|
Yuma Parks & Recreation Update,
April 7
Recreation Events
Bicycle Rodeo
The 17th annual Bike Rodeo is 9 a.m. to noon April 9 at the parking lot adjacent to Sears in the Southgate Mall. Sponsored by Yuma Safe Kids and Sunrise Optimist Club, this is an opportunity for boys and girls ages 3 to 13 to come out and try out their bike riding skills in a safe environment. Free bike inspection prior to event. Helmets must be worn by all participants. Tricycles are limited to 3 and 4 year old divisions. Registration begins there on site at 8 a.m.
Zumba + a pool = Aqua Zumba
Get your hearts pumping to the Hot Latin rhythms of Aqua Zumba. This is a great way for those 14 and up to get in shape while having fun at the pool. This program is led by two of Yuma's finest and funniest instructors, Misty Smith from KTTI and Cindy Fram. Join them for a Zumba party in the pool 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from April 4 through May 27. Drop-in fee is $40 for the course and payment is cash only, please.
Hershey Track Meet
You don't need to be a star athlete to participate in track and field; you just need to have fun at the 2011 Hershey Track & Field Meet, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 16 at Carver Park track. The Hershey Track and Field Meet features events such as the 50-meter dash and the 800-meter run, plus field events such as the softball throw and long jump. Winners at local meets advance to the district meets and district winners advance to state meets. Some may even have a chance to go to the North American final track meet held in Hershey, Pa. Boys and girls in grades 4-8 may participate. It's free to attend but you do need to register, call P&R for more info at 373-5243. (Age is as of December 31, 2010.)
Little Peoples Olympics
For those even younger, the annual Little People's Olympics is right around the corner, 9 a.m. Saturday April 30 at the Jennifer Wilson Memorial Track adjacent to Ronald Reagan Fundamental School. This is for ages 2-7 with a registration fee of $4 in advance (or $5 if you wait until the 8 a.m. on-site registration the day of the event). Boys and girls are eligible to participate. Events include various runs, standing long jump, softball or tennis ball throw. Children will participate in separate groups based on their age. Call 373-5243 or stop by the Parks & Rec office on the first floor of City Hall, One City Plaza, to take advantage of advance registration discount.
Two-man OTL tournament
The 2011 Arizona/Budweiser Two Man OTL Softball Tournament happens April 23 at Kennedy Athletic Complex, 23rd Street and Kennedy Lane. Fee: $40 per team (if registered by April 14) or $ 50 per Team (late registration). Format is round-robin play followed by championship tournament play. Each team will receive two T-shirts. Teams winning their round robin division will receive prizes. For more information please contact the City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department at 928-373-5243.
Spring/Summer online and registration for all under way
The Parks & Recreation Spring and Summer Activities Guide is available at any Parks & Rec facility and online at the City's web site, www.yumaaz.gov (look for the icon on the home page). Registration for spring and summer programs is available for all, and online registration is available for most programs as well.
Events At The Historic Yuma Theatre, Yuma Art Center and Yuma Civic Center/ Ray Kroc Complex
Taco Festival 2011 coming April 9
Whose taco cuisine will reign supreme? Find out and even help decide when the Taco Festival 2011 comes to Desert Sun Stadium 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 9. It's free to attend; if you'd like to eat, tickets will be sold that you can redeem for tacos or for special beverages for adults to wash them down. There will be activities for the kids: Entertainment, pi�atas, face painting, and more. A panel of judges will decide who is to be crowned Yuma's first Taco King! Vendor info is available now at 373-5040. And who knows, you might find a new taco recipe you like and want to call your own.
ARTbeat 4 coming April 16
The Yuma Art Center will host the award-winning ARTbeat, a fine art show and sale, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 16on Main Street in Yuma's historic North End. Free to attend and open to the public, ARTbeat 4 features an eclectic mixture of recognized and emerging local, regional, and international artists in a variety of artistic mediums and styles: sculpture, painting, jewelry, graphic design, glass, ceramics, photography, mixed media and more. This year the musical theme is cool Caribbean steel drum featuring "Caribbean Zone." The art show will takes place in front of the Yuma Art Center, 254 S. Main St.
Arizona Classical Ballet presents 'Some Enchanted Evening'
The evening of April 16, Arizona Classical Ballet presents "Some Enchanted Evening," a fundraiser featuring tenor vocalist Ruben Dominguez, Bill Butler Photography and Arizona Classical Ballet dancers. It's $20 per ticket. For more information, contact Terri Irizarry at 928-366-7913 or Erika Farrar-Romanyuk at 928-446-3648. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Big Events Happening In A Park
Arbor Day Celebration
In recognition of Arbor Day and in celebration of the City of Yuma's status as a Tree City USA, members of the public are invited to attend an Arbor Day tree planting at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 14, at Marcus Park, 5th Street and 5th Avenue. The City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department, along with the Yuma Community Tree Board, will plant 10 trees at the park, selected in part due to damage sustained there during an August 2010 monsoon storm. Local school students from the greater Yuma community will be planting the trees assisted by the Yuma parks crew.
Bark Park users - help us out!
A water line break at the Bark Park, 1705 E. Palo Verde St., has prompted the City to close the easternmost of the two gates on the north end of the park until repairs to broken sidewalk sections and backfilling of washed out areas can be completed.
Park users are reminded that vehicle parking at the Bark Park is ONLY allowed at the north end of the park, in the spaces provided or in the spaces just across Palo Verde Street on the south side of the retail store, who has agreed to allow visitors to park there. Access to the park from the west side off of Windy Lane is restricted to neighborhood users only (parking spaces are few along narrow Windy Lane, where driveways are packed close together).
Additionally, visitors are reminded that leashes are required on dogs outside of the Bark Park's fences - yes that means leashes (and people holding the other ends of the leashes) are required between the park borders and the pet owners' vehicles. Thanks for your cooperation!
Take Pride In Yuma
There were cases of graffiti abated the week of March 30 through April 5. This compares with 72 cases the previous week.
Graffiti cleanup and vandalism currently costs the Yuma taxpayers over $200,000 per year. Please help us reduce vandalism by reporting incidences of crime to 78-Crime (782-7463) and graffiti to the Graffiti Busters hot line, 329-2828. If you witness a crime in progress, call 911. | 
