Parks & Recreation reports increased participation, new software and park improvements

Roxy Gonzalez, director of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs, presented the department’s quarterly update at the Feb. 19 meeting, citing program and operations metrics and near‑term project timelines.

Gonzalez said festival and cultural events drew roughly 40,000 attendees during the quarter and that multiuse trails recorded about 156,000 users. She described a pending contract for modern recreation management software that will allow residents to register for programs and reserve facilities online and promised improved reporting and customer experience once the new system is implemented.

Operational highlights included more than 21 tons of trash removed, nearly 7,000 maintenance hours, ~370 playground inspections and improvements at Morningside Nature Center. Gonzalez said Tom Petty Park’s pickleball courts were expected to open the day of the meeting and that baseball field lighting and bathroom renovations are underway with projected completion dates this spring. Staff also flagged expanded partnerships with UF’s Lastinger Center for literacy programming and an increase in youth‑focused offerings.

Commissioners asked about facility rental processes, trail vegetation management and staffing; Gonzalez said the department has reorganized maintenance teams and is tracking promotions and recruitment results. The mayor and commissioners praised staff and requested follow‑up information on festival attendance counts for city‑run versus partner events.

The presentation closed with announcements about Depot Park’s 10th‑anniversary planning and an upcoming parks event calendar. No action was required from the commission on the briefing.