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Parks director reports camp registrations jumped to 533 and details FreedomFest plans
Summary
Ren Urbanitis told the council that summer-camp enrollment rose from 311 last year to 533 this year, announced a July 2 FreedomFest with vendors and fireworks, and previewed a community beautification award and a sold-out culinary kids camp.
Ren Urbanitis, the town's Recreation and Program Director, briefed the council on parks programming at the June 23 meeting.
Urbanitis said the parks department certified camp staff in CPR with help from the fire department and that summer camps are running with four weeks remaining. She reported the department's registration increased from 311 campers in 2025 to 533 in 2026, attributing growth to revamped curriculum and new offerings including a sold-out six-week culinary kids camp (20 campers). Urbanitis also previewed FreedomFest (July 2) with about 20 food vendors, fireworks, children’s activities and a firefighter combat course for kids.
Additional park highlights included the St. John Community Beautification awards (ten yard-award winners will receive certificates and yard signs) and the Patano Family Garden fifth-anniversary 'flourish and bloom' showcase; photographs for the People's Choice award will be posted to Facebook.
Urbanitis thanked program counselors and volunteers for supporting camps and said the parks department is pursuing more classes and partnerships to expand programming.
Next steps: The parks department will continue summer programming and coordinate FreedomFest logistics with police and fire for public safety and crowd management.
