![\"\"](\"http:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/SYAL.jpg\" "\\"SYAL\\"")
\u2022\u00a0Lee County Parks & Recreation:<\/strong>\u00a0Veterans Park Recreation Center hosts Youth Basketball League<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0What\u2019s happening:<\/strong>\u00a0Registration is open and the deadline is fast approaching for the 2014 Spring Basketball League at Veterans Park Recreation Center. The league is open for children ages 8 \u2013 15 and will run for ten weeks. Ages, skill level and number of players will determine how many teams there will be and what level they will play. Player skill evaluations are run for the purpose of distributing talent as evenly as possible throughout the league.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Where:<\/strong>\u00a0Veterans Park Recreation Center, 55 Homestead Road S., Lehigh Acres<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0When:<\/strong>\u00a0Registration deadline is Sunday. Practice starts Tuesday, Feb. 18, and games are played Wednesday evenings beginning March 5 – May 7.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Cost:<\/strong>\u00a0$35 per player-includes game shirt. Only checks accepted-payable to SYAL. Players registering must have a Lee County Parks & Recreation facility membership for a one time additional fee of $10.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0What to expect:<\/strong>\u00a0Sheriff\u2019s Youth Activities League, SYAL, sponsors the basketball tournament once a year at Veterans Park. The basketball tournament is run by the Lee County Parks & Recreation staff and volunteers from the Lee County Sheriff\u2019s Office. Lee County Sheriff\u2019s Office Deputies assist with coaching and mentoring the athletes that participate in this event. The support from volunteers is paramount. If you are interested in coaching or mentoring kids, please contact Nancy Zukaitis at\u00a0Zukaitnl@leegov.com<\/a>\u00a0or 369-1521. SYAL programs and activities are making a huge impact in the lives of the youth in Lee County.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0History:<\/strong>\u00a0The Veterans Park Recreation Center was the first of its kind to open in Lee County for Parks & Recreation. It opened in December of 2004. Lee County Parks & Recreation joined together with Lee County School Board to build a Kindergarten-8th grade school with the recreation facility on the property.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0About us:<\/strong>\u00a0Lee County Parks & Recreation has 228 positions, a $27 million budget and more than 31,500 acres of parks, preserves, facilities and other sites. The department oversees three recreation centers, 11 community centers, community parks, Conservation 20\/20 lands, greenways, the Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail, four year-round pools, seven boat ramps, sports complexes including the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins spring training facilities, dog-friendly facilities and pristine Gulf-of-Mexico beach parks.<\/p>\n