Recreation News in Brief

The world’s oldest and largest albino alligator on record is on exhibit through Sept. 30 at Wonders of Wildlife National Fish & Wildife Museum & Zooquarium, 500 W. Sunshine. According to a WOW news release, the 14-year-old alligator is 10 1/2 feet long and is visiting from Alligator Adventure in North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

An old Cajun legend states that “if someone finds an albino alligator and looks into its pink eyes, surely good luck and prosperity will follow.” One reason for such legend is the rarity of albino alligators. Because their skin makes them very visible to predators when they are young, and their skin cannot take ultraviolet rays well, albino alligators have never been seen in the wild. The lack of skin and eye color in albino alligators is a genetic disorder.

WOW opens at 9 a.m. seven days a week, and ticket sales end at 6 p.m. Regular admission is $9.95 for adults and $5.95 for children ages 4 to 11. Family passes are $29.95. Metro admission for residents of Greene, Christian, Polk, Dallas, Webster, Stone, Taney, Lawrence and Dade counties is $8.95 for adults, $5.25 for children and $24.95 for a family pass.

Pool passes available

Season passes for Springfield-Greene County Park Board outdoor swimming pools are on sale at Chesterfield Family Center, open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Passes for youth 3–17 and seniors age 65 and older are $60. Adult passes, for individuals 18 and older, are $75. Family passes, which may include up to four people with no more than two over the age of 18, are $180, and additional family members may purchase passes for $25 each.

Farmer’s markets open

Warmer weather means that farmer’s markets are now open for business. Springfield’s Commercial Street Market is open 8:30 a.m. to about 3 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday through October at 309 E. Commercial St.

The Greater Springfield Farmers’ Market is open 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through Oct. 30 on the Battlefield Mall parking lot at the intersection of Sunset Street and Glenstone Avenue.

“One advantage to a farmer’s market is that vegetables, fruits and other items at the markets are fresher because they were grown locally instead of picked early and shipped,” said Gaylord Moore, horticulture specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, in a news release.

Another benefit is that the money spent at local farmer’s markets supports the local economy by giving farmers a greater share of the retail food dollar.

Park board offers tickets

The Springfield-Greene County Park Board and its facilities are participating in a discount theme park ticket consignment program through the Missouri Park and Recreation Association. Tickets with reduced prices are available for Silver Dollar City, Celebration City, White Water, Worlds of Fun, Oceans of Fun and Six Flags St. Louis.

Discounts of 5 percent to 40 percent off normal gate admission are available, but discounts vary by theme park, according to a park board news release. For Branson attractions, discounts are available on both daily admission tickets and season passes.

Tickets are available at the park board’s main office, 1923 N. Weller Ave.; Jordan Valley Ice Park, 635 E. Trafficway; Chesterfield Family Center, 2511 W. Republic Road; Doling Family Center, 301 E. Talmage St. and Jenny Lincoln Center, 300 E. Harrison St.

Lasers name 2005 roster

Springfield Lasers World Team Tennis has named its 2005 roster, according to a news release from the Springfield-Greene County Park Board. Women players are Lindsay Davenport, who is ranked No. 1 in the world in singles; Tamarine Tanasugarn, ranked No. 68 in the world in singles and in the top 12 in doubles; and Kaysie Smashey, ranked in the top 80 in the world in doubles.

Men on the roster are Rick Leach, who held the No. 1 singles ranking for more than a decade and is now ranked in the top 25 in men’s doubles, and Rik DeVoest, currently ranked in No. 125 in the world in men’s singles and among the top 60 in doubles.

The Springfield Lasers’ 2005 schedule is to be announced this month. The season runs July 4–24.