Winter Park City Talk

BOARD APPLICATIONS DEADLINE - APRIL 1

The City of Winter Park has 21 citizen boards that meet on a regular basis to help the City Commission make decisions about various aspects of our city. These boards provide an outlet that can channel passion into actual city policy, and service on a board is one of the best ways to sustain the things that are treasured and promote change in areas needed.

In May, the Mayor will nominate candidates to fill vacant board positions and the City Commission will vote on them. If you are interested in serving as a board member, please visit www.cityofwinterpark.org > under Government > Boards to review the types of boards the city offers and to submit your application. Applications to be considered for the 2010 board member vacancies must be submitted by Thursday, April 1.

56th ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT

The City of Winter Park will host its 56th annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 3, in beautiful Central Park and West Meadow located in downtown Winter Park. Children up to 10 years of age can begin lining up at 9:30 a.m. The hunt will begin promptly at 10 a.m. when the Easter Bunny gives the official starting signal. Children with special needs are also encouraged to join in the fun.

For more information regarding the City of Winter Park's 56th annual Easter Egg Hunt, please call 407-599-3203.

PLEASE PARDON OUR DIGGING, WE'RE ENHANCING OUR CITY'S TREASURE

In accordance with the Central Park Master Plan that was accepted by the City Commission in 2002, the city will begin Phase I of its renovations to Central Park from Morse Boulevard to New England Avenue beginning in early April 2010. Phase II, between Morse Boulevard and Garfield Avenue, will begin after the Olde Fashioned 4th of July Celebration, and will be completed well before the large string of events that occur in the fall.

Renovations will include replacing the current lighting with new decorative light posts, installing a new electrical system, replacing the irrigation with more water-efficient equipment, laying new sod, and adding new landscaping that will spruce up the natural beauty of the park. In addition, the size of the main sidewalk that runs parallel to the railroad tracks will be increased from a 5-foot-wide sidewalk to an 8-foot-wide sidewalk, and the sidewalks inside the park will also be increased by one foot making them six feet wide.

During large major events, many attendees of Central Park often find themselves trying to maneuver their baby strollers on the narrow sidewalks through the crowds, while others try to find the best route off the sidewalk to pass the bottleneck that can sometimes occur. After the city completes its renovation of Central Park, strollers with wheels and strollers on foot will have more room to roam.

Maintenance and upgrades are the best way to preserve the park's natural beauty and keep Central Park a viable destination for thousands to enjoy for years to come. For more information regarding the Central Park renovations, please call 407-599-3397.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CENSUS?

By now, many of you may have already received the Census 2010 form in the mail. It is so important to fill out the Census form as it affects the numbers of seats your state occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives. And people from many walks of life use census data to advocate for causes, rescue disaster victims, prevent diseases, research markets, locate pools of skilled workers, and more.

When you do the math, it's easy to see what an accurate count of residents can do for your community. Better infrastructure. More services. A brighter tomorrow for everyone. In fact, the information the census collects helps to determine how more than $400 billion dollars of federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and services like:

-Hospitals

-Job training centers

-Schools

-Senior centers

-Bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects

-Emergency services

If you have questions about the Census, the Census form or need assistance, here are three ways to find more information:

Web site: www.2010census.gov

Local Census Office: 407-473-6108

MOVING? WE CAN HELP.

If you are moving into or out of the city, you can easily turn on, turn off or transfer your city of Winter Park utility services like electricity and water with the click of a mouse. You can even get all the other home services you need connected in one place.

Simply log on to the homepage of the city's official Web site and click on the Moving? Button. This is where you can see all the essential home services available in your area. It's a valuable resource that can save you money and time.

THE GREEN BUTTON

Looking for ways to be "green?" Find them on the city's Web site by clicking the Green Button.

The City Commission, with the encouragement of its citizen-volunteer Environmental Review Board, passed a Resolution in 2008 to "Pursue Measures to Become a Florida Green Local Government," using criteria and standards developed by the Florida Green Building Coalition (www.floridagreenbuilding.org).

Visit the city's official Web site at www.cityofwinterpark.org, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.