Park Spark

This episode features a conversation between Mike Jefferis, Community Enrichment Administrator with the City of St. Petersburg, FL and Eleanor Warmack, CEO of FRPA. The recent name change from St. Petersburg Leisure Services to the Community Enrichment Department has sparked some discussion around the state in reference to what departments are named and do their names encompass the true breadth of what they do in and for their community?

We connected with some of our 2022 FRPA Innovative Programming Award Winners to hear about their programs. Hear from Kim Lehto with St Petersburg Parks and Recreation, Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix with Love Serving Autism, Andi Mohl and Wendy Tatum with Palm Beach Gardens Recreation, and Mary Palacios with Broward County Parks and Recreation.

Our guests for this episode have a joy for working with the teen population and you can hear it in their voices. Join us as we talk through some successful teen programs and life lessons with Erin Paige from West Palm Beach, Luz Deroseney and ANthony Carter with Deerfield Beach, and Jamal Jefferson with Tampa. [some references are to events taken place previously]

Join Guest Host Kristy Carter, Assistant Program Supervisor with the City of Tallahassee - Senior Center and she talks with Mary Jo McKay, Nutrition and Wellness Manager with the Hillsborough County Aging Services Department and Sally Marvin with St Petersburg Parks and Recreation about the joy of working with seniors as they navigated COVID and beyond. 

Join guest host Becky Gunter with City of Seminole Recreation to talk about FRPA's Awards Program. She is joined by Ashley Edwards, Director for the Tallahassee Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department and Allison Hughes, Program Coordinator with Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation. They discuss the FRPA Awards Program and share some helpful hints for applying. FRPA's Annual Awards Program opens annually in March.

Hear from four current Municipal and County Administrators about their transition from directors of parks and recreation to city/county managers. Join T. Michael Stavres, Deputy City Manager of WInter Haven, Gina Peebles, Assistant County Manager and Chief of Staff with Alachua County, Tony Lopez, Chief Operating Officer with the Town of Miami Lakes, and Don Decker, City Manager with City of Weston as they discuss the ups, downs, and sideways of city and county management and how their park and recreation careers helped them prepare for their current career.

We got the chance to talk with each of the 2021-22 Board members either at Conference or shortly thereafter. This episode will give you an inside glimpse into their thoughts on service to their professional association, what the future looks like for park and recreation professionals, and some personal stories to get to know them better. 

Lynn Clarke with City of Naples Community Services and Dawn Lewellyn with the Bay Pines VA Healthcare chat about the importance of inclusion in recreation programming, the advantages of having a CTRS on staff, and some personal stories of making a difference in the lives of their citizens. 

On this episode we talk with Pattie Roberts from Port St Lucie, Florida about some unique and important programs that focus on mental health. Pattie shares how her department started these programs and a little about why they are so personal to her. 

Becky Gunter and Alex Koagel, both with Seminole Recreation, sit down to talk about esports and how they have incorporated this inclusive and fun programming into their recreational offerings.