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STARS reports enrollment surge, asks council for facility expansion
Summary
STARS division reported a 56% participation increase since 2021, a FY25 budget of $2,493,000, and growing capacity constraints; director Amber Weir asked council to back expansions including early learning, performing arts space and pool.
Amber Weir, director of the STARS division in Fort Myers Parks & Recreation, told the council the after‑school and recreation program has grown substantially since 2018 and now operates two facilities and more than a dozen youth programs. "STARS has 6 full time employees and 70 part time employees," she said while outlining program scale, financials and a proposed expansion plan.
Weir cited a FY2025 budget of $2,493,000 (about half for personnel) and reported a roughly 56% increase in participation since 2021, with March program attendance exceeding 1,650 across programs and partners. She described facility limits — aging buildings, overused fields, and full schedules — and asked for council support to pursue an extension of STARS East for early learning and a complex expansion with performing‑arts space, additional classrooms, splash pads and a pool.
Council members thanked STARS for service to youth and asked that the expansion request be considered as part of the upcoming budget workshop and retreat planning.
