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Parks & Recreation Department

Parks & Recreation Department

Mike Kirby, Parks & Recreation Director
Our Mission is to provide the citizens of Sanford with an enhancement of the quality of life through the design, development
and the efficient operation of parks, recreation and city facilities, while preserving the historical integrity of our community.
We strive to offer a variety of quality, affordable leisure activities to meet the physical, mental, cultural and social needs of our
residents and visitors.
RECREATION DIVISION Maintenance (Casselberry), Bethune-Cookman College,
• Generated $15 million in Economic Impact through University of South Florida (Tampa), University of
Sanford programs, facility rentals and events. North Florida, and Edward Waters College (Jacksonville)
• Coordinated City sponsored special events to include providing young citizens hope, opportunity, and a positive
Easter, Memorial Day, Star Spangled Sanford, Halloween, environment.
Veterans Day, Christmas in the Square, and the area’s largest • Provided a 10 week basketball program to young men in
Christmas Parade. the community as a crime prevention outlet at the Westside
SOAP BOX DERBY Community Center “Open Gym” Program.
• Hosted 22 Soap Box Derby rallies bringing the total rallies • Westside Community Free Fitness Program has raised
held to 380 (leading the nation). awareness about health through adults and senior citizens in
• Held the 6th Annual Super Kids Race with our winner the community.
traveling to Akron Ohio for the National race. • Westside Senior Program arts and craft and sewing and
• 3 Local champions and 10 Rally champions from Sanford’s knitting group made and donated over 250 blankets, quilts,
Derby Park qualified to represent our city for the 2018 hats and lap rolls for Winnie/Arnold Palmer Children
Hospital in Orlando, local nursing homes, and community
World Championships, held in Akron, Ohio.
• Sanford Soap Box Derby hosted their 20th annual Toys for residents in 2018. Over 2,000 quilts, blankets, hats and lap
roll have been hand made in the past 8 years.
Tots Rally.
LARRY A. DALE AQUATIC CENTER SPECIAL EVENTS
• Staff conducted swim lessons at the Larry A. Dale Aquatic • Processed 161 special event applications through our Special
Events Division during Fiscal Year 2018.
Center for over 500 children ages 12 and under.
• The Aquatic Center also hosted 4 USA Sanctioned Swim • Hurricane Irma caused a number of events to be canceled
due to flooding and damaged caused to Ft. Mellon Park and
meets with over 1000 swimmers participating.
• Hosted the 2017 Seminole Athletic Conference Swimming Riverwalk areas.
and Diving Championships. CIVIC CENTER/SENIOR CENTER
• Hosted the 2017 FHSAA District Water Polo. • Civic Center/Senior Center shuffleboard courts were
• Hosted the first annual “Swim for St. Jude Children’s renovated and now hosts the Sanford Shuffle.
Hospital” Fundraiser. • Staff oversaw the conversion of tennis courts to create six
HISTORIC SANFORD MEMORIAL STADIUM Pickleball courts at Groveview Park.
• Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium hosted 324 games • Over 600 Seniors received AARP Tax help free of charge.
despite no fall season due to Hurricane Irma. PARKS & GROUNDS DIVISION
• Recovered from severe Hurricane Irma damage to have a • Adopt-A-Park program continues to grow.
successful spring and summer schedule. • Completed Centennial Park gazebo and rehabilitation of
• Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium hosted two Florida landscape.
Collegiate Summer League teams during the summer. • Installed a new Playground in George Starke Park.
• Proud to become the home field of the Crooms Baseball • Completed new bridge design and bidding process for Starke Park
rehabilitation.
team. • Replaced 30 benches on Riverwalk Phase I with the remainder in
WESTSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER the next Fiscal Year.
• Westside Community Center’s Mentoring program • Installed a new playground at Bay Avenue Park.
continues to expand and this year included college tours • Installed a 3 tiered colored light water feature in Lake Carola.
of Seminole State, FAMU, Rollins, Aviation Institute of • Responsible for landscape maintenance operations of 268.01
Acres.

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