Marble Falls Parks set for Spring Break fun

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Spring Break with Marble Falls Parks & Recreation is four days of fun from Monday through Thursday, March 14-17, for children from pre-kindergarten ages to teens.

Prizes are a big part of the annual event and they are handed out not just for games and contests, but just for being caught being good.

Every day folks can flex their social media muscles in the Parks & Recreation Photo Contest. Entries are eligible for a drawing for prizes that include tee shirts and snapback caps, Sony earbuds, an e-tablet and a Smart Watch.

“More than 800 students came during Spring Break last year,” said Leta Stevenson-Smith, the city's senior park commissioner. “Spring Break has been my baby for 15 years. Not every student gets to go skiing in New Mexico or head to the beach during Spring Break. They might spend the whole holiday watching TV at grandma's house.

“This event is my passion and folks know when they drop off their babies with me they are safe. We feed them and give them something fun to do and learn about and I reward them when I catch them being good,” she said.

“The businesses have been just wonderful to donate time and materials and food and prizes. We couldn't do without them and the city staff and all the volunteers that make it happen. The response of the city is overwhelming me again.”

Formerly a job coach in the Marble Falls and Burnet Consolidated Independent School Districts, Stevenson-Smith has worked also in day care and tries to create something for every age group to enjoy.

New in 2016 is the location of most of the events.

“Most things will take place at Westside Park (located on Second Street at Avenue Q) and, if it rains we will be in the new Westside Park Community Hall,” said Stevenson-Smith. “I am so proud of that park. I started working for that 15 years ago, too.”

The hall will be the site of Art in the Park, 10 a.m.-noon, Monday one of the park's main features, the disc golf course, is where a disc golf clinic will be held.

“We will give away discs to the first 30 kids,” she said. “If they don't want to play Frisbee golf, we will have open play time in the park and on the basketball court.

“They are setting up a volleyball net this year.”

On Tuesday, activities will begin at The Home Depot, 1307 Mormon Mill Road, for “You Can Do It, We Can Help,” a craft workshop.

Back at the community hall from 1-2:30 p.m., the Yet Praise Dance Company will conduct “Get Up & Move,” a dance workshop.

Meanwhile, at the Falls Creek Park, at the corner of Main and Yett Streets, Elevate Church will hold a Half-Pipes Skate Clinic at the city's skate park.

Both Wednesday events are at Westside Park— “Verus Strength & Fitness Obstacle Course,” 10-11:30 a.m. and “Co-ed 3-on-3 Basketball,” 12:30-3:30 p.m.

For a big finish Thursday, activities will begin at the Marble Falls Public Library, 101 Main Street. “Exotic Animals from Around the World” will be presented by Austin's Wild Things Zoofari.

The movie “Hotel Transylvania 2,” will be aired at Lakeside Pavilion, 307 Buena Vista Drive, from 12:30-2:30 p.m. and a Subway lunch will be provided.

It is back to Westside Park, 2:30-4 p.m. for “Ice Cream Social & Bounce House,” an event with a visit from H-E-Buddy and cupcakes from S000 Yummy Baker.

All the while, photos captured may be entered for that Parks & Recreation Photo Contest.

Photo contest entrants must follow the City of Marble Falls Instagram Page: MarbleFalls_TX, create a profile on the city website, www.MarbleFallsTX.gov, and must use the same email address linked to their own Instagram accounts to submit pictures for which they hold the copyright or place in the public domain.

For more information, visit the website or call 830-798-6250.