Despite a change at the top, residents who partake in the City of Kissimmee Parks and Recreation Department offerings will only see changes for the better from a department that’s already been
Former Assistant Director Steve Lackey took over from prior director Elizabeth Harris earlier this year, and he was named the permanent director at the end of June.
“The transition has been really smooth, there wasn’t much of one actually, and we’ve had no drop in customer service, which is very important to me,” said Lackey, who came from his native Michigan in 2007 when he became department’s Assistant Director.
He’s already brought on a new assistant — Matt Libby comes to Kissimmee from South Florida as a YMCA executive director in Hollywood and Hallandale — and will be hiring a new director for the Events and Venue division.
“With new people come new ideas and to be a fresh perspective on our programming,” Lackey said. “Our focus will still be on the demand of an ever-changing community.”
The city’s Lancaster Ranch Park project, a planned passive recreation park off of John Young Parkway just south of downtown Kissimmee, will be an exciting one for the department to embark on in the coming months and years, Lackey said. This Parks and Public Lands project will use Florida Community Trust grants of about $3 million, and be built with plenty of green space while preserving a canopy of existing oak trees and feature a boat launch to Shingle Creek, which leads to Lake Toho. It will be part of the Kissimmee Bike Trail.
“COVID-19 got people active outdoors, so we want to contribute to their ability to do that,” Lackey said. “Now we’re back to hosting events, because after all this time, the public wants to be served.
The department has about 150 full-time and part-time employees serving, managing and caring for the city’s many quality recreation areas. Some of Kissimmee’s most well-known events are run by its Special Events and Venues division, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and festival, Chili Cook-Off, Kowtown Festival, Caribbean Fusion, Symphony in the Park, July 4th Celebration, Viva Osceola, and the Festival of Lights Parade. In a “normal” year — beg your pardon, COVID-19 — the city hosts as many as 250 events.
Lackey said to expect more offerings appealing to a younger generation looking for STEAM-based things like E-sports. And there will also be an emphasis on afternoon after-school programs for the school-aged sector, and daily senior programming at community centers lie Chambers Park and the Oak Street complex.
“You do what you think the community desires and what has worked,” Lackey said. “But the community has changed, so our programs and service will change with it.”
"smooth" - Google News
August 04, 2021 at 02:00PM
https://ift.tt/3luNZUJ
Lackey overseeing “smooth” Kissimmee Parks and Recreation transition - Osceola News-Gazette
"smooth" - Google News
https://ift.tt/30JhCVH
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Lackey overseeing “smooth” Kissimmee Parks and Recreation transition - Osceola News-Gazette"
Post a Comment