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Helene Klein Pineland
Preserve Now Open
As of 11 a.m. on Friday, February 1, the Helene Klein Pineland Preserve
is open to the public. At approximately 13 acres, the preserve is one of
the smallest sites in the Parks and Recreation Division’s natural-areas
system but also one of the most diverse. Up to 55 species of wildlife have
been observed in the preserve, including giant swallowtail butterflies, Florida brown snakes, spotted skunks, blue-gray gnatcatchers, and pileated woodpeckers.
While the site boasts an abundance of its namesake slash
pines, it also includes a combination of cypress swamp and two small marl
prairies. Scattered throughout the open canopy of the flatwoods community
are tall slash pines intermixed with a thick understory of saw palmetto, as
well as outcroppings of surface limestone. Site amenities include seating areas,
a covered information kiosk, a covered picnic table, interpretive signage,
a covered overlook, and 1,250 feet of nature trails, including a boardwalk.
The property, previously designated as Site 19, was acquired
in 2002 through the 2000 Safe Parks and Land Preservation Bond program and
a Florida Communities Trust grant, at a total cost of $3.4 million. The
site, which is surrounded by development – including a self-storage
facility, a church, and shopping centers – was itself saved from
development when the County purchased the land and, on October 18, 2002, dedicated it to Helene Klein, a local environmental activist who died in July 2001. Klein’s efforts on behalf of the project had included collecting petitions and lobbying
the Broward County Commission for the preservation of public lands.
The Helene Klein Pineland Preserve is at 4701 W. Hillsboro
Blvd. in Coconut Creek.
?: North District, 954-968-3890.
BCT: Route #14.
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Parks Celebrate Black History Year Round
February 1 marks the beginning of Black History Month, an annual
commemoration that was established in 1976 to highlight the contributions
of African-Americans to the cultures of the United States and Canada. The designation was an expansion of Negro History Week, which dates back to 1926 and encompassed the birthdays of both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
To learn more about local black history, there’s no better
place to start than at two neighborhood parks that represent Broward County’s distinctive pan-African cultural heritage. Across the parking lot from Fort Lauderdale’s acclaimed African-American Research
Library and Cultural Center – one of only three of its kind in the
nation – you’ll find Reverend Samuel Delevoe Park. The park’s
namesake was one of Fort Lauderdale’s first black police officers, as well
as a community activist, politician, businessman, civil rights leader, and
street minister. In 1979, two years after Reverend Delevoe was fatally
shot, the park was rededicated in honor of his outstanding contributions.
In homage to him and many other notable community figures, an art
installation in the park, called Pillars of the Community, displays
84 names of leaders past and present.
Just north of Delevoe Park is Franklin Park, with its
colorful playground and a thousand-foot-long walkway that runs through the
park. The walkway and the benches that line it make up an installation
known as The Word Garden, created by Broward artists Angi Curreri
and Rick Yasko, that celebrates the seven principles of Kwanzaa in both
Swahili and English.
Along with these major public art projects, Delevoe Park’s 36 acres feature areas for fishing, a picnic shelter, a playground, and sports
facilities. Franklin Park offers basketball courts, a playground, picnic
shelters, a walking trail, a weight room, and a community center.
?: Reverend Samuel Delevoe Park, 2520 N.W. Sixth St. (Sistrunk
Blvd.), 954-791-1036; Franklin Park, 2501 Franklin Dr., 954-791-1037; African-American Research
Library and Cultural Center, 2650 N.W. Sixth St. (Sistrunk Blvd.),
954-625-2800.
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We’re Looking for a Few
Good Men and Women…
…to fill lifeguard positions at five aquatics facilities: Paradise Cove at C.B. Smith Park, Safari
Isle at Markham Park, Splash
Adventure at Quiet Waters Park, Castaway
Island at T.Y. Park, and the brand-new facility at our newest park, Central
Broward Regional Park. These water parks will be reopening in March, and
they offer great opportunities for students who want to work 20+ hours in March, April, September, and October, and 35 to 40 hours during the summer. For job
descriptions, salary ranges, park locations, and printable application
forms, visit www.broward.org/parks/lifeguards.htm.
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Learn How To Rescue Large
Animals
If you own or work with large animals, don’t be caught off guard by an
emergency. This month the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division
joins forces with Southwest Ranches
Volunteer Fire-Rescue to offer two three-day workshops on Technical
Large Animal Emergency Rescue Training. The program will be presented
from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, February 11 through Wednesday, February
13, then again from Friday, February 15 through Wednesday, February 17, in
the Oakridge Auditorium at Tree Tops Park in Davie.
The intensive, hands-on training covers all aspects of large
animal rescue: animal behavior, trailer rescues, barn fire rescues, water
and mud rescues, restraint and containment, and simulated night search and
rescue. The target audience is first responders, emergency personnel,
animal care and code enforcement staff, and all other interested
individuals.
?: Lt. Leslie Kastner, 754-224-0877 or JDKPA@aol.com,
or Cherise Williams, 954-938-0617 or cwilliams@broward.org.
$: $250 for hands-on participants, $150 for observers. Includes
lunch and course materials.
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Making a Difference
The emphasis is on health at this year’s Walk/Race for What Matters,
to be held on Saturday, February 16 at Tradewinds Park in Coconut
Creek. Runners can take steps toward greater fitness by participating in
the 5K walk/run, which starts at 7 p.m.; walkers can do the same with the one-mile
fitness walk, beginning at 7:30 a.m. Race-day registration for both is from
5:30 to 6:45 a.m. The USATF-certified 5K flat course is along
nature trails and will be chip-timed. The first 800 runners will receive a
commemorative medal and a long-sleeved T-shirt; awards will be presented in
various categories.
Participants and their families are also invited to the
after-race Community Health Fair, which will include food, beverages, music,
and other activities. Health care companies will be on hand to perform
basic medical check-ups.
Now in its third year, the Commit 2B Fit™-sanctioned event is
a benefit for the United Way of Broward County.
?: Jennifer Storey, 954-462-4850, ext. 115, or jstorey@unitedwaybroward.org.
R: Preregistration ($20 for the walk/run, $10 for the fitness
walk) available through February 8 by mail (Split Second Timing, 2211 Charleston, Weston, FL 33326), on line (www.active.com and www.splitsecondtiming.com),
and in person (Fleet Feet Sports Boca and Runner’s
Depot locations in Fort Lauderdale, Davie, and Miramar). Race-day
registration: $25 for walkers/runners, $15 for fitness walkers.
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Relive the Renaissance
Era
Renaissance times were a fascinating period in history when Europe made the transition from the dark ages into the modern era. The transformation was
marked by revelry and excess in costume and cuisine, which are demonstrated
each year in an annual reenactment at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach.
The 2008 Florida Renaissance Festival
celebrates its 16th anniversary by hosting visiting kings and queens, all
claiming land for their countries. This year’s village will be packed with
artisans and crafts people selling and demonstrating their wares, along
with food and drink of the time.
Nearly a dozen stages will feature continuous entertainment.
The King and Queen will also host the five-course Royal Feast. Open from 10
a.m. to sunset for five weekends, the festival begins on Saturday, February
9, and continues through Sunday, March 9, including President’s Day,
Monday, February 18. The event is also open for two school-day Mondays,
February 11 and 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
?: Quiet Waters, 954-360-1315; Florida Renaissance Festival,
954-776-1642, www.ren-fest.com.
$: Tickets: $20/ages 13 and up, $7/ages 6-12, 5 and under free; group and season rates also available. Royal Feast - $69/person.
+: Additional park gate entrance fee of $1.50/person (children 5
and under free) on weekends and holidays.
BCT: Route #95.
Highlights Goes Electronic
The monthly newsletter of the Broward County Parks and Recreation
Division is now available only as an electronic publication. Pass this
information on to friends and family so they can sign up and become part of
the Division’s online community. You will receive the latest information
about upcoming events and special programs, as well as park news, via our
monthly e-newsletter. To sign up, send your name and e-mail address to ParksMarketing@broward.org.
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Key to Symbols
?: Call the number indicated for further information about the
event.
$: Participation
fees.
R: Registration
requirements.
+: Plus park gate
entrance fee on weekends/holidays;
$1.50/person
(children 5 and under free).
BCT: Park accessible
from Broward County Mass Transit bus route.
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Quote of the Month
“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous
delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.”
– American poet
e.e. cummings (1894-1962)
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Commit 2B Fit!™
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Patrons can visit
any Broward County park office and receive a Commit 2B Fit™ Rewards Card to keep track of their activities. The card will be stamped every time
someone comes to the park and completes a 30-minute fitness activity. Use
our online calendar of events to find an
activity to fit your lifestyle. Participants can get up to six stamps
each month. Rewards Cards collected monthly will be eligible for
quarterly prizes.
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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.
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SWIM Central
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Broward County Commission 's primary resource and referral service for available swim programs in
cooperation with various cities and nonprofit organizations.
954-357-SWIM
(7946)
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