Top Seven Signs Your Holiday Tree Has Been Up Too Long
Holiday Hours
When Getting Lectured Is a Good Thing
Twinkle Twinkle
Walks on the Wild Side
YouTube Spotlight – Airboat Rides at Everglades Holiday Park
Follow Us – On Twitter
Nature To Go
Your Opinion Counts!
Nature Centers of the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division
Special Attractions
Mission Statement
Broward County Board of County Commissioners

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 runs from Wednesday, December 26, 2012, through Monday, January 21, 2013, 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

Holiday Hours

All Broward County regional parks and nature centers, neighborhood parks, and natural areas will be open their regular hours on Mondays, December 24 and 31, and Tuesday, January 1 (New Year’s Day). All parks, nature centers, and natural areas will be closed on Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 25.

When Getting Lectured Is a Good Thing

Three nature centers offer lectures this month. On Sunday, December 2, you can hit two lectures on very different topics at Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek and the Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood. Fern Forest’s Nature Lecture is on “Dangerous Plants, Animals, and Insects” and runs from noon to 1 p.m. A $5 donation to the Fern Allies volunteer group is requested.

Then, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Anne Kolb concludes its three-part Family and Friends Nature Series with “Be a Good Angler!” Participants will learn about fish and fishing with hands-on activities and some actual fishing from the park’s pier. (Bring your own fishing gear or borrow some on site.) A $2-per-person donation to the Friends of Anne Kolb volunteer group is requested, and light refreshments will be served.

Finally, on Sunday, December 9, from 2 to 3 p.m., Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach will offer its third of its Propagation Class, with a focus on the topic of “Grafting.” The session, which costs $5/person, will feature hands-on instruction in techniques you can apply at home.

For more information, call Fern Forest at 954-357-5198, Anne Kolb at 954-357-5161, or Secret Woods at 954-357-8884. Fern Forest is accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #31 and #42; Anne Kolb via Route #12; and Secret Woods via Route #6.

Twinkle Twinkle

Just because there’s an overabundance of ambient nighttime light in Broward County doesn’t mean you can’t go stargazing. It just means that exploring the heavens is best done with the aid of telescopes. That’s where the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association (SFAAA) comes in. On a quarterly basis, the nonprofit group hosts An Evening With the Stars at Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek. The next such program will be offered starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 21, and it’s free. Participants will get a glimpse of what’s going on in the South Florida sky this season, and speakers will cover basic telescope techniques and general astronomy information.

The SFAAA also opens the Fox Observatory at Markham Park in Sunrise every Saturday evening, weather permitting, from dusk to midnight.

For more information, call Fern Forest at 954-357-5198 or the SFAAA at 954-384-0442, or e-mail info@sfaaa.com. The nature center is accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #31 and #42.

Walks on the Wild Side

A variety of nature walks will keep you moving this month, starting with a volunteer-led Bird Walk, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 1, at Deerfield Island Park in Deerfield Beach. Space is limited and preregistration is required by calling Quiet Waters Park at 954-357-5100. The fee is $3 per person.

Next up, a Mangrove Adventure Hike, from 2 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, December 6, at the Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood. This naturalist-led hike will take you along the mangrove-lined trails, where you’ll also encounter native wildlife. The cost is $3 per person. For more information, call the nature center at 954-357-5161.

Then, on Friday, December 14, from 7 to 8 p.m., Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek will have an Adult Night Hike. The fee is $5 per person, and you can get additional information by calling the nature center at 954-357-5198.

Finally, the action shifts back to Anne Kolb on Sunday, December 16, where there will be a free Trail Stroll, from 1 to 1:45 p.m. This guided introduction to the mangrove swamp takes place along a boardwalk.

Anne Kolb is accessible via Broward County Transit Route #12; Deerfield Island via Routes #48 and #50; Fern Forest via Routes #31 and #42; and Secret Woods via Route #6.

YouTube Spotlight – Airboat Rides at Everglades Holiday Park

Broward County Parks now has its own YouTube Channel at www.YouTube.com/BrowardCountyParks. Navigate the “River of Grass” by taking an airboat ride at Everglades Holiday Park.  Watch our video and see what could be waiting for you next time you visit.

Follow Us – On Twitter

Broward County Parks in now on Twitter! Follow us at @BrowardParks and keep up to date with important information, events, programs, and other happenings. Twitter accounts have also been created for five of our parks including Secret Woods Nature Center (@SecretWoodsNC) in Dania Beach. Visit the Broward County Government Stay Connected Webpage to follow your favorite park.

Nature To Go

You can now take a little bit of Broward County nature home with you – thanks to a series of nature posters produced and sold by Broward County Parks. The six posters, all photographed in the county’s parks, nature centers, and natural areas, feature American white waterlilies, burrowing owls, a gray fox, live oak trees, a prairie iris, and a queen butterfly. The posters look great either framed or unframed, and they’re a distinctive way to bring a taste of nature into your home or office. They also make excellent gifts.

The offices at seven facilities have the posters available for purchase: the Anne Kolb Nature Center at West Lake Park in Hollywood, Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek, Long Key Natural Area & Nature Center in Davie, Markham Park in Sunrise, Plantation Heritage Park in Plantation, Tree Tops Park in Davie, and T.Y. Park in Hollywood.

The high-quality posters, which measure 18 inches by 24 inches, retail for $10, including Florida sales tax. You can also purchase posters by mail from Broward County Parks and Recreation, 950 N.W. 38th St., Oakland Park, FL 33309. Mail-order posters are $15 (includes Florida sales tax, shipping, and handling), with checks/money orders payable to Broward County Parks and Recreation. For more information, e-mail ParksMarketing@broward.org.

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.

Nature Centers of the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division

For more nature activities, please go to www.broward.org/parks/calendar.

Special Attractions

Airboat Rides (Everglades Holiday Park) – Batting Cages (AllGolf at C.B. Smith Park) – Butterfly World (Tradewinds Park) – Cable Water-Skiing (Ski Rixen USA at Quiet Waters Park) – Campgrounds (C.B. Smith 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. Smith Park) – Softball/Baseball Fields (Brian Piccolo Park, Sunview Park, Tradewinds Park) – Observatory (Markham Park) – Riding Stables (Tradewinds Park, Tree Tops Park) – Skate Park/Track (Brian Piccolo Park) – Target Range (Markham Park) – Tennis Centers (Brian Piccolo Park, C.B. Smith Park) – Velodrome (Brian Piccolo Park) – 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.

Founded in February 1956 and accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies, Broward County Parks and Recreation Division 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 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.