Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

DECEMBER 2023

The Clay County Division of Parks and Recreation's mission is to provide residents and visitors with an enjoyable recreational experience. Our primary goal is to provide safe, easily accessible, and well-maintained facilities that meet the community’s needs.

We invite you to explore the many ways that Parks and Recreation are making our communities happier and healthier. Parks are a place where people come together, and communities grow stronger.

Florida’s parks encourage healthy, active lifestyles as well as social development. Sound bodies and sound minds require physical activity and the chance to experience personal growth. Parks provide this opportunity naturally.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Clay County Parks and Recreation would like to thank you all for a wonderful and safe year of growth, play, recreation, and leisure in our parks and on our waterways!    We hope you and your loved ones have a joyous holiday and Happy New Year, and we cannot wait to show you our plans, programs, and events for 2024!

Park Employee Spotlight

Help us shine the spotlight on... Elmer (JR), from the Fairgrounds Maintenance Team! JR has been an important member of our team for five years and we would like to thank him for his dedication and effort in making the Fairgrounds a great event facility for all to enjoy.       "JR works until the job is completed and then some. He always finds a way to make things happen and is always looking out for his coworkers and customers," said Fairgrounds Foreman Jacob Thornton.

COME VISIT CAMP CHOWENWAW!

The Chowenwaw Centuries Exhibit is now open!

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the grand opening of the Centuries Exhibit at Camp Chowenwaw! This is such an amazing addition to our wonderfully unique park - with so much history! Now, that that history is on display for everyone to enjoy.

We have new hours for the Chowenwaw Centuries Exhibit, Saturdays 10am-3pm.  Volunteers are needed to staff the museum.  Apply to volunteer for Clay County Parks and Recreation at https://volunteer.claycountygov.com/.

Our Pawpaw Nature Center is open everyday from 10am-3pm.

Birding Backpacks are now available!

Take your family out to enjoy nature with Birding Backpacks available for checkout at your local Clay County Public Library!

Clay County Parks and Recreation has provided each library with a backpack containing a mini-binocular, drawing materials, a magnifying glass, and information about plants, birds, and wildlife to use while exploring the parks.

Reserve one today at: https://insignia.claycountygov.com/Library/Home.

Don't miss our last nature walk of 2023!

Explore Camp Chowenwaw Parks' Hickory Trail on a guided hike from one of our naturalists on December 16^th at 9:30am.

We will meet at the picnic area to the left of Big Cabin. Bring bug spray, bottled water, and closed-toe shoes.

There will also be a hike on New Year’s Day at Ronnie Van Zant at 10am. We will be meeting at the parking area by the pond.  Registration is required.  Please check social media and look on Explore Clay for registration information.

New Park Improvements

The Parks and Recreation Department is proud to present a number of new playgrounds across the county, and more improvements are coming soon!  Follow us on social media and visit www.letsplayclay.com for the most up to date information!

Protect Your Plants from the Winter

The University of Florida IFAS Extension can help you protect your plants from the winter elements.

Move plants in containers into protected areas where heat can be supplied or trapped. If you have to leave containers outdoors, push them together and protect with mulch to reduce heat loss from the container walls. (Note: Leaves of large canopy plants may be damaged if crowded together for extended periods.) Heat radiates from soil surfaces during the night and is mainly lost to the atmosphere unless it is trapped. Reduce radiant heat loss and protect plant roots by placing mulch around the plants. For perennials, the root system is all that needs to be protected. Coverings protect more from frost than from extreme cold. Covers that extend to the ground and do not touch plant foliage can lessen cold injury trapping heat. However, be careful when putting using plastic as a cover because foliage that touches plastic coverings is often injured since the cover actually takes heat away from the plant. Examples of coverings include cloth sheets, quilts, plastic, or commercial frost cloths. Remove plastic covers during a sunny day or provide ventilation to keep the air under the cover from heating up too much. Putting a light bulb under a cover is a simple method of providing heat to ornamental plants in the landscape.