Watch out for the wonderfully creative bird houses on display in libraries and businesses around town during the month of March.  They will all be exhibited at the Grand Manse on April 1^st as part of the First Friday Artwalk before being moved to Pioneers Park Nature Center. 

One of the many artistic birdhouses for auction at Nature's Market

Choose your favorite bird house and make your bid at the live auction that will be held at 9:30 a.m. on April 16^th as part of the Center's Nature's Market. This celebration of spring also includes vendors of live plants, crafts and treats, a silent auction of nature experiences, and a performance by the PANgea Steel Drum Band at 11:30 a.m.  Children's crafts

Images of Nature, an exhibit of photographs taken at Pioneers Park Nature Center, was part of Lincoln Photofest, a city-wide celebration of photography.  They will be on display on the Prairie Building art wall through the end of March.

The spring school hike season begins March 17^th.  Nature Center staff will lead more than 5,000 children on hikes supporting science standards this spring.

The Irving Recreation Center "Aardbots" competed last month in the FIRST LEGO League Competition at the Nebraska Robotics Expo.  Nearly 800 youth from Nebraska and neighboring states participated in the event at the Strategic Air and Space Museum near Ashland, NE.  The after-school robotics program started at the rec. center in 2008 and continues to offer hands-on science, engineering, and technology learning in a fun recreational setting that supports positive youth development.  Way to go Aardbots!

Aardbots team members work to complete their robot

"F" Street Community Center held the annual Valentine's Day potluck on Thursday, February 10.  The King and Queen of the dinner were Susan Barrett and Jerry Jochum. 

Valentine's Day Dinner King & Queen

Special potlucks are held four times a year for the Senior Citizens that visit the center or are past participants of our programs.  We are always happy to have new faces!  To register for the St. Patrick's Day Potluck, call the center at 441-7951.  There is a $6 fee or you can bring a covered dish.

The Developmental Play Program is for 6 month to 5 year olds with special needs. Children and their families will discover a safe family friendly environment, structured activities, opportunities to interact with other parents, professional presentations, adaptive toys to accommodate children of all abilities, trained staff and volunteers, an opportunity for siblings to play together, and a special time to PLAY with your child!  This program began in October 2007 and we currently offer 5 nine-week sessions each year.

The next session begins April 19 and cost is $65 per session/family. Scholarships are available. For more information call 441-7901 or 441-8666, or e-mail agertr@lincoln.ne.gov.

The Special Olympics Young Athletes Program is an

innovative sports play program for children ages 2 to 7 with intellectual disabilities, their

Participants in the Special Olympics Youth Athletes Program

siblings & friends. It was

introduced at the Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai, China in 2007.  Forty-eight children have participated at Easterday Recreation Center since our first program in January 2009. Activities include foundational sports skills of walking and running, balance & jumping, catching, throwing, and kicking. This is also an excellent venue for cognitive, behavioral, & social development.  We offer 2 sessions each year.

April showers paired with the warmer weather are bound to bring about signs of Spring.  Visit some of the Parks and Recreation Department's most beloved locations to experience the spring bulb display.

Sunken Gardens, 27th & Capital Parkway - More than 10,000 daffodils and 6,000 tulips will begin to make an appearance  during the month of April.  This year's display includes a combination of tulips decked in white and deep, dark maroon highlighting the "Reveille" sculpture in the Healing Garden.  The Wheel Bed has been packed full of parrot tulips - the ultimate antidote to the winter blues. One is vibrant red, the other a pale yellow, shifting to cream, with broad red stripes.  

Hamann Rose Garden, 27th & C Streets - Pink daffodils abound the Wrought Iron Rose Fence of the formal garden.   More than 3,000 were planted with the renovation of the garden and create a warm welcome to the 27th street entrance.

Government Square Park, 10th & O Streets - What an urban oasis in the heart of downtown!  The seating area and fountain are encircled by a collection of white daffodils and Giant Purple Allium. 

Daffodils at Kontras Park

Kontras Park, South Cotner & Aldrich Road - Mixed in with the Four Season Terminals is a display of daffodils that features two varieties: an early blooming yellow and a mid-season white. 

Maple Lodge, 20th & Euclid Avenue - Blue squill have naturalized beneath the trees creating a meandering of blue throughout the park.