BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSION
NEWS RELEASE
Parks and Recreation Division ▪ 950 N.W. 38th St., Oakland Park, FL 33309
Phone: 954-357-8100 ▪ Fax: 954-561-5359 ▪ www.broward.org/parks
For Immediate Release
Date: November 6, 2009 Phone: 954-357-8115
From: Michael Mills E-mail: mmills@broward.org
All Aboard!
- Tradewinds & Atlantic Railroad announces new year-round schedule -
WHAT: Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek and the Tradewinds & Atlantic Railroad (TARR) are pleased to announce that Model Steam Train Rides will now be offered year round, the third weekend of each month. The next rides will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, November 21 and 22 and December 19 and 20.
TARR has been offering the rides on one-eighth-life-size choo-choos at the park for one weekend each month since 1990, although in previous years the schedule has not included the months of November and December. But as TARR president Kim Anderson notes, “Many of our regular riders wished we were open every month.”
The TARR club was formed in 1972 as the Southern Division of Florida Live Steamers, whose mission is to educate people about railroading and metalworking. This all-volunteer group began building a track on the north side of Tradewinds Park in 1987 and completed the nearly 6,000-foot track three years later, after many hours of backbreaking labor. “Now that we have completed a major upgrading of our track,” adds Anderson, “we can keep our ‘friends’ happy.”
The volunteers build the locomotives and train cars themselves in their home shops, with some of the larger locomotives taking several years to complete and weighing in at more than half a ton. The trains are highly detailed replicas of full-size trains, right down to the windshield wipers and the coal in the tender. Crew members are always available to answer questions and offer railroad safety tips.
WHERE: Tradewinds Park North
3600 W. Sample Rd., Coconut Creek
954-968-3880
WHEN: Third weekend of the month, year round, weather permitting
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
WHO: For all ages (pregnant women excluded for their own safety). Ages 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
HOW: $1/person per ride. The park’s regular weekend and holiday gate entrance fee of $1.50/person (children 5 and under free) will be in effect.
For further information, call the park at 954-968-3880 or TARR at 954-347-5608, or visit www.livesteamers.org. The park is accessible via Broward County Transit Route #34.
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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 ten (10) business days prior to the scheduled meeting or event to request an accommodation.
