Page 33 - Index.html

for maximum accessibility to all populations. This playground was designed with citizen participation and built in a park-like setting that is safe, colorful, comfortable, and interactive. It allows children
and adults, especially those with special needs, the opportunity to enjoy the playground equipment in a safe environment with limitless opportunities.
Central Park, the City’s largest park, is approximately 150 acres comprising four phases that have over 3 miles of walking trails throughout the entire area. Central Park’s lakes are interconnected, allowing visitors to canoe or kayak from one section of the park to another. The park also provides a handicapped-accessible fishing pier/observation area, ADA-accessible restrooms, canoe/kayak launches, a boardwalk, fitness equipment, and additional parking. The recreational opportunities in Central Park are bountiful and maintain the park’s natural pristine beauty. The Environmental Discovery Center is part of the park and offers the opportunity to enjoy and discover the beauty of
the natural environment at Central Park. With programs featuring local wildlife, archaeology digs, summer camps, bird walks, and more, the Center aims to foster education, discovery, and creativity.
The Casements feature the serene Rockefeller Gardens on Riverside Drive. This is the preferred venue for a variety of community and private events like the Memorial Day Remembrance, Independence Day celebration, Rockefeller Revisited, weddings, festivals and shows, outdoor concerts, races, and
the ever-popular “Movies on the Halifax.” The Casements Guild docents provide historical tours as well as a self-guided app tour of the historic home
of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. that features a historical perspective on the significance of the home.
The Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens continues to be a cultural cornerstone. Recent exhibitions include a retrospective of local artist Antoinette M. Slick and the Beau Wild Retrospective, showcasing 40 years of work by the renowned Florida artist. The museum also received a $50,000 donation from local philanthropists Nancy and Lowell Lohman to support its Endowment
Fund. The museum’s diverse programming includes art workshops, educational outreach, and seasonal events like “Art in the Park” and the “First Saturday Ormond Art Walk.”
The City’s Leisure Services Department has been named one of the top four park and recreation agencies in the country by the National Gold Medal Award for cities with 25,000-50,000 people and continues to be designated as a Playful City and a Tree City USA community year after year.
Recent infrastructure projects include funding the remodel of the I-95/US1 Interchange, which aims to improve traffic flow and safety, and the completion of the A1A pedestrian safety project, which enhances pedestrian access and safety along the busy coastal road.
In addition, the City has launched the Ormond Beach Citizen’s Academy, a program designed to educate residents about the workings of their local government and encourage civic participation.
“Ormond Beach’s beautiful beaches, pristine waterways, historical architecture, preserved green space, immense recreational amenities and local events, diverse cultural opportunities, and its relaxed, charming atmosphere make this city a true oasis right in the heart of Central Florida,” said City Manager Joyce Shanahan.
Sincerely,
Joyce Shanahan City Manager
31