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Recreation superintendent outlines leagues, senior programs and free VITA tax service
Summary
Recreation Superintendent Brandon Pendergrass told the Sports and Recreation Committee the village runs youth and adult leagues, senior congregate meals and a free VITA tax service that served households with incomes under $70,000 — last year the VITA effort returned roughly $400,000 in tax refunds to residents.
Brandon Pendergrass, recreation superintendent for the Village of Royal Palm Beach, briefed the Sports and Recreation Committee on current programming and upcoming community events on Feb. 3.
Pendergrass said the village is operating a co‑ed youth basketball league for kindergarten through eighth grade with more than 200 participants and several adult leagues. “We’re upwards of over 200 participants,” Pendergrass said, describing lane sizes of four to six teams per division.
He outlined seasonal youth and adult offerings, including youth volleyball (ages 10–14), youth dance (ages 2–12), tennis lessons at Camellia Park, karate at the recreation center, golf lessons at Commons Park and open indoor pickleball (four indoor courts added at the rec center). Pendergrass said senior programming includes a congregate meal program provided by the county with roughly 80 seniors attending daily and about 150–200 registered for senior services.
Pendergrass described a Young at Heart Club for ages 50 and over with about 275 participants and monthly luncheons; he said the club’s next Valentine’s Day luncheon was fully registered at 150 participants. A committee member noted there remains a waiting list of roughly 10 people for the Young at Heart program.
On community events, Pendergrass listed concerts in the park (first and third Friday), a three‑day Western‑themed “West Fest” on Feb. 28–March 2, a daddy‑daughter dance in March and a weekly Green Market in front of Village Hall. He said cultural center events — including a recent Martin Luther King Day program — drew roughly 250 people.
Pendergrass also reported the recreation center is hosting a free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) service for households with income under $70,000; the program runs Mondays and Wednesdays 4–8 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m.–1 p.m. He said last year the VITA service returned about $400,000 in refunds through the program.
Committee members asked about equipment and space at the rec center ahead of the planned expansion. Pendergrass said the renovation plan includes upgraded and expanded fitness space and staff will consider adding select equipment (for example, a rowing machine) before construction if space and budget allow. Pendergrass said the larger, renovated fitness space will be more than double the current area and will have exterior windows.
Pendergrass closed by asking residents to register early for seasonal programs that fill quickly; the committee’s next recreation presentation is scheduled for April.
