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Take a Walk for Wildlife
“The Wildlife Care Center works to rescue, rehabilitate, and release native
wildlife that has been harmed or displaced; to treat and place certain
needy domestic, exotic, and farm animals; and to educate the public toward
coexistence with all animals.”
That’s the mission statement of the SPCA (Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Wildlife Care Center, which has been
carrying out its mission since it was founded in 1969 by a handful of volunteers.
On Saturday, April 19, the center, in
conjunction with Quiet Waters Park, hosts
the Seventh Annual Walk for Wildlife. Animal
Planet’s Jeff Corwin kicks off this one-and-a-quarter-mile walk, with
or without companion animals (and not limited to dogs), to raise money from
sponsors to benefit the Wildlife Care Center. Other activities will include
live entertainment, K-9 demonstrations, games and contests, and kids’
activities.
This year Parks Animal Care Specialist
Cherise Williams will be leading the Michelle’s Wildlife Warriors team, in
honor of Michelle Lawless, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
officer who died while on patrol for poachers in the Everglades last
October. Lawless was a Park Ranger II with Parks and Recreation from 1996
to 2003. For sponsorship information, visit www.firstgiving.com/wildlifecarecenter,
or send a donation to Williams in care of Easterlin Park, 1000 N.W. 38th St., Oakland Park 33309.
Registration is at 9:30 a.m.; the walk
begins at 10:30 a.m. All animals must be vaccinated for rabies and wear a
current County license tag, and all animals must be kept on leashes no
longer than six feet at all times. Water will be provided along the route.
Participants are urged to clean up after their animals with the bags
provided.
?: Wildlife Care Center,
954-524-7154, ethel@wildlifecarecenter.org.
R: Starts at 9:30 a.m. on the day of the event.
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Last Chance To Vote…
…for Lafayette Hart Park in this year’s Staples Dream Park Challenge.
At stake is $25,000 in park improvements, along with a celebration
featuring Dwyane “D-Wade” Wade. The Miami Heat guard will host the
check-presentation ceremony. You can vote once a day by going to www.StaplesDreamPark.com, but
hurry – voting ends a minute before noon on Thursday, April 10.
“When community parks have all the
necessary amenities, they become a great place for children and families to
come together,” says Wade. “With larger prizes and more parks participating
in this year’s contest, we’re expecting the competition among communities
to be intense. Together, Staples and I are working to improve South Florida parks through the Dream Park Challenge.”
As a voting incentive, you’ll
automatically be entered to win one of five autographed jerseys from the
NBA All-Star. Five additional lucky winners will meet D-Wade in person. By
picking up a “power card” at a local Staples store, you’ll get 10 extra
online votes. Mailed postcard entries will also be accepted; see Website
for details.
Eighteen South Florida Parks are in the
running for the grand prize. There will also be winners for first prize
($10,000), second prize ($5,000), and runner-up ($1,000). The winning parks
will be announced later in April.
Lafayette Hart Park is an
essential part of the Broward County community. Amenities at this 1.6-acre
park include a basketball court, a picnic shelter, a playground, a
racquetball/tennis court, and volleyball. The park is located at 2851 N.W. Eighth Rd. in unincorporated Broward County.
Don’t Be Fooled – April
Pools’ Day Is Back
For the ninth consecutive year, the Broward County Parks and Recreation
Division’s SWIM Central program co-sponsors April Pools’ Day, a free
water-safety education program for elementary school students, to be held
from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, April 11, at the pool at the International
Swimming Hall of Fame, 501 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. SWIM
Central will coordinate free bus transportation for the event, which is
open to third through fifth graders from participating Broward County public schools. SWIM Central will also supply “goody bags” containing safety
information.
This year the event includes four
information stations where children can learn more about water safety,
including such topics as personal flotation devices, boating safety,
diving, swimming lessons, and more. Activities will include a mock drowning
and rescue and a water polo game.
?: SWIM Central,
954-357-8173.
Aquatics Facilities Open
A reminder: Paradise Cove at C.B. Smith Park, Splash Adventure
at Quiet Waters Park, Castaway Island at T.Y. Park, and the Parks and Recreation Division’s newest interactive water playground, Tropical
Splash at Central Broward Regional Park, are now open on weekends from
9:30 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. through May 4. They’ll also be open the same hours
daily for Broward Spring Break, Friday, March 28 through Sunday, April 6,
with Quiet Waters also opening for Palm Beach County Spring Break,
Saturday, April 5 through Sunday, April 13. Safari Isle at Markham Park will open in late May.
?: C.B. Smith, 954-437-2650; Central Broward Regional,
954-321-1170; Quiet Waters,
954-360-1315;, T.Y., 954-985-1980.
$: Call the park of your choice for fees.
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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, April 2.
The meeting will take place at Brian Piccolo Park, 9501 Sheridan St., Cooper City. For information, visit http://www.broward.org/parks/abmeeting.htm.
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