Palm Coast Parks Tour Features Dolphins, Hawks and Pickleball

The Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber’s L.E.A.D. Flagler program (Leadership, Education. Advancement. Development.) toured several parks in the City of Palm Coast in March 2024. 13 participating business and community leaders gathered to tour our local parks and were stunned when a pod of dolphin greeted them at Waterfront Park. 

Flagler County has twice as much land dedicated to parks as planned for in local government documents. Residents have grown to love and appreciate the parks, trails and other outdoor options available to them through the cities or the county. The L.E.A.D. Flagler tour highlighted both the successes of our local parks and recreation system and the challenges we face.

One well-documented challenge is the Holland Park Splash Pad, which was a major new community amenity when it opened a couple of years ago. However, after an alleged installation issue with the flooring, resulting in debris getting sucked into the recirculating water system at the splash pad, the new splash pad had to be shut down. The City of Palm Coast is currently working to rebuild the splash pad and expects a July 4, 2024, Grand Re-Opening.

L.E.A.D. Flagler Class #1 toured the brand-new Southern Recreation Center, which features covered pickleball courts, which have solar panels covering the main courts. This new facility located on Belle Terre Blvd near SR-100 is the latest addition to our region’s park offerings. The new Southern Recreation Center features a food and beverage facility thanks to PCF Chamber member Jodee and Joey Soltes at Redefined Food Co. Also, the Southern Recreation Center features new community gardens and construction was underway that will continue to grow offerings for pickleball and tennis players alike.

The PCF Chamber is thankful to both our city and county government partners for their continued success in growing our parks and recreation system. As Flagler County’s population grows, our local parks and recreation options must keep pace to maintain our high quality of life in Flagler County. For more information on L.E.A.D. Flagler, click here.