St. Lucie County proclaims July 2025 Parks and Recreation Month, Parks & Rec highlights department accomplishments

The St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners on July 22 adopted Resolution No. 2025-143 proclaiming July 2025 as Parks and Recreation Month.
Joy Hawthorne, Parks and Recreation director, presented the department’s organizational structure, five divisions and recent accomplishments, including restroom renovations at River Park Marina, improvements at Weldon B. Lewis and Lincoln Park Regional Park access points, a 30-person increase in participation for an aqua-fit program, newly offered archery classes that filled immediately, and the Fairwinds Golf Course’s junior golf and veterans programs. “These efforts would not be possible without the continued support of our leadership, our dedicated community partners, and the residents who believe in the power of parks,” Hawthorne said after accepting the proclamation.
Hawthorne highlighted a department photo montage including senior-accessible ADA pool lifts, the North Causeway boat-ramp work in progress, and the recent NACO award for the county’s Spring Fling program. Commissioner Townsend noted the department’s prior award for the Rec and Roll program and encouraged the team to continue winning recognition.
The board approved the proclamation by motion. Hawthorne and Parks & Recreation staff then posed for a departmental photo on the dais.