2011 golf fees for the City of Davenport's 3 municipal golf courses will see some reductions or will remain at 2010 levels. Fees for Duck Creek Golf Course will be slightly reduced while weekday rates will apply on weekends after 12 noon at all three golf courses. Fees for Nine-hole rounds will also be reduced across the board.

"We've reduced Nine-hole fees especially for this upcoming season to encourage evening and short term play at all courses," said Troy Evans, Senior Golf Manager with Davenport Parks and Recreation.

Other changes for this year include group discounts for 18-hole groups with over 48 players. Reservation fees will only be required for weekend tee times this year. Weekday reservations fees for leagues are being waived.

"The overall priority of the Golf Division this year will be to maintain the 2011 prices, while at the same time providing the best conditions and highest value to our customers and the community," Evans added.

The City of Davenport has 3 municipal golf courses. They include Duck Creek Golf and Emeis Golf courses, both of which are 18-holes. The third is Red Hawk Golf and Learning Center, a 9-hole course with a 3-hole learning short course, and lighted practice areas. For more information on these golf courses, visit the website at www.golfdavenport.com.

On Saturday, February 5th the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center will be hosting a winter fun day from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Come to the Wapsi River Center for a fun-filled day of winter activities.  This is an event the whole family can enjoy, so plan to come out and discover winter at its best.  A limited number of skis and snowshoes are available, so please call to reserve equipment; (563) 328-3286.  BYOM ~ Bring your own mug.

9:00 A.M. ~ Cross-country Ski Clinic ~ Come learn the basics of cross-country skiing and tour the Wapsi Center trails, if conditions allow. Participants will learn about proper skiing techniques, safety and equipment. Participants may bring their own equipment.

12:30 P.M. ~ Snowshoe Nature Hike ~ Join Michael Granger, Wapsi River Center Naturalist, on this excursion into the Wapsi River Center's woodlands. We will be traveling the way of the Native Americans and early pioneers, looking for signs of life in the still, winter woods.

2:00 P.M. ~ Winter Bird Feeding ~ Come learn how to identify winter birds; plus how to attract and feed our feathered friends. Fun for all ages!

3:00 P.M. ~ Wonderful Owls ~ Learn how to identify Iowa's owls and those that reside at the Wapsi River Center. Amazing nocturnal adaptations make these birds incredible hunters. Learn about these amazing raptors and then do some bald eagle viewing in the comfort of the Eagle View Eco Center.

4:30 P.M. ~ 4th Annual Chili Cook-off ~ The Friends of the Wapsi Center, Inc. will be hosting this annual competition. Please bring your best chili creation to share, and possibly win the coveted chili cup!!! Donations are accepted, and please bring your own table setting.

5:30 P.M. ~ Frostbite Star Party ~ Winter is a great time for astronomy. The sky is never clearer than on cold, winter nights. The winter constellations center around Orion, the Great Hunter. In the sword hanging from Orion's Belt, one can find the Orion Nebula, which is one of the most spectacular objects to be seen through a telescope. The St. Ambrose University's Menke Astronomical Observatory is the location; park in lot A.

7:00 P.M. ~ Folk Concert ~ Wapsi River Center ~ Relax and enjoy an evening of acoustical guitar and vocal offerings of the music of Paul Simon, Peter Meyer, John Denver, John Prine and several others as rendered by local talents. You may participate by using one of our simple percussion instruments, bringing your own, singing along, slapping your knee, tapping your foot or just being a quiet listener.

The world's largest synthetic ice rink opened in December in Rockford, Ill., as part of the first Harris Winter Wonderland.  Synthetic ice is widely used around the world, but no one has attempted a rink of this size outdoors until now.  What makes this venue unique is the 12,000-square-feet of synthetic ice, which includes an 800-foot skating trail around the park.  The surface is great for beginners and children, and it can be used whether it's 10 degrees or 90.

An empty, unused park was transformed to create the new Harris Winter Wonderland, complete with the ice skating surface, benches, evergreen trees, a fire pit, warming area and hundreds of twinkling lights.  The construction of the rink took only four days thanks to the hard work of volunteer union laborers.

Admission to skate is only $3 and skate rental is $2.

(December 20, 2010) - Despite the recent winter like weather, Vander Veer Lagoon is NOT safe for ice skating.  There was a very thin layer of ice on the surface of the lagoon before snows of the last couple of weeks started.  The snow has since been an insulator stopping additional ice from forming.  In order for there to be a safe and suitable surface of ice, we will need significantly cold temperatures over a long stretch of time.

If ice conditions become safe, Davenport Parks and Recreation will work the ice to make it suitable for skating.  Check the Parks and Recreation website at www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/parks for updates on the ice conditions at Vander Veer. In the meantime, indoor skating is available at the River's Edge, 700 W River Drive in downtown Davenport.