Laredo opens all-abilities gym at Haines Recreation Center, proclaims July Parks and Recreation Month

At a July ribbon-cutting ceremony at Haines Recreation Center, the City of Laredo celebrated Parks and Recreation Month and unveiled an all-abilities gym designed to serve people with disabilities.

Council Member Gilbert Gonzales read an official proclamation recognizing July as Parks and Recreation Month and praising parks for promoting health, resilience and community well-being. "I, Gilbert Gonzales, by the virtue of the authority vested in me as district 1 council member for the City of Laredo County of Webb, state of Texas, proclaim the month of July as parks and recreational month," Gonzales said as he read the proclamation.

Juan Jose “JJ” Gomez, director of parks and recreation, described the department’s broad operations and the new inclusion work that led to the facility. "We went with management, and they gave us the okay to start a division of special needs and inclusion," Gomez said, noting the department runs pools, splash pads, recreation centers and summer camps and maintains more than a hundred parks. Gomez said the new division is an outgrowth of a needs assessment he completed as part of a certified public manager practicum.

Jenny Sanchez, the department’s special needs manager, described the gym’s adaptive equipment and the programmatic goal of creating "belonging," not just access. "Our team creates adaptive, inclusive recreation for persons with disabilities and anyone who needs any type of accommodation," Sanchez said. She said many pieces resemble equipment in rehabilitation centers so people recovering from stroke or injury can use familiar tools in an affordable community setting.

Sanchez outlined four mini adaptive camps, including a musical theater camp led by local director Gigi Caballero, and regular summer Saturdays for adults with disabilities. She announced an 18+ pool party series and an adaptive division in the Sister Cities 5K, with a sponsored "Make Your Impossible Possible" mile. Sanchez said the division began in January and that she has been on staff about seven months.

Gomez provided approximate department counts during remarks, saying the city maintains roughly 122 parks and operates multiple recreation centers, pools and splash pads; those counts were offered verbally at the ceremony and are reported as approximate. Sanchez and Gomez named multiple partners who helped build the program, including Laredo Independent School District (UISD), Casa Carino, local fitness organizations and a sponsor identified as ClearChoice.

Council Member Melissa Sierra (District 3) praised the initiative’s focus on inclusion, saying community strength grows when residents of all abilities are included in city programs.

The proclamation text read during the ceremony cites health, economic and environmental benefits of parks and notes that the U.S. House of Representatives has designated July as Parks and Recreation Month. Following the reading, officials and staff moved to the front of Haines Recreation Center for a ceremonial ribbon cutting and photo opportunity.

City staff said the gym and programming are intended to be the start of expanded inclusive services; several upcoming events mentioned at the ceremony include a Spotify-led circuit workout on July 26 and scheduled adaptive pool events. Specific program dates, long-term funding sources and detailed operating hours were not specified during the ceremony.