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Lake Mary parks board reviews reaccreditation, youth sports and community events
Summary
The City of Lake Mary Parks & Recreation Advisory Board on March 2 heard staff updates on department reaccreditation, Little League registration (more than 850 children), a Celebrate! Lake Mary recap (estimated 4,000–5,000 attendees), and plans for a March 28 Shred-a-Thon and April 25 Arbor Day tree giveaway.
The City of Lake Mary Parks & Recreation Advisory Board met March 2, 2026, at the Lake Mary Senior Center and received departmental updates on reaccreditation, youth sports participation and upcoming community events before adjourning at 6:16 p.m.
Director Bryan Nipe congratulated the Lake Mary High School girls’ soccer team on winning the state championship and said the team will receive Community Champion medals at an upcoming City Commission meeting. Gunnar Smith, business manager for the Lake Mary Events Center, noted the Parks & Recreation annual reaccreditation report is due in April and that the next full reaccreditation will not be for several years.
Mr. Nipe gave the board an update on youth sports, saying the Lake Mary Little League opening ceremonies on Feb. 13 drew heavy use of the Lake Mary Sports Complex and that "over 850 kids signed up" for the spring season. Assistant Director Jill Semento reviewed Celebrate! Lake Mary, which took place Feb. 14, and said "all issues that arose were out of the City's control, such as a plumbing issue in the restroom which was quickly resolved." She and Mr. Nipe said the city estimated roughly 4,000–5,000 guests attended the event.
Ms. Semento reminded the board that the rescheduled Shred-a-Thon will be held Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the previously announced time and location and said multiple board members volunteered to help. She also outlined plans for the Arbor Day Park Party on April 25, 2026, to run in conjunction with the Lake Mary Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; the city plans to distribute 240 trees and offer a tree-planting demonstration, and staff anticipated the trees would be claimed before noon.
Vice Chair Luis Silva suggested moving Celebrate! Lake Mary later in the month to avoid conflicts; Ms. Semento said the date depends on Sanford’s Porch Fest and artist availability. During citizen participation, resident Mary Walters Clark said she has applied for the open advisory board seat and praised Celebrate! Lake Mary and the condition of Central Park after recent freezes.
The board unanimously approved the minutes of the Feb. 2, 2026 meeting. A motion to adjourn, moved by Brent Tallman and seconded by Randall Smith, carried and Chair Robert Boardman adjourned the meeting at 6:16 p.m.
