Ocala News
OCALA, Fla. (May 20, 2020) – The City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department will host summer camp June 8 through July 31. Summer camp programs will be offered at the following four facilities:
- Lillian F. Bryant Community Center, 2200 NW 17th Pl., 352-629-8389
- E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW Fourth St., 352-401-3920
- Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., 352-401-3900
- Fort King National Historic Landmark, 3925 E. Fort King St., 352-368-5533
Detailed information about each camp, including how to register and a full list of regulations, can be found at www.ocalafl.org/recpark. Fees and participants ages vary per camp program.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, additional regulations will be in effect for day camp operations this summer:
- Limitations of participants will be strictly enforced at each camp
- Guidelines for drop-off and pick-up protocols must be observed by all participants
- Parents/guardians will not be permitted to enter the buildings
- Temperature and health screenings at drop-off
- Staff will be assigned the same children/groups all week
- No mixing/mingling between groups
- Where practical, children will be seated 6 feet apart and groups will be limited to 10 or less
- All children and staff will be required to wear cloth face coverings
The City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department continues to roll out a phased approach to reopening parks for individual and non-organize
d sports use within the city limits. We are pleased to announce that we will be hosting our summer camps this year. Beginning May 18, the Skate Park will no longer require reservations. However, as with all of our parks, the six-feet physical distancing rule must always be maintained, and face coverings are recommended in accordance with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) directions.
We will be hosting four different summer camps this year from June 8 through July 31. Registration opens Tuesday, May 26. Click here to learn more about our camps.
Reservations are no longer required to use the skate park. Ten skaters will be allowed into the park at a time and it on a first come, first served basis.
we’ve got even more great #StayAndPlayOcala videos coming up! Don’t miss any by following us on Facebook! DYK? We are also on YouTube!
We are heading to Fort King National Historic Landmark to learn about Leave No Trace, learning how to make a bird feeder from a water bottle, watching the dinosaur exhibit at the Discovery Center be dismantled and more!
Pictured is Lane hunting Easter Eggs with his Mother, Father, Grandmother and Grandfather. It was a 30 minute hunt and was rewarding for all. This family had plans for a big family reunion Easter dinner and an Easter Egg hunt with lots of children. Along came Coronavirus killing people, making people sick. I have one thing to say. Let’s remember what Easter stands for and I say no more.
(OCALA, Fla.) April 22, 2020 – Ocala Fire Rescue paramedics will be staffing a temporary COVID-19 testing site at the Hampton Center, 1501 W Silver Springs Blvd. Testing will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., until further notice.Testing will be for symptomatic patients, by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please contact the Florida Department of Health in Marion County at 352-644-2590.
Cracker Days is put on by the Friends of Rainbow Springs the volunteer group for Rainbow Springs State Park. Once a year the event shows Life in Florida in the 1800s. They set up a settlement in the back of the park and shuttle people back and forth. It is a great experience for the whole family.
Let me tell you about my Habitat Ocala 2020 Strawberry Festival experience. First the support team was awesome. There were students from Marion County schools that helped with everything. There were two volunteers who saw my wife and I struggling with our pop up tent so they walk right over and pitched in. I was walking to registration a guy in a golf cart said get in. I must have looked really beat. I was!
The Vendor area was well mark and well thought out. I was pleased to see the preparation that went into this festival. My contact person was Joann Black. Thank you Joann and Habitat of Ocala for putting this on.
They were selling Strawberry short cake. I heard one lady that they served 4,000 short cakes. Actually I think they sold out of food between 3 and 4 pm. Truckloads of strawberry flats sold out.
Some 34,000 people attended. There was not a shortage of people. They would stroll by our booth, asking questions or say yes I read that paper. A couple asked my view of our up and coming race and of course I responded.
Many thanks to my wife Phyllis and Karen Nicely of “Writing Nicely” for helping me get through the day. Karen is a copy editor she will edit your book and give helpful hints if you want it. A very talented lady.
We know most of you are practicing social distancing by staying at home, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some FUN. Our Recreation & Parks staff is here to help! Throughout the week we’ll bring you a variety of live and pre-recorded videos of engaging activities, most of them you can do with us right from your own living room. Meet the critters and perform science experiments from the Discovery Center, get active with our quick fitness routines, explore the Fort King National Historic Landmark and learn about public art!
All you have to do is “LIKE” and “FOLLOW” us on Facebook at Ocala Recreation & Parks @OcalaRecPark
For more information, call our office at 352-368-5517
Post Date: 03/16/2020 5:20 PM
OCALA, Fla. (March 16, 2020) – The City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department has begun closures of community facilities in the interest of public health and safety caused by the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
As of today, Monday, March 16, the following recreation facilities will close until further notice.
- Eighth Avenue Activity Center, 830 NE Eighth Ave.
• Barbara Washington Adult Activity Center, 210 NW 12th Ave.
• Fort King National Historic Landmark Visitors Center, 3925 E Fort King St.
• Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave.
• Citizens’ Circle Splash Pad, SE Osceola Ave.
• Lillian Bryant Splash Pad, 2200 NW 17th Pl.
• Ocala Skate Park, 517 NE Ninth St.
The following closures will go into effect beginning Tuesday, March 17. Continue reading
Post Date: 03/16/2020 1:55 PM
OCALA, Fla. (March 16, 2020) – The City of Ocala recognizes the financial impact of COVID-19 on our customers and believes that no one should lose service during this critical time. We have temporarily suspended service disconnections for the next 30 days and will reevaluate the policy and timeframe as the situation develops. While billing for usage will continue during this time, we are committed to the reliability of essential services to all our residential and business customers.
Customers are encouraged to maintain their accounts. Customer service representatives will be available by phone at 352-629-2489, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions.
Payments can be made at self-service kiosks, Fidelity Express and MoneyGram locations. Additional payment options and online tools are available at www.ocalafl.org. Customers have the option to start and stop services, transfer residential services, request a payment extension, update contact information, view rate and fee information and sign up for auto-pay and electronic billing. Customers can make phone payments via the automated phone system at 844-286-1785.
For more information, please contact the City of Ocala Municipal Services at 352-629-2489 or email OEU@ocalafl.org.
