City Social

City staff accepted the FRPA Award for Innovative Programming: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the 2022 FRPA Conference this summer. Pictured center left to right center: Tennis Director Wendy Tatum, Operations Manager- Tennis Andi Mohl, Leisure Services Administrator Charlotte Presensky.

SPORTS NEWS

Congratulations to Love Serving Autism and the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis & Pickleball Center for being the Florida Recreation & Park Association 2022 Award Winner for Innovative Programming: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In 2021, the partnership launched a weeklong therapeutic tennis camp for youth who have been diagnosed on the autism spectrum. According to the CDC, 1 out of 44 children have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder by the age of 8. With the demand for inclusive programs rising, Love Serving Autism and the City of Palm Beach Gardens Recreation Department began a Therapeutic Tennis & Pickleball Camp that combines physical activity with educational assistance.

The merging of these two programs provided a more effective way to reach the underserved population and offer sessions in speech, occupational, physical and behavioral therapies. Research conducted since inception showed that participants experienced a 92% improvement in social skills and a 57% improvement in expressive language skills.