Time to get out and enjoy the sunshine

Spring, which seems to have been teasing us since last December, has finally arrived. The sun is shining, grass is growing, trees are budding and our gardens’ first blooms are bursting forth. The season of rebirth and renewal is the perfect time to rejuvenate mind and body by embracing the beauty and vitality of our communities.

There’s plenty going on in our own backyards to see and do. Many of us have already played that inaugural game of softball, gotten reacquainted with the grill that’s been undercover all winter, taken the dog out for a long walk or ridden our bikes.

On the subject of our four-legged friends, the South Shore will soon welcome a new dog park — in Valley Stream. It’s on South Central Avenue, adjacent to Village Hall, and local dog owners are eagerly awaiting its opening Dog Day at the Green May 5. East Rockaway’s Bay Park, meanwhile, offers a fenced-in dog run.

Our local parks are one of the outstanding features of southern Nassau County. The 96-acre Bay Park, bordering Hewlett Bay and the East Rockaway Channel, features pristine views from its nine-hole golf course, putting green and clubhouse. It also has athletic fields for baseball, softball, soccer, football and cricket, and a fishing dock that’s open year-round. There are a variety of trails for biking and jogging, a playground and an outdoor roller rink.

In Hewlett, Grant Park’s 35 acres are full of recreational diversions, starting with its popular outdoor skating/roller rink. There are courts and fields for horseshoes, shuffleboard, basketball, tennis, soccer and softball, and three separate play areas, divided by age group, are great for families, with picnic areas and barbecue grills nearby. The nearby lake provides not only scenic views but bass and other freshwater fish for anglers.

North Woodmere Park is surrounded by water and offers a range of seasonal and year-round activities spread over 150 acres, including basketball, handball, tennis, softball, baseball, a playground, game tables and outdoor pools. Many people come to North Woodmere for the crabbing and saltwater fishing in Middle Bay, and golfers hone their skills on the nine-hole, par-31 course.