 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
First hunt for park, then hunt for eggs
By BILL COATS, Times Staff Writer
LUTZ -- If you want to find Easter eggs in Lutz this weekend, you'll need to find Lutz Nature Park first. "It's our only reason for doing it," said Auralee Buckingham, secretary-treasurer for the park's founding board. "We want people to come and see the park." Before Saturday morning, the group plans to hide Easter eggs in the new, but somewhat concealed, park. It's on the western edge of Hillsborough County's Oscar Cooler Youth Sports Complex on Lutz-Lake Fern Road. The eggs will be plastic, with candy inside. Afterward, children will be able to gather in one of the park's four pavilions to paint real eggs. There will be foot races and other games, plus a handful of bubble-blowing toys. "Last year," recalled Buckingham, "the wind was blowing, and I swear, there were a million bubbles floating across the pond." Buckingham, Oscar Cooler and a group of other Lutz recreation supporters began campaigning seven years ago to develop the nature park out of a swampy dumping ground next to Lutz's biggest complex of ballfields. Then and now, they have raised funds by engraving donors' names on the planks of the park's boardwalk. That costs $25 or $50, depending on the size of the plank. Except for a final stretch of boardwalk, the park is complete. But it's largely hidden. It can't be seen from any road. Even within the sports complex, the park is tucked behind a tennis court, a football field and a park employee's mobile home. "You've got to know it's there," Buckingham said. "Otherwise, you can't find it." The problem prompted the group to stage the first Easter egg hunt last year, and it drew throngs. This year, Buckingham has distributed fliers among elementary schools and preschools. She said people have begun to book the park for birthday parties and family reunions. "It isn't overwhelmed," she said. "But it's slowly becoming really used, which I'm happy to see." -- Bill Coats can be reached at (813) 269-5309 or coats@sptimes.com . If you go Lutz's annual Easter egg hunt begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Lutz Nature Park. It's free for children up to age 9. They will be able to paint eggs, play games, meet the Easter Bunny and use bubble-blowing toys. They should bring an egg basket. For information, call 949-7481.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times | ||||||||||||||||||||||
