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Lake Kennedy Center staff outline programs, meals and transport service in budget presentation
Summary
Parks staff briefed council on Lake Kennedy Center programming: more than 100 programs, friendship dining that serves over 6,000 hot meals annually, minibuses providing over 10,001 one‑way trips in FY25, and youth programming that served hundreds of campers. Staff noted a large FY25 capital parking expense increased subsidy that year.
Parks staff presented a summary of services provided at the Lake Kennedy Center, emphasizing senior and intergenerational programming and how the center is funded.
Jody Costello, recreation supervisor, said the center offers more than 100 programs including fitness, creative arts and over 50 craft workshops in FY26 so far. The Friendship Dining program serves more than 6,000 hot meals annually; the Harry Chapin Food Bank partnership provides monthly food kits. The Cape Coral minibus provides door‑to‑door transportation—staff cited more than 10,001 one‑way trips in FY25—connecting seniors to groceries, medical appointments and center activities.
Staff presented five‑year budget trends and said a parking‑lot resurfacing project recorded in FY25 increased that year’s subsidy; they told council they expect subsidy pressure to decline in FY26 absent capital expenditures. Staff highlighted youth camps and partnerships with local organizations and asked council for continued support of discretionary quality‑of‑life programming.
