April 20th, 2015 - South Bend Parks & Recreation

Office: 574.299.4765 web site: http://sbpark.org/
What’s Up In South Bend Parks
A Summary of Activities of the South Bend Parks & Recreation Department
Earth Day/Arbor Day 2015
It’s time to break out of those winter blues and celebrate Arbor Day 2015 with us at Howard Park on
April 25th. This year marks our 17th year as a Tree City, and our 27th Earth Day celebration.
Here is a list of the free and fun activities we will be doing:
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Free trees, seeds, and plant exchange
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Kid's ecology activities
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Tree City South Bend planting
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Exhibits
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Visit "Mother Earth" character
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Nature face painting
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Pine cone bird feeders
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Catnip toys
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Gardening
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Live music
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Rock climbing wall
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Bounce obstacle course
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Build wooden Blue Bird nest
Party for the Planet
Saturday, April 25, 10:00am to 4:00pm
Celebrate Earth Day at Potawatomi Zoo as we Party for the Planet! This year we're bringing Earth Day
into our own backyards as we reconnect with nature. Event stations will be set up around the Zoo for
you to explore so you can discover the biodiversity found in your backyard and more! Because every
penny counts, we will be collecting donations for Amphibian Ark which works to save frogs and their
amphibious cousins. Along with the opportunity to "Give Change to Make a Change", you can also
learn how to help the amphibians found in your backyard. We have a lot of WILD fun planned, so come
and join the Party for the Planet!
Rum Village Spring Programs
The Rum Village Nature Center offers a series of programs to help beat cabin fever. The programs are
Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Admission is FREE!
Current schedule:
April 19th: Spring Wake-Up Call – Hike, The bad news: It was another long, cold winter. The good
news: Spring is here! Grab the kids and head to the nature center, the starting point of our hike in the
Rum Village woods.
April 2th: Wonderful Wildflowers Part 1 – Hike, Rum Village is fortunate to have a diverse and
very healthy variety of woodland wildflowers. Join us for a hike to see these amazing flowers
before they are gone.
For more info, call the Nature Center at 574.235.9455
Jr. Baseball
Online registration: going on now through June 19; click here to register.
T-Ball for 3-4 year olds; Coach Pitch/Tee for 5-6 year olds Fee: $55 per child
This program provides an opportunity for parents, children and staff to interact and learn the basic
skills of the game in a fun, non-competitive atmosphere. We offer morning games at Boehm Park and
evenings at Belleville. Games last for 45 minutes or 3 innings, whichever comes 1st, and are played at
different times according to your schedule on Tuesday's and Thursday's Beginning June 23rd and
ending on July 30th.
Summer Soccer
Online registration: going on now through June 19; click here to register.
Fee: $55 per child
Age 3-4, age 5-6
This six week program provides an opportunity for parents, children and staff to interact and learn the
basic skills of the game in a fun, non-competitive atmosphere. Games last for 45 minutes and are
played at different times according to your schedule. Parents are encouraged to be involved on the
field, help teach the basics and enjoy the program with their child. Junior soccer consists of two
different levels and play based on age.
Gone Fishing: Free Fishing Day
Join us for what has become one of the c-o-o-l-e-s-t events of the spring; Gone Fishing Free Fishing Day
on Saturday, May 9, at Pinhook Park. The program is open to boys & girls age 7-17. Representatives
from the Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources, the Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife and South Bend
Parks & Rec will teach kids about casting, cleaning and identification safety & conservation.
Registration begins April 6, but make sure you don’t wait too long; there are only 100 spots available.
This is an all day event which begins at 9:00am and no equipment is necessary. You can register online,
or at the O’Brien Recreation Center. For more information click here or call Amanda at 574.235.5977.
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Four Winds Field, Downtown South Bend
Join us for the biggest party of the summer. For 2015 we have dual headliners:
Joe Nichols and Easton Corbin!
Tickets are on sale NOW!!!!
Trick Pony will be releasing new music soon, and we have the contagious energy of opening act Natalie
Stovall & the Drive. Tickets are $25 for the early birds through April 26, then prices are $35 April 27
through show day. An added bonus: when you purchase a ticket to the festival, you will also receive a
ticket to see the South Bend Cubs at Four Winds Field in 2015! Tickets can be purchased at the Four
Winds Field box office, O’Brien Recreation Center, or on TicketWeb. We’ll see you there!
Check out the promo video: click here
Nature Detectives Day Camp
The Nature Detectives Day Camp gives students ages 6-12 a chance to explore the natural world at a
beautiful local park. Over three miles of hiking trails, an interactive nature center with a wildlife
window, and a staff of experienced naturalists make this camp a great choice for a summer adventure.
The Nature Detective camps run from 9 am to 12 pm for campers 6 to 12 years old. Drinks and snack
will be provided. Online registration will be available here beginning February 1st.
Kids’ World Day Camp: Win a FREE Week of Camp!
How do I win a free week of camp you ask? Ahhh, well you must check out the Kids’ World web page ,
or South Bend Parks & Recreation FaceBook page for all the details. This camp is for ages 5-12 years
old, 5 year olds must have completed kindergarten. Registration began Monday, February 23rd online
and walk-in during front office business hours of 8am-4pm, Monday – Friday. Check us out!
Parks Build Community: Nominate Your Favorite Community Park
Parks serve millions of people as the places any one can go to be active, live healthier, connect with
nature and gather together to make memories. Parks Build Community is an initiative to help revitalize
parks across the country and give back to the places in our local communities that shape our lives.
During Earth Month this April, the National Recreation and Park Association is collaborating with
Disney, ESPN and ABC to help out parks in YOUR community!
Tell us which parks should get a $20,000 grant! All it takes to vote is a click.
Here's how you can get involved:
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Click "Let's Get Started"
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Register so that we can keep track of your votes
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Nominate your favorite community park
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Come back and vote daily for park projects across the country
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Tell your friends to vote too!
Let’s Get Started
SB150 Birthday Celebration Weekend: May 22-24
South Bend’s sesquicentennial will be celebrated for the entire year of 2015,
but the highlight of SB150 will take place during the Birthday Weekend, May
22-24. May 22 is the 150th anniversary of South Bend’s incorporation, and is
Memorial Day Weekend.
Mark your calendar now, because it's a weekend not to miss.
Highlights:
Main Stage - A giant main stage trucked in and set up in the Century Center
parking lot for outdoor concerts featuring local, regional, and national acts.
Tickets may be purchased at the Morris Performing Arts Center box office, or by calling 574-235-9190
or 800-537-6415.
SB150 Green - The Jefferson Street Bridge completely covered in sod to become a giant picnic area, to
serve as a gathering place for eating, relaxing, and socializing.
Taste of South Bend – Jefferson Boulevard to showcase the best of South Bend’s cuisine with nearly 50
food vendors.
Tech Hub – This area to showcase the technological innovations taking place in South Bend, which is
quickly becoming known for its tech achievements.
Kid’s Activity Zone - Howard Park will be transformed into a wonderland of activities for children of all
ages, with bouncy houses, a petting zoo, face painting, and outdoor movies.
Adventure Park – An active and adventurous lifestyle will be the focus of this area, which will feature a
zip line across the river, a ropes course, kayaking, canoeing, bicycling, yoga, and zumba.
Fireworks – An impressive display will light up the sky over the St. Joseph River to end each night.
Gus Macker Basketball Tournament – This beloved 3-on-3 basketball tournament of South Bend’s
yesteryear will make its long-awaited return.
Artisan Alley - The area along the riverwalk will be home to an interactive art show where all forms of
art will be both displayed and created. Large-scale public art pieces will be made during the weekend
to serve as a lasting reminder of the celebration.
Island Wine & Brew Mixer – The Century Center Island will be the spot to relax and sample regional
wines, brews, and spirits, while listening to live music and taking in views of the festival. A jazz brunch
is also being planned.
Memory Lane - An outdoor exhibition offering a visual tour through 150 years of South Bend’s history
featuring photographs, publications, important news moments, and memorabilia. The Studebaker
Drivers’ Club will also be in attendance, showcasing classic Studebaker cars.