a more natural setting. If packing a picnic basket is too much trouble, treat yourself and the kids to a McDonald's to go meal and eat at the picnic tables. Calories from the meal can soon be burned off by taking the park's fitness trail which starts at the picnic area. For a quieter more natural setting, Fletcher Park on Tennessee Nursery Road, said to be one of Cleveland's best kept secrets, has a five mile walking trail perfect for a nature study as well as a place for a picnic and some good conversation with your children. For more

information on Cleveland city parks call 479-4129.

For some athletic fun, there's swimming pools,  baseball diamonds, basket ball and tennis courts - even a public bike track.  The public swimming pool at Tinsley Park will be open Monday through Saturday 10 am. to 6 pm and 1pm to 5 pm Sundays The fee is $3 for adults, $2 for children ages 3-11, toddlers 2 and under get in free.  Cleveland Community Center located at 1334,  South Church Street (behind Bishop's Bakery) also have an outdoor public swimming pool. The pool which goes from 3 ft. deep to 13 ft. has a diving board and lifeguards are on duty at all times. There is also a 2 ft. deep paddling pool for the toddlers.  Pool hours  will be from 11 am. to 5 pm Monday through Friday and Saturday 11-4:30 pm.  The fees to swim at the center are less expensive, just $1 for children and $1.50 for adults.

Cleveland Community Center is open from Monday to Saturday and offer numerous other activities for the children.  A summer T-Ball program for children aged 4-6 begins June 1st until school goes back.  The fee is $10 and includes a jersey, trophy and cook out party at the end of the seven games. "We are looking at a busy summer this year, going by the amount of children we had during the winter." said Renada Skelton, the center's assistant director. The facility includes a gymnasium also used for basketball, 2 game rooms, TV room, a brand new playground and picnic area. For more information on activities at Cleveland Community Center, call 559-3322.

The Bradley County Recreational Park on Urbane Road is the park to go for a game of  baseball or  tennis and also has it's own American Bicycle Association approved BMX track which is open during park hours for kids wanting to ride their bikes around the track. For the BMX race enthusiast, an ABA annual membership costs $50 plus $8 per week to race. For

more information call Bradley County Park and Recreations at 728-7035.

Cleveland Public Library will be having  their Summer Reading Log during the months of June and July. "The program is to encourage reading to be fun as every book read during

this time is logged," said Chris Gavin of the children's department. At the end of the program children will receive a certificate and goody bags at the finale picnic party. The library staff are also planning a program throughout June and July called "Just For Teens," where library hours will be extended on Saturday nights from 6 pm to 9 pm just for teenagers to meet and read. For more information on the library programs call 472-2163.

Also for teenagers, the Museum at Five Points in combination with Red Clay Park and Cleveland Community College have scheduled a "College for youth" program for June 11 to 15th. 

Art and craft summer programs will also be offered at the library, local churches and businesses, like the annual "Kids Quilt Camp"  held at Betty's Quilt shop in July.
If the kids have behaved themselves, why not treat them to a day trip. Take them to see and interact with some of the animals at the Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park, 1101 McCalle Ave, Chattanooga. The zoo is open seven days a week from  9 pm to 7 pm, admission is $4 adults $2 children aged 3-15, under 3 free.  For more information call (423) 697-1319. 
For a more educational trip,  why not visit the wildlife sanctuary at The Chattanooga Nature Center, 400 Garden Road,  at the base of Lookout Mountain. As well as daily visits, various summer camps are also available throughout the season. The Nature Center is open Monday through Saturday, admission $6 adult $3 children aged 4-11, and free to toddlers 3 and under. For more information call (423) 821-1160 or visit their website www.chattanature.org

If the kids are still behaving well and the parent has managed to get through a few weeks without pulling out their hair and yelling "I'll be glad when you kids go back to school," then a fun packed day at Lake Winnepesaukah is well deserved by all. Celebrating their 80th anniversary this year, Lake Winnie has announced they will have all kinds of surprises and treats all summer long.  Along with the fun thrill rides, there are family rides and kiddie rides and games of skill where prizes can be won. A new game for 2005 will be the  Rootin' Tootin' Shootin' Gallery where guests can test their sharp-shooting skills as they target comical characters and western scenes. The park also has a video arcade, miniature golf course and lots of free concerts playing throughout the summer. Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park is located in Rossville, Georgia (just 6 miles from Chattanooga).  Gate admission is $3. Tickets for  individual rides are 80 cents (rides range from 2 to 5 tickets each). A value strip of 14 tickets can be purchased for $10 or $19 for an unlimited ride pass. For more information call (706) 866-5681 or go to www.lakewinnie.com where you can preview the rides.

Have a great summer.
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