River Trails Park District notes

For information, call (847) 255-1200.

The River Trails Park District is located at the Marvin Weiss Community Center, 1500 E. Euclid Ave., Mount Prospect. Some programs are also held at 1313 Burning Bush Lane in Mount Prospect. Call (847) 255 1200 for more information. All registrations are taken at the Marvin Weiss Community Center. Register online at www.rtpd.org.

Picnic in the Park: The River Trails Park District will host an Old Fashion Picnic in the Park at 10 a.m. Labor Day, Monday.

Activities will consist of a pet parade at 10 a.m.; an obstacle course from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Tot Town from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; a petting zoo from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; the Annual "Trusty's Turtle Race;" face painting; and eating contests. The pool opens at noon, free. The Annual Coin Splash will be at 3 p.m.

For the turtle race, turtles are numbered and names are assigned to each turtle; numbers are posted at the pool. Rubber turtles are brought to the top of the pool slides and as the race starts, the turtles are dropped down the slides and head across the pool A finish line funnels the turtles to determine their finish.

Grand Prize is $300. Cost of sponsoring: one turtle is $5 or $25 for a family of six.

Forms are available at the Weiss Center. For details, call (847) 255-1200 or visit www.rtpd.org

Mount Prospect Family Bike Ride: The annual Mount Prospect Family Bike Ride will be at 9 a.m. Sept. 8 starting at Melas Park.

The bike ride will consist of two different paths, a mile and quarter for the youngsters and a 10 mile for young adults and adults. T-shirts and goodie bags will be given to the first 500 preregistered participants. To kick off the event there will be a village mascot race featuring McGruff, P.W. Paws, and the returning champ Trusty the Turtle. The Mount Prospect Family Bike Ride is brought to you by the Mount Prospect Special Events Commission, Mount Prospect Police Department, River Trails and Mt. Prospect Park Districts.

Registration forms can be picked up at River Trails and Mt. Prospect Park Districts. For more information, contact Teresa VanOpdort at (847) 463-3713

Great Escapes: Great Escapes Travel has teamed up with Prospect Heights and River Trails Park Districts to offer new destinations. Some are motorcoach tours, while others include air to and from Chicago O'Hare. Specific information regarding each tour is available on the individual flier placed at both park districts and in the park districts' program brochures. Or call Great Escapes Travel at the number shown below.

•Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and San Francisco: Sept. 16.

•Connecticut's Mystic Region: Sept. 29.

•Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta: Oct. 5.

•Affordable Ireland: Oct. 22.

•Affordable Greece: Nov. 3.

•Branson Ozark Mountain Christmas: Nov. 29.

•European Christmas Markets: Dec. 3.

For details, call Great Escapes Travel, (847) 577-9435 or e-mail escape2day@comcast.net.

Online registration: River Trails Park District now has online registration. ExpressReg, online registration, is open 24 hours and day, seven days a week. ExpressReg allows instant placement in open classes. Log on to www.rtpd.org

Fish Fry: Friday All You Can Eat Fish and Chips Basket is $7.75 at the 10th Hole Bar & Grill, 505 E. Camp McDonald Road, Prospect Heights. Includes batter-dipped cod, homemade chips and coleslaw.

For details, call (847) 483-5099.

Rental info: The Weiss Community Center and Burning Bush Community Center may be rented for meetings, luncheons, family parties and more.

Tables and chairs are available for use inside the building. Early reservations are encouraged. For more information, call (847) 255-1200.

General info: The River Trails Park District is located at the Marvin Weiss Community Center, 1500 E. Euclid Ave., Mount Prospect. Some programs are also at the facility at 1313 Burning Bush Lane, Mount Prospect. All registrations are taken at the Marvin Weiss Community Center. For more information, call (847) 255-1200.

Clayground Art Studio: The Clayground Art Studio, 550 Business Center Drive, Mount Prospect, is available for those interested in working with clay, painting or glazing. Walk-ins welcome. (847) 342-6653.