Families, Parks and Recreation

FPR Testimonials  

"My favorite part of the City of Orlando is the playgrounds. Why, because there is a lot of activities and games to play on them. For example, you can play tag, kickball, or flag tag. But, one of my favorite things to is to go down the slide. I also like being able to run around freely like a butterfly. I have a big family and we love to go to the exciting Lake Eola and have a picnic, walk around to stay in shape, and enjoy the view that helps us to relax."

Monique
Citrus Square Recreation Site

"Every day when I leave school I go to the John H. Jackson Community Center. There is tutoring, computers, and lots of games. I enjoy going outside and playing with my friends on the sunny days. I can’t wait for the pool to open again because I like the water a lot. We do so many different activities and meet lots of new people. I go to SWAT on Thursdays, which teaches us about drugs and alcohol and what they do to our bodies. On Fridays, we have Rock for Hunger when volunteers come and we play games and they bring cool treats. I always enjoy going to the center because it is a great place to be."

Damahri
John H. Jackson Community Center

"The City of Orlando offers a lot of great things to my community. As a fifth grader, one thing I really enjoy is the City of Orlando’s playground and parks. It is a place that is clean, safe, and fun. The City of Orlando’s playgrounds and parks are always clean. The City does a good a job on keeping the parks litter free. I also find that there are recycling bins too. Keeping the environment clean offers a healthy place for me to play. They playgrounds are also a safe place for me to play. In the playground there are never unsafe objects around to injure me and there are always responsible adults around that make me feel secure while I am playing. My favorite part about City of Orlando playgrounds and parks is that they are great places for families to go together. They are places I always want to go with my mom and grandma. When we go the parks they are always nice and quiet. My favorite park is Lake Eola. It has a great playground with swings, slides, and monkey bars."

Damion
Dr. I. Sylvester Hankins Park Recreation Site

"Orlando is my city and I am going to tell you why it is playful. First, Orlando is a playful city because of the wonderful Rosemont Community Center. It has special events for the holidays such as Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Black History Month. Second, Orlando is a playful city because of its beautiful parks. These parks have playgrounds, big open fields, basketball courts, pavilions, and pools. There are always people walking dogs, kids swimming, playing, and running. Now, you know why I think my city is playful because our wonderful Rosemont Center and beautiful parks."

Chesle
Rosemont Community Center

"What I like about Ivey Lane Park is that you can go play on it. They have a tennis court and a basketball court. They have lots of things to play on. We have walking trails. We also have an amphitheater, which is fun too. I like going on the big playground and it is very fun. We also have a pavilion that you can eat under. I like going under the pavilion. I like the playground because when you go after school all your friends are there. So that is exactly why I like the playground. It is fun to play on with my friends."

Kierra
Ivey Lane Recreation Site

August 10, 2004  
City of Orlando
Community & Youth
Services Department
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:

After five years of being regular users of this program my two daughters are saying good bye to Colonialtown. It has been five wonderful years were my kids were well taking care of by all your personnel at this center.
My older daughter, Tanya SanInocencio, is now a sixth grader at Glenridge Middle School; and her sister Jasmine is attending Audubon Park Elementary. For this reason they won't be attending your excellent program at Colonialtown this year.

Thru all this years the Colonialtown's staff has always been so caring of my daughters and their well being. Everybody was always so responsible and treat everybody (from parents to students) with a lot of respect, courtesy, and tact. Nobody ever hesitated to lend us a helping hand no matter what situation may had arisen on any given day.

We just want to express our deepest appreciation to everybody, but especially to:

-Ms. Cheryl D. Cummings
-Ms. Davis
-Ms. Cherrita
-Ms. Jennifer
-Ms. Linda (former Director)
-Ms. Ann (former staff member)
-Ms. Gladys (former staff member)
-Mr. Oliveros (former staff member)

Keep on the good job and hope more families in need could enjoy great community programs like this one.
 
Cordially,

Gloria L. Morales
Colonialtown Neighborhood Center

Hi Gary,

I called today and learned you are out of town, but I wanted to be
sure to thank you and your staff for the way you treated my nephew
Frankie last week. He had a wonderful time, but more importantly,
you impressed him so much. He couldn't stop talking about what a
great person you are, etc., etc. You were such a great model for him
and I appreciate the care and attention you gave him.
Thank you so much Gary and please thank your staff as well. The
atmosphere at your center is so positive and reflects the type of
manager that you are.

Annette
Dr. J. B. Callahan Neighborhood Center

Thank you all for getting the fountains to work. My apologies for getting back so late to you, but I wanted my autistic son to taste the water himself. When Autistic kids such as Christopher get thirsty, they run up to the nearest water source to drink. Whether it is a puddle on the ground or someone else's water bottle, they just jump in and drink.

Having a working water fountain at the park by his residential program will help me teach him how to use an appropriate drinking water source. Thank you. It is the little things like this that mean a lot to us citizens!!

Walt Marino

December 7, 2005

Re: Thank you / Commissioner Vargo and Orlando City Staff

Dear Commissioner Vargo and the Orlando Parks and Recreation Department,

I wanted to take the time to express my appreciation for your maintenance
of the Rosemont preserve and other city parks. I especially am thankful for the Rosemont property because I run around, bike, kayak and enjoy the park each and every day!

I have noticed a reduction in trash and debris since the trashcans were placed in the park, as I pick up trash almost daily and have since I moved to Rosemont in 1993. Recently, the trees were trimmed and the entire area shows city pride in maintaining the area’s natural beauty.

So often people are complaining about what the city does not do. I want to let you know that your efforts are appreciated and enjoyed by many residents in the area.

Thank you,

Dominick C. Castellano
Rosemont Community Center

February 28, 2006

City of Orlando Mayor
Buddy Dyer
400 S. Orange Ave.
Orlando, Fl 32802

Mayor Buddy Dyer:

We are very happy to have the opportunity to acknowledge Y’Isiah Lopes, Regional Manager of the Loch Haven Park Neighborhood Center, as a community leader and role model for Middle School Teens throughout Orange County.

Y’Isiah has shown support by participating in events held by ThinkSmart. He has helped develop communication with other City Recreational facilities; to name a few: Dover Shores, Engelwood, Citrus Square, Rosemont, and Colonialtown. STARS clubs will be developing leadership that can move on to teen committees for the Rock Haven City Re-mix (RHCR).

Y’Isiah, in his role as Chairman of the RHCR Dance recently teamed up with ThinkSmart for the City Re-mix Valentine’s Day Dance. This dance provided teens with a fun-filled evening and a safe environment. Y’Isiah introduced ThinkSmart to one of the City’s proactive Teen outreach leaders, Toni Shinn founder of CCSI, again leading a stronger community effort for our youth.

As you may already know, ThinkSmart is a character building abstinence education program dedicated to providing teens–ages 12 to 18–with the facts about discrimination, racism, violence, tobacco, alcohol, drugs and premarital sex. For more information about ThinkSmart, log on to our new Web site at www.ThinkSmartFlorida.com.

It takes a strong community effort to provide teens and parents with programs and activities that can help make healthy life choices. Whether it’s getting involved with ThinkSmart’s STARS clubs or joining Y’Isiah at the Rock Haven City Re-mix Dance, teens now have options for fun, safe entertainments.

I find it important to keep you informed, as a community leader, of the different programs offered within this community for teens and their parents. That said, I am happy to update you on some of our community STARS.

Sincerely,

Diane Brown
Program Director
ThinkSmart

Grace Acevedo
Activities Coordinator
ThinkSmart

Click here to read a letter from Lighthouse Central Florida regarding Loch Haven Neighborhood Center.

Click here to read a letter from the Center for Drug-Free Living's Arthur Jackson Midnight Basketball program regarding Orlando Downtown Recreation Complex.