up, runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, January 13, and the fees are $40 for the program and a $40 requested donation to the Friends of Secret Woods volunteer group to cover the cost of supplies. For more information, call Secret Woods (accessible via Broward County Transit Route #6) at 954-357-8884.

Learn While You Lunch

The Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood launches its latest Lunch and Learn Nature Series this month on the theme “The Manatees of Broward County.” The first presentation will be a lecture by Dr. Pat Quinn of the Broward County Natural Resources Planning and Management Division’s Beach and Marine Resources Section. Dr. Quinn will share the biology of the manatee, what threatens the species’ health and existence, and the county’s manatee protection and conservation program.

Preregistration is required a week in advance of the program, which includes lunch. A $7/person donation to the Friends of the Anne Kolb Nature Center volunteer group is requested. For more information, call Anne Kolb (accessible via Broward County Transit Route #12) at 954-357-5161.

Trail Mix

Did you know that as many as 40 million Americans participate in mountain biking annually? That’s according to the Outdoor Foundation, which estimates that mountain biking has remained steadily popular since peaking in 2001. Although the activity has been around for a while, it was given a big boost when companies started manufacturing high-tech, lightweight mountain bikes in the late 1970s and early ’80s, and the sport really took off in the decades immediately following.

Mountain biking is a demanding activity that requires endurance, core strength and balance, and, of course, bike-handling skills. It’s possible even in notoriously flat South Florida, where two of our county parks have mountain bike trails designed with rugged riders in mind: Markham Park in Sunrise, and Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach.

There are nearly 10 miles of trails at Markham, ranging from novice to intermediate to expert/pro. Quiet Waters offers 7.1 miles of novice and intermediate trails, and the park regularly recruits volunteers for its Mountain Bike Trail Maintenance Days to keep the trails in good condition. One such workday will be held on Saturday, January 12, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants must be registered park volunteers and present a valid photo I.D. For more information, contact Quiet Waters at 954-357-5100.

Quote of the Month

“Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.” – American writer Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

Special Attractions

Airboat Rides (Everglades Holiday Park) – Batting Cages (AllGolf at C.B. Smith Park) – Butterfly World (Tradewinds Park & Stables) – Bike America (Quiet Waters Park) –  Cable Water-Skiing (Ski Rixen USA at Quiet Waters Park) – Campgrounds (C.B. Smith Park, Easterlin Park, Markham Park & Target Range, Quiet Waters Park, T.Y. Park) – Dog Park (Barkham at Markham Park & Target Range) – Educational Farm (Tradewinds Park & Stables) – 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. Smith Park) – Multipurpose Athletic Fields (Brian Piccolo Park & Velodrome, Central Broward Regional Park & Stadium, Tradewinds Park & Stables) – Observatory (Markham Park & Target Range) – Riding Stables (Tradewinds Park & Stables, Tree Tops Park) – Skate Park/Track (Brian Piccolo Park & Velodrome) – Target Range (Markham Park & Target Range) – Tennis Centers (Brian Piccolo Park & Velodrome, C.B. Smith Park) – Velodrome (Brian Piccolo Park & Velodrome) – Water Playgrounds/ Waterslides/Swimming (C.B. Smith 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 Division manages almost 6,500 acres, encompassing nearly 50 regional parks and nature centers, neighborhood parks, and 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 954-357-8170 or TTY 954-537-2844 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
Kristin Jacobs
Martin David Kiar
Chip LaMarca
Stacy Ritter
Tim Ryan
Barbara Sharief
Lois Wexler

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Parks and Recreation is a service of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners.