City of Palm Bay to Host ‘Kids to Parks Day’ May 18, Features Nature Hike Through Turkey Creek Sanctuary
By Space Coast Daily // May 15, 2024
day of outdoor exploration at local, state, and national parks and public lands
BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The City of Palm Bay is set to host its 14th anniversary of Kids to Parks Day, an annual day of outdoor exploration at local, state, and national parks and public lands across the country.
Organized by the National Park Trust, the mission of Kids to Parks Day is to foster future outdoor enthusiasts and help develop the next generation of park stewards by engaging kids in memorable outdoor experiences.
Hosted on the third Saturday of each May, Kids to Parks Day encourages kids and families to get outside and create their own adventure at thousands of local park events and programs.
The Palm Bay Recreation Department has several activities scheduled for Kids to Park Day this year.
On Saturday morning, May 18, kids are invited to participate in a free nature hike through the Turkey Creek Sanctuary, 1518 Port Malabar Blvd NE. Parents may accompany young children. Participants should meet at the Sanctuary Nature Center no later than 9 a.m.
The tour will take place on the boardwalk and various trails located throughout the sanctuary and will be led by the park ranger.
The tour is approximately 1 to 1.5 miles long and will focus on common plants and animals found in the sanctuary. Space is limited, so interested kids may want to reserve their space by calling the Sanctuary at (321) 676-6690.
From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., kids and their parents are invited to come try out the wildly popular game of pickleball at the Ted Whitlock Community Center, 370 Championship Circle NW.
Courts will be set up for open play and there will be training equipment to practice your skills. Staff will be on hand to teach the rules and basic skills. For more information, call the Ted Whitlock Community Center at (321) 952-3231.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., kids 17 and under are invited to enjoy free open gym basketball at the Tony Rosa Community Center, 1502 Port Malabar Blvd NE. Children under age 9 must be directly supervised by an adult aged 18 or older.
Normal open gym fees apply to those over 18 who are participating in open gym. Proper gym shoes are required. For more information, call the Tony Rosa Community Center at (321) 952-3443.
Fred Poppe Regional Park, 1951 Malabar Rd NW, will host a free Bigfoot Hunt from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bigfoot and his friends have been spotted roaming around Fred Poppe Regional Park.
Find and take pictures of all of them, but be careful; things can get Squatchy. When you have completed the hunt, send the photos to bigfoot@palmbayflorida.org to be entered into a prize drawing.
At noon, the Palm Bay Aquatic Center will host a free Pool Bash with swimming, food trucks, games, and a dance party. The aquatic center has a capacity of 200 people. Patrons will be admitted on a first-come, first-serve basis as space allows. All ages are welcome. For more information, call the Aquatic Center at (321) 952-2833.
For more information on any of the Kids to Parks Day events, visit www.PBFL.org/kidstoparks or call Palm Bay Recreation at 321-953-8912. In the event of bad weather, call the Palm Bay Recreation Special Events Rain-Out Hotline at 321-726-5682.
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