AROUND TOWN Pl anta tio n S po rts & A ctivi tie s D ire ctor y | I ssu e 54 | Au gu st - O ct o b e r 2021
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s the Dog Days of Summer draw to a close we start making plans for our kids to return to school. New clothes, new school supplies, and new classes raise everyone’s excitement level just a little bit. And for those just starting school, what a fantastic opportunity to get them on the right track from the very beginning. While the Covid outbreak has given us much to think about, and some complex answers, here are a few safety tips we are sure of to help your children get the new school year started off right. If your child is walking to school, ensure they are comfortable with the route. Walk it with them before school starts or maybe for the first couple of days. Teach them to cross the streets only at guarded crosswalks and when possible travel with a friend or in a group. Teach the little ones about Stranger Danger. Don’t talk to or approach anyone they don’t know, even if they claim to be a friend, offer them something, or ask them for assistance. Immediately walk away and yell for help. As summer ends the days become shorter. Your children may find themselves walking home during dusk, when visibility is low. Ensure they are wearing something reflective so drivers can see them. If they are riding bicycles to and from school, make sure the bike is in good working order. Ensure your child wears a bicycle helmet, and secures the bike properly while in school. Any child riding their bike should know the rules of the road regarding bicycle operations. A headlight and reflectors on the bike are essential. Travels to and from school can be hectic, especially if you have
several kids to watch for. Unfortunately, amidst the chaos, sometimes little ones have been forgotten, ending in tragedy. Always check the car before you lock it to ensure you have everyone accounted for. Remember to “Look before you lock!” Children will still want to soak up the remainder of the summertime fun by playing outside after school. Ensure they are wearing something reflective and encourage them to avoid playing in the streets after sundown. The weather is still fairly warm in September so remember to keep them hydrated. Finally, the start of the new school year is special for us, in the Fire Department, as we introduce the students to our annual Fire Prevention Art & Literature contest. Every school aged child in K through 5 is encouraged to participate. Children are encouraged to submit their best artwork interpretation of the annual fire prevention theme in the form of a poster, essay, relief art, photography, video, or digital art. The winners receive trophies and some great prizes. Your child should check with their school’s art teacher for details and entry requirements. Let’s ensure our children have a great start to the school year and we give them every opportunity to succeed. Stay well, Don Todd, Fire Chief and your neighbors at the Plantation Fire Department
By Nick Sorta, Nick Sortal is a member of the Plantation City Council. Nick may be reached at NSortal@Plantation.org.
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ou likely have seen big dusty trucks working at Pine Island Park, just east of Pine Island Road. Work is continuing and the goal is to reopen the park in November, in time for the recreational soccer season. Parks and Recreation Director Phil Goodrich provided an update on the project at a summer Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting. The park is receiving a complete makeover, with new soccer fields, including one with artificial turf. That field can be used for festivals and concerts, with the city’s mobile stage available as an elevated spot for musicians or masters of ceremonies. A sidewalk will encompass the fields, providing a walking course for those looking for an open-air stroll or parents who want to exercise while their children are at the soccer fields. The project also will combine two parking lots into one, with entry now being from the side closer to the Westfield Broward Mall. Special emphasis has been placed on improving the field drainage, which has prompted all-too-often closures. Goodrich noted that the land originally was used as a drainage area for the mall, so making fields playable after a significant rainfall has always been problematic. By the way, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meetings, which are held quarterly, are open to the public, and are especially useful for getting a “big picture” look at our parks. (Those with complaints or issues are better off contacting parks staff in a timelier manner.)
Check the calendar at Plantation.org for meeting dates and times. ACCREDITATION FOR PARKS Our parks department has earned accreditation from the National Recreation and Park Association, a lofty recognition that is rare among municipalities. Only 183 municipal parks departments nationwide have such an accreditation. Of those, 24 are in Florida and only five are in Broward County. The formal announcement was made on Oct. 26, 2020. The National Recreation and Park Association created the “Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA).” CAPRA provides quality assurance and quality improvement of accredited park and recreation agencies throughout the United States by providing agencies with a management system of best practices. The agency says CAPRA is the only national accreditation of park and recreation agencies and is a valuable measure of an agency’s overall quality of operation, management and service to the community. “Achieving CAPRA accreditation is the best way to demonstrate that your agency and your staff provide your community with the highest level of service,” the FRPA web site reads. The process started about four years ago and a 182-page guidebook spells out the expectations. The department is asked to meet 154 standards, such as communicating with the public about recreation programs, a recycling program, ADA compliance and defined plans to replace equipment as it ages. Cities don’t have to be perfect, but they do have to be about 90 percent of the way there. Members of the accreditation committee visit the city’s parks before granting a successful application. Parks and Recreation Director Phil Goodrich says the process provided an opportunity to “fix some gaps and modify some minor things,” which help provide better services to the public.
