Seminole County Parks & Recreation touts national reaccreditation, library award and projects driving sports tourism
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Summary
Director Rick Durham briefed the board on Parks & Recreation achievements — national CAPRA reaccreditation, Florida Library Association award for Seminole County Library, and ongoing projects including turf replacement and an indoor recreation complex — and described plans to expand summer programming and kiosk library services.
Rick Durham, director of Seminole County Parks & Recreation, told commissioners that the department won national reaccreditation under CAPRA with a top score and that the Seminole County Library system was named the Florida Library Association’s Library of the Year. Durham said the department operates about 17 facilities with roughly 200 staff and provides services ranging from library programs to trail and park maintenance.
Durham highlighted tourism and sports projects that generate county revenue, saying partnerships and events produced an estimated $55,000,000 in economic impact tied to county facilities this year. He reviewed capital and operational priorities: the indoor recreation complex procurement (Pizzuti selected as developer), guaranteed‑maximum‑price work for Rolling Hills, MSBU funds to rehabilitate the Deer Run clubhouse, artificial‑turf replacement at Boomba Sports Complex (on time and under budget, targeted ready for Jan. 2026), irrigation improvements at Wekiva Golf Club and library facility upgrades including deferred‑maintenance and an East Branch expansion under review.
Board members asked detailed questions about fee setting for the county golf contract (management company sets rates based on market averages), monthly budget reporting, cross‑jurisdiction tourism coordination with Volusia County, and options to expand summer camp capacity through a school‑district partnership at Spring Hammock nature center. Durham said staff will continue refining project scopes, pursue GMP and construction management proposals where appropriate, and return with updates.
Why it matters: The department’s national accreditation and library recognition are signals of standards compliance and service capacity; large sports events and tourism partnerships are significant contributors to the county’s economic and recreation strategy.