Parks and Recreation Department wins state FRPA 2012 Voluntary Service Award

Posted: Oct. 10, 2012

Watch this month's "Volunteer Victories," which highlights the receipt of the Voluntary Service Award
1 minute, 47 seconds

The Port St. Lucie Parks and Recreation Department was recently awarded the Florida Recreation & Park Association’s 2012 Voluntary Service Award at the FRPA's Annual Conference held in Orlando on August 31.

The Voluntary Service Award is presented annually to citizens or organizations whose voluntary contributions of time and efforts over a period of time, improve the quality and quantity of leisure opportunities through parks, recreation and leisure service programs and projects in neighborhoods, communities, or the State of Florida.

The Volunteer Program was first conceived after the grand opening of the Port St. Lucie Civic Center in December 2008. This facility was Initially staffed only with Parks and Recreation employees, but it became quite evident that, given its vast physical size and the multitude of programs and events offered there that volunteers would be needed to meet the needs of visitors using the facility.

By June 2011, more than 80 volunteers were working at the Civic Center. In 2012, an additional call for volunteers was issued, and as of March 2012, there were more than 250 volunteers working at the Community Center, Civic Center, Minsky Gym, in the parks system, and at the golf course.

Since the inception of the program, more than 34,000 hours of volunteer time have been logged. This represents a total savings to the City of Port St. Lucie of more than $678,000.

Our Parks and Recreation volunteers embody excellence, integrity, and commitment; all of which are needed to help the department maintain superior customer service.

FRPA Awards Chair Don Decker stated, “While communities across the country continue to struggle with the realities of a stagnant economy, it is heartwarming to see the citizens of Port St. Lucie taking individual responsibility to collectively address the needs of their city. The value of a volunteer should never be underestimated and our Association is proud to be able to recognize this overwhelmingly successful volunteer initiative.”

The Parks and Recreation Department and its staff thank our team of volunteers for donating their time and talent and for making it possible for the department to receive this prestigious award.

The award is currently on display in the lobby of the Community Center at 2195 S.E. Airoso Blvd.

For more information, contact:
Port St. Lucie Parks and Recreation Department
(772) 878-2277