Focus on Tall Cypress Natural Area
Meet the (Air Potato Leaf) Beetles
Labor Day Holiday Hours
We Sell a Night Hike by the Seashore…
Return of the Native
Making a Difference
Fun For the Little Ones
Advisory Board Notice
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

Focus on Tall Cypress Natural Area

The Tall Cypress Natural Area, owned jointly by Broward County and the City of Coral Springs, has long been known for its diverse flora and fauna, so it’s fitting that the site will host a Jewels of Diversity Nature Walk this month. The free, volunteer-led event will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 15.

This 66-acre urban forest contains a dense, continuous canopy of cypress trees transitioning to slash pines, interspersed with shallow willow and pond apple depressions, sabal palm heads, red maples, and strangler figs. There is also a thick understory of ferns, saw palmetto, and other basin swamp plants.

Fortunately, there’s an elevated boardwalk with two overlooks, interpretive signage, and seating areas to allow for public access to the site, which opened in February 2002. Other amenities, all made possible through the 1989 Environmentally Sensitive Lands (ESL) Bond Program, include a parking lot and restrooms. ESL funds also helped fund the purchase of the property. The Coral Springs High School environmental group Save What’s Left also played a role in saving the site from development.

Due to the density of the vegetation and the lack of disturbance, Tall Cypress presents an ideal woodland habitat. Mammals that may be found include gray fox, cotton mouse, and Eastern gray squirrel; reptiles include Florida box turtle, Southern ringneck snake, and green anole; and resident and migratory birds include great horned owl, pileated woodpecker, cardinal, bluejay, and many species of warbler.

To reserve your spot for the walk, call 954-357-8114. For other information on the site, call the North District Office at 954-357-8700. Tall Cypress is accessible via Broward County Transit Route #34.

Meet the (Air Potato Leaf) Beetles

The USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Invasive Plant Research Laboratory will host a “Meet the Beetles” program to illustrate the lab’s newest biocontrol agent, the air potato leaf beetle Lilioceris cheni. The program will be held at Long Key Natural Area and Nature Center on Friday, September 21 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and is open to the public.

The program is part of a two-phase beetle release resulting from ARS research to combat air potato vine – an aggressive, invasive plant that is displacing native plant species and disrupting ecological functions throughout Florida and the Gulf Coast. Brief presentations by partner agencies will be followed by a release of the beetles in the natural area where the air potato vine is prevalent, and then there will be a visit to a nearby beetle establishment site to observe the beneficial impact of the biocontrol program.

For additional information, contact Sue.Keusch@ars.usda.gov.

Labor Day Holiday Hours

All Broward County regional parks and nature centers, including water parks and campgrounds, and all neighborhood parks and natural areas will be open on Monday, September 3, Labor Day, with the exception of Deerfield Island Park. The administrative offices of the Parks and Recreation Division will be closed. The Markham Park Target Range will also be open on Labor Day, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We Sell a Night Hike by the Seashore…

Okay, so it doesn’t have the same ring as “She sells seashells by the seashore,” but you get the idea. Hollywood North Beach Park in Hollywood will host another Night Hike by the Seashore, for all ages, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 1. Participants will learn techniques for observing creatures of the night as they hike the beach and adjacent coastal areas. The fee is $5/person, and preregistration and prepayment through the Anne Kolb Nature Center are required.  For more information, call Anne Kolb at 954-357-5161. Hollywood North Beach is accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #4 and #12.

There’s also a night hike much farther inland and much later in the month, as in the Full Moon Hike at Long Key Natural Area & Nature Center, form 7 to 8 p.m. on Friday, September 28. A naturalist will lead hikers along the nature center’s trails under the light of the full moon as it rises. The fee is also $5/person. For more information, call Long Key at 954-357-8797.

Return of the Native

In subtropical South Florida just about anything you stick in the ground has a good chance of growing, which is why so many plants classified variously as non-native, invasive, or exotic can thrive. Such plants may have been introduced intentionally. Australian pines, for example, were originally planted throughout the region as shade trees and windbreaks; now they’re out of control in many areas. Likewise melaleucas, which were once recommended as ornamental landscape trees but are now considered a nuisance plant.

Other times unwitting home landscapers cultivate the wrong kinds of plants, thanks to misinformation from such seemingly reliable sources as books, friends, nurseries, and the Internet. A home landscape including, say, areca and Chinese fan palms, wandering Jew vines, lantana shrubs, flowering four o’clock and ground orchids, and such trees as schefflera, weeping fig, mimosa, and orchid trees might seem like a good plan, but all these plants wreak varying degrees of havoc on the native environment. Even such fruit trees as mango, guava, and sapodilla come with their own sets of problems. And forget about tossing out houseplants that have outgrown their containers – they can easily take root and spread until they run amok.

That, simply put, is the potential problem. Non-native, invasive, and exotic plants can go wild in our yards, parks, and natural areas and on our roadsides and canal banks. The vast majority pose so serious threat, but some grow out of control, competing with native vegetation and gradually displacing it, forever altering ecosystems that have developed over millions of years.

The most notorious invasive plants – the aforementioned Australian pines and melaleucas, along with Brazilian pepper – have long been targeted by intensive campaigns to curb their spread. But you can also do your part simply by paying closer attention to what you grow in your own yard. Don’t trust older editions of landscaping guides, which may contain outdated information, and don’t buy plants just because they’re pretty or your friends or neighbors recommend them. And by all means don’t put indiscriminate faith in the Internet, which is rife with misinformation.

The key is educating yourself on what you put into the ground and what you do with it once it’s planted, and for help with that you can turn to Broward County parks. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 1, Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach will hold its Go Native in Broward County Plant Sale, which emphasizes the right kinds of plants to grow in your home landscape. Then, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 8, Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek will have its Fall Into Foliage Native Plant Sale, a comparable event. Gardening information and other activities will be offered at both events.

For more information, call Fern Forest at 954-357-5198 or Secret Woods at 954-357-8884. The nature centers are accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #31 and #42 (Fern Forest) and #6 (Secret Woods).

Making a Difference

For more than a quarter of a century, the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup has cleared the trash from thousands of ocean and waterway sites, using volunteers from more than15 countries and locations. The cleanup, in fact, is the largest volunteer event of its kind in the world and regularly attracts nearly half a million participants.

In 26 years these volunteers have not only collected nearly 150 million pounds of trash from the shores of lakes, streams, rivers, and oceans, they have also catalogued it carefully to provide a clearer picture of the scope of the problem.

This year the event celebrates its 27th anniversary on Saturday, September 15. You can be a part of the landmark undertaking by participating in its local component, the Florida Coastal Cleanup, which takes place from 9 a.m. to noon at Hollywood North Beach Park in Hollywood. On-site registration is required.

Volunteers will almost certainly get wet and dirty and should dress accordingly. Participants should also bring gloves, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and drinking water. The event is for all ages, although children under age 17 must be accompanied by adults.

For more information, call the Anne Kolb Nature Center at 954-357-5161. Hollywood North Beach is accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #4 and #12.

Fun For the Little Ones

It’s no secret that Nature Tots has been teaching tykes to appreciate the great outdoors for years. The program was the brainchild of a park naturalist in 2003.

The one-hour programs, for ages 2 to 4 accompanied by an adult, focus on a different theme each month, with each site’s naturalist free to embellish on it according to his/her style. A typical program might start with stories, songs, or arts and crafts and end with a short nature walk.        

The dates for this month will be September 13 at Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek and September 27 at Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach.

Programs run from 10 to 11 a.m. The fee is $5 per child, and preregistration is required. Programs are on the second Thursday at Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek and the fourth Thursday at Secret Woods.

For more information on program or to preregister, call Fern Forest at 954-357-5198 or Secret Woods at 954-357-8884. Fern Forest is accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #31 and #42. Secret Woods is accessible via Route #6.

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 Friday, September 7. The meeting will take place at Everglades Holiday Park, 21940 Griffin Rd., Fort Lauderdale 33332, 954-357-8101. For more information, follow this link.

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
Chip LaMarca
Ilene Lieberman
Stacy Ritter
John E. Rodstrom Jr.
Barbara Sharief
Lois Wexler

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