19 minute read
Recreation & Tourism
Robert Sadler Clark
THE VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON’S Parks and
Recreation Department is nationally accredited and offers state-of-the-art leisure facilities, including impeccably maintained athletic fields that host various state and regional championship tournaments. Village Park is the main regional park and athletic facility within the Village, which encompasses more than 114 acres including a 125,000-square-foot gymnasium with three full-sized basketball courts and activity space.
The park also contains two lighted hockey rinks, 16 multipurpose athletic fields, six concession buildings, a skate park, two and a half miles of lighted recreational trails and three rental pavilions.
Adjacent to Village Park is Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, which was originated by Utilities Department staff. The Sanctuary consists of 1,500 feet of boardwalk and one mile of walking paths. It serves as an overflow system for the deep well and consequently serves as a natural replenishing source for the water table. The Sanctuary has attracted numerous varieties of birds and other wildlife.
Tiger Shark Cove Park contains a youth softball complex and a unique playground that was funded and constructed by residents of the community.
The Wellington Community Center boasts 20,000 square feet of space that can be rented and utilized for business meetings, weddings, parties and seminars. The community center also features an Aquatics Complex with water slides, spray ground and a 50-meter Olympic-sized pool. The Wellington Tennis Center features 21 self-irrigated Har-Tru courts and a pro shop and is staffed with a full-time tennis professional.
The Wellington Amphitheater is a 3,200-square-foot facility, which includes a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system for events such as concerts, plays and movie nights. Many of these typical events may be on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. Visit www.wellingtonfl.gov for the most updated schedule. Adjacent to the Amphitheater, Scott’s Place Barrier-Free Playground is designed to meet the needs of both able-bodied and disabled children.
The Village of Wellington Parks and Recreation Department offers a wide range of quality youth and adult athletic programs, art and cultural programs, and community events throughout the year that promote community pride and participation. The Safe Neighborhoods Office provides youth outreach programs, events and neighborhood meetings, and conducts family surveys to ensure our residents’ needs are being met and communicated.
The Village of Wellington Parks and Recreation Department is proud to be a part of a great home town, with great neighborhoods, great schools and great parks. Wellington Parks and Recreation is committed to providing the absolute best facilities and services to the community and is one of only 25 agencies in Florida and 192 in the country to be accredited through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA).
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission offers resources for those looking to enjoy athletic adventures throughout the county. The commission—a private, nonprofit organization committed to enhancing the quality of life through sports—maintains a calendar of sporting programs and hosts events, educational programs and clinics. For more information, visit www.palmbeachsports.com.
Robert Sadler Clark
RECREATION & TOURISM
FOR SPORTS INFORMATION:
VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON PARKS & RECREATION
11700 Pierson Road, Wellington 791-4005
PALM BEACH COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION
2195 Southern Blvd., Suite 550 West Palm Beach 233-3180 www.palmbeachsports.com
PALM BEACH COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT
2700 Sixth Ave. S., Lake Worth Beach 966-6600 | www.pbcgov.com/parks
GOLF
If you love the rolling greens and fresh air that the sport of golf offers, then Wellington and its surrounding area is the place for you to be, with a vast selection of pristine golf courses from which to choose.
PALM BEACH POLO GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB
(36 Holes/Private) 11199 Polo Club Road, Wellington 798-7110 | www.palmbeachpolo.com
THE WANDERERS CLUB AT WELLINGTON
(18 Holes/Private) 1900 Aero Club Drive, Wellington 795-3501 | www.wanderersclubwellington.com
WELLINGTON NATIONAL GOLF CLUB
(18 Holes/Private) 400 Binks Forest Drive, Wellington 333-5731 | www.wellingtonnationalgolfclub.com
WYCLIFFE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
(Two 18-hole courses/Private) 4650 Wycliffe Country Club Blvd., Wellington 964.9200 | www.wycliffecc.com
ATTRACTIONS IN WELLINGTON AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS
ADEQUAN GLOBAL DRESSAGE FESTIVAL
Located at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center 13500 South Shore Boulevard, Wellington 793-5867 | gdf.coth.com
The Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits. The AGDF hosts elite dressage and para-dressage competition at the international and national levels beginning in the month of December and continuing through April.
COX SCIENCE CENTER AND AQUARIUM
4801 Dreher Trail N., West Palm Beach 832-1988 | www.sfsciencecenter.org
The mission of the Cox Science Center & Aquarium is to “open every mind to science.” The Center features more than 100 hands-on educational exhibits, a 10,000-gallon fresh and saltwater aquarium, a digital planetarium, Pre-K focused “Discovery Center,” 18-hole conservation-themed Mini Golf Course and quarter mile long outdoor science trail. One of the newest additions include a $2.5 million permanent exhibit, “Journey Through the Human Brain” and features the most advanced neuroscience research and technology in the world. In the spring of 2020, the facility added the Cox Amphitheater to its backyard Science Trail, which features daily live science shows, trivia sessions, and concerts. Guests bring picnic blankets and socially distance themselves in the grass field while being educated and entertained. The Center is not only active in West Palm Beach, but also operates a Jupiter outpost, STEM Studio in Downtown Abacoa. STEM Studio is a collaborative space that offers after school programming, weekend workshops, camps and more.
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
13444 South Fields Road, Wellington 373-0073 | www.gcpolo.com
Since 2007, Grand Champions Polo Club has hosted polo matches in the heart of Wellington. Marc and Melissa Ganzi made the club one of the premier polo destinations for the winter, spring and fall seasons and recently expanded to include Santa Rita Polo Farm. The club boasts 11 fields, has tournaments ranging from 6 Goal to 26 Goal, and is home to The Polo School at Grand Champions.
INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB PALM BEACH
3667 120th Ave. S., Wellington 204-5687 | www.internationalpoloclub.com
The International Polo Club Palm Beach is the premier polo destination in the world, hosting the largest field of high-goal teams and the most prestigious polo tournaments in the United States. Polo enthusiasts descend upon Wellington each winter season to enjoy their love of the sport in the most prominent and well-equipped polo facility. The 2022 Palm Beach Polo Season premieres on Jan. 2, 2022 with the Iglehart Cup Final, and will conclude with the USPA U.S. Open Polo Championship® final on Sunday, April 24, 2022. Please visit internationalpoloclub.com for updates regarding spectators and COVID-related protocols.
Cox Science Center & Aquarium
ITHINK AMPHITHEATRE
601-7 Sansburys Way, West Palm Beach 795-8883 | www.westpalmbeachamphitheatre.com iTHINK Amphitheatre is a famous and popular music venue in West Palm Beach. It’s the place to be if you want to attend a music concert or other highclass performances. This open-air music venue can seat 19,000 people and is a modern amphitheater. Many of the world’s biggest names are set to hit the stage year after year.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE
(Fishing, Boating & Hiking)
At 730 square miles, Lake Okeechobee is the second-largest freshwater lake in the United States and only 30 minutes west of Wellington. The lake is home to more than 40 types of fish, numerous marinas, campgrounds, boat rental facilities and more in surrounding areas. Enjoy the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, which encompasses the lake’s 110-mile circumference.
OKEEHEELEE PARK
7715 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach Nature Center: 233-1400; Equestrian Center: 966-7090 Golf Course: 964-4653 www.okeeheeleepark.com
Lion Country Safari
Okeeheelee Park includes a 27-hole championship golf course, competitive water ski course, dog park, nature center, nature trails, ball fields, picnic pavilions, BMX track, mountain bike trail, bicycle/walking paths, 18-hole disc golf course, canoe and kayak access, fishing, bike and boat rentals, tennis courts and children’s play areas and includes over 8 miles of equine riding trails, an open riding area open from sunrise to sunset and a 111-acre world-class equestrian show center. For a ball field permit or picnic pavilion reservation, please call (561) 966-6611.
PEACEFUL WATERS SANCTUARY
11676 Pierson Road, Wellington 791-4005
Located inside of the Village Park Athletic Complex, Peaceful Waters Sanctuary is a 30-acre wetlands park with 1,500 feet of elevated nature boardwalks and one mile of walking trails. The park features an assortment of displays that represent the variety of animals and plant species native to South Florida and provides an excellent opportunity for bird-watching and nature photography. The Sanctuary is open to groups and closes daily at dusk.
WELLINGTON ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVE
3491 Flying Cow Ranch Road Wellington 791-4005
The Wellington Environmental Preserve at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Everglades Habitat (Section 24) is a 365-acre rainwater storage area with nature trails and learning centers. It also includes a 3.6-mile perimeter Equestrian Trail that is an extension of the approximately 65-mile Wellington bridle trail system. The Preserve was named
Enjoy a taste of Mexico anytime from Brunch to Dinner
Móle’s chefs cook burritos, flautas, chimichangas, enchiladas and other popular Tex-Mex dishes in the traditional fashion, in addition to authentic Mexican food. Our irresistible guacaMóle is made tableside, fresh to order! Móle’s full bar has up to 125 Tequilas available for premium Margaritas or simply relaxing and taking in those tequila tasting notes, terroirs, and flavors that are unique to the soil. We invite you to enjoy a meal in our beautiful dining room or al fresco at our bar or terrace. Start with a Margarita made with 100% Agave tequila, and fresh lime juice. If you feel adventurous try any of our house special drinks, El Diablo, El Vampiro or Besame Mucho… we leave the drinking order up to you. Come Dine with Us Móle Cantina Mexicana
2557 S. State Road 7, Ste. 150 | Wellington, FL 33414 | 561-355-5322 www.MoleCantinaMexicanaWellington.com
the 2010 “Project of the Year” by the Palm Beach County Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL AT THE PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTER
3400 Equestrian Club Drive, Wellington 793-5867 | www.equestriansport.com
The Winter Equestrian Festival runs from Jan. 5-April 3, 2022, and is the largest and longest-running event in horse sports. Typically, the Saturday Night Lights series features world-class equestrian show jumping, fine and casual dining and a variety of shopping options, as well as a live band and children’s fair. Daily horse competitions in 12 arenas, from pony classes to world-class Olympians, run Wednesday through Sunday beginning at 8 a.m. There is free general admission every day, with a parking fee on Saturday nights. VIP and box seating are available.
LIVE IN WELLINGTON
When the Mall at Wellington Green launched its Community Event programming, in 2016, its first dance class attracted four participants. Four years later, when the program went on pause due to the coronavirus, that same instructor was teaching some 75 dancers—a testament to the rising demand of this family-friendly initiative.
The Community programming was created to try and make the mall a neutral gathering spot for consumers, retailers or the community in general to try something new—like a new class, a new event, a new experience,” says Meghan Buser, Community Event consultant. “Retail centers have moved beyond only retail, and I’d like to see the mall be that gathering spot to rethink what retail centers are.”
The Community feel has rebounded strongly since pandemic’s wane, bringing everything from art classes, car shows and fitness events to “Music & Me” experiences for toddlers and mom. Many of these events take place in the 5,000-square-foot Studio inside the Mall at Wellington Green, though the initiative has had a presence in the mall’s common areas and at off-site venues as well.
For more information, including a schedule of Community Events, visit www.shopwellington green.com/events.
EQUESTRIAN COMMITTEE
Sportfot
EQUINE
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF the Wellington Chamber
Equestrian Committee is to promote, enhance and support the equestrian industry in Wellington. According to the Palm Beach County Business Development Board, the equestrian industry annually brings in more than $180 million to Palm Beach County.
Wellington has long been the flagship for the equestrian industry in Palm Beach County. With the founding of Palm Beach Polo in 1978, the equestrian impact on Wellington has created a unique character to life and business here. Wellington serves as an international competition destination for polo, hunters, show jumping and dressage.
The Winter Equestrian Festival offers the most significant prize money in the world’s largest and longest-running international hunter/jumper series. In addition, the Global Dressage Festival hosts a series of FEI competitions to its roster of events, offering unprecedented prize money and drawing top European riders to Wellington.
During the 2021 equestrian season, Olympians came to Wellington to compete and qualify for the postponed summer Olympic Games. It was a busy season boasting some of the top competitors from all over the world vying for spots on their country’s teams. In the spring, a U.S. dressage Olympic qualifier was held at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. At the Tokyo Olympic Games, Team USA brought home team silver in show jumping and dressage and team bronze in para-dressage during the Paralympics.
In July 2021, Denmark-based Global Equestrian Group, led by Andreas Helgstrand, acquired the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in what was described as an unprecedented partnership with the current ownership group to develop international equestrian sport.
Wellington’s International Polo Club Palm Beach is the premier polo destination in the world, hosting the largest field of high-goal teams and the most prestigious polo tournaments in the U.S. Polo enthusiasts descend upon Wellington each winter season to enjoy their love of the sport in the most prominent and wellequipped polo facility. The venue serves as the host of the U.S. Open Polo Championship.
During the fall, winter and spring seasons, Grand Champions Polo Club, the nation’s largest club with 13 well-manicured, world-class fields at GCPC and Santa Rita Polo Farm, hosts polo tournaments ranging from six to 26-goal, including the 26goal World Polo League in addition to special events. During the winter season, Grand Champions and Santa Rita will host 23 tournaments from January 15 to April 15.
The Grand Champions Fall Invitational League is geared toward improving players’ polo skills at every level. Roster lineups change from tournament to tournament featuring amateur and professional players. It’s also a great opportunity for players and sponsors to prepare for the winter season.
With a mission to provide individuals opportunities in polo at every economic and ability level, Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm’s expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, professionals and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its Polo On Demand program.
Fans can watch polo livestreamed by CHUKKER TV’s state-ofthe-art technology featuring live polo and instant replays. Whether in Wellington or somewhere else wishing you were here, you can watch live polo on the CHUKKER TV Network.
The Wellington Chamber and the Wellington Chamber Equestrian Committee continue to promote and protect the economic interests of the equestrian community in Wellington. We look forward to continued growth, and we will continue to enhance and support Wellington’s equestrian community and bring its economic impact to benefit the entire Wellington community.
JANE SPRINGER AND CARRIE WIRTH
Co-Chairwomen
Sportfot
Q&A WITH MICHAEL STONE
OF EQUESTRIAN SPORT PRODUCTIONS
Michael Stone
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST DURING THIS YEAR’S WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL?
Every year, the competition is at such a high level because so many of the world’s top horses and riders join us, so that is my favorite part. In 2021, we had quite a few athletes come to Wellington to compete in the Winter Equestrian Festival that had never done so, because our facility was ahead of the curve with COVID protocols, and I’ve heard from some of them that they enjoyed the show so much that they will be back again this winter. Last season, riders were preparing for the Tokyo Olympics, and now we will see pairs getting ready for the World Championships. For a chance to see the greats compete, we invite the public to join us for Saturday Night Lights when we host grand prix competition.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHT EVENTS THIS SEASON?
The 2022 WEF will feature four CSI5* weeks, which is the highest rating an international show jumping competition can receive. The $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI5* will serve as the grand finale during the final week of the horse show. The Nations Cup is always a very exciting event that pits teams representing countries against each other in March, and we are looking forward to that as well. A very important event for our Palm Beach County community, the 13th Annual Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments®, will return in February.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE ADEQUAN® GLOBAL DRESSAGE FESTIVAL?
Like the Winter Equestrian Festival, the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival is the longest-running and largest dressage competition in the world. More than 1,000 horses and riders compete at AGDF each year. In 2022, the season will include four CDI4* weeks, four World Cup Qualifier weeks, and one CDI5* week. Our feature events are the Friday Night Stars, of which we will have seven open for spectators. These generally feature the Freestyle class, where horse-andrider pairs complete a choreographed test set to music.
SusanJStickle.com
HOW CAN THE WELLINGTON BUSINESS COMMUNITY GET INVOLVED IN ALL THIS EQUESTRIAN ACTIVITY?
Equestrians add thousands of people to the population of Wellington each winter, offering opportunities for businesses to cater to a whole new set of customers. Restaurants and bars will certainly see more traffic, presenting a chance to earn repeat customers. Sunday evenings are a good time to offer special deals to local competitors, or you could even live-stream the WEF grand prix on Saturday night to your TVs. That is a big draw for equestrians, so a Saturday night special could be a good idea. Don’t forget, Mondays are the off days for participants, so that’s when they will spend most of their money with local businesses. Make sure you are open!
WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT WHO MAY NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT EQUESTRIAN SPORT?
They may be surprised at how many people will join the Wellington community during the winter! This is a big enterprise, so expect to see lots of people in breeches and boots in restaurants and stores. If they’ve never been to an event, we invite them to join us at one or all of our venues to see what the sports are like. At WEF, in particular, there are tons of family-friendly activities and entertainment in addition to the competition. We want the public to see what these sports are all about, so WEF and AGDF only require a parking fee, and IPC has low-price tickets.
HOW DOES THE EQUESTRIAN INDUSTRY IMPACT THE VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON AND PALM BEACH COUNTY?
Equestrian sports in Wellington contribute greatly to the village, especially in the winter, and the economic value is immense. The 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival contributed $286 million and 3,063 jobs to the Palm Beach economy. This resulted in labor earnings of $88.1 million. Once you add the numbers associated with the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival and the International Polo Club Palm Beach, the facts are even more impressive.
HOW DO WE FIND MORE INFORMATION?
To learn more about the events, hospitality, and more, please visit our websites, www.pbiec.com, www.globaldressage festival.com, and www.internationalpoloclub.com.
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
SET ON MORE THAN 100 ACRES between the
two properties of GCPC and Santa Rita Polo Farm, the club’s 11 fields host a wide range of tournaments up to 26-goal polo during the winter, spring and fall seasons. Offering polo opportunities as diverse as the international flags which line the roadside, GCPC has made it its lifelong mission to promote low, medium and high-goal polo, creating and developing new players at all levels of the sport.
WHERE CHAMPIONS ARE BRED
Grand Champions Polo Club, the nation’s largest polo club, serves as home base for pro teams such as Richard Mille, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and Casablanca. Everyone is welcome to watch all levels of polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the featured games of the winter, spring and fall tournament seasons and other special events.
TWENTY-SIX POWERS EVERYTHING. MORE SKILL. MORE SPEED. MORE EXCITEMENT.
26-goal polo. It means the best players in the world, in the history of the sport even, are on the field. And the most thrilling, intense level of polo can be reached. No one else in North America is pushing polo to this extreme. But then, no one else started a new league just so they could.
IT’S HERE. IT’S NOW. A WHOLE NEW BREED OF GAME.
THE POLO SCHOOL
The Polo School, a 501c3 organization and stand-alone USPA club, is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grassroots youth. Its mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo at every economic and ability level. Scholarships are available.
POLO ON DEMAND
With a mission to provide individuals opportunities in polo at every economic and ability level, Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm’s expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, professionals and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its Polo On Demand program.
