|
Division Description:
The Recreation Division offers the citizens of Orlando quality
recreational, fitness, cultural, and educational facilities and programs.
The division is comprised of 17 recreation centers, 10 pools, four parks, 67
athletic fields, 15 tennis courts, two tracks, four racquetball courts, 289
adult athletic teams, 137 youth athletic
teams and an extensive cultural arts
program. In addition, the division has under its umbrella the City
of Orlando’s centerpiece Lake Eola Park, Park of the Americas, the Orlando
Skateboard Park, Festival Park, Older Adult centers (2) and an Exceptional
Recreation program for children with disabilities. The goal of the
division is to meet the recreational interests and needs of the growing
community, while providing high quality service.
RECREATION DIVISION HISTORY
On August 15, 1925, after vigorous promotion by the National Recreation
Association, the Orlando Recreation Department was created. The department’s
first superintendent, Thomas W. Lantz, worked with an appointed Board of
Recreation, in his words, “selling” recreation to civic organizations through
speeches, editorials and news stories promoting the department’s activities.
Those initial activities ranged from the creation of bowling, volleyball and
basketball leagues as well as a popular tennis program, the institution of
lifeguard supervision at several beaches, and the organization of holiday
activities. WDBO Radio worked with the department to produce an evening radio
broadcast of volunteer-read bedtime stories for children. The first summer
playgrounds to be under trained leadership opened, with leaders including the
young Buddy Ebsen (of later “Beverly Hillbillies” fame) and his sister Vilma.
There was also a tourist program—the Chamber of Commerce held weekly tourist
parties and the Recreation Department was responsible for organizing party
activities. These parties, along with other tourist activities held at Sunshine
Park, sometimes attracted as many as 1,000 participants.
By the next year, the Recreation Department expanded even more, offering
programs as diverse as civic celebrations and dramatic and musical
presentations. Mr. Lantz hired his first paid staff members. A municipal
bathhouse was constructed at Lake Lorna Doone to accommodate the nearly 500
bathers who visited the lake each day. Tennis courts were constructed at
Delaney Park and Lake Eola, baseball diamonds, volleyball courts and a football
field were installed at the fairgrounds, and playground equipment was installed
at both Lake Eola and Lorna Doone.
In 1926, Orlando’s population was approximately 31,000, and it is estimated
that in the Recreation Department’s first seven months of operation, 32,000
people were involved in its activities as either spectators or participants.
Building on the department’s success, its one full-time employee and handful of
part-time employees worked to bring even more to the community. By 1928, enough
playgrounds had been constructed to provide easy accessibility to every child
in Orlando. More playing fields were built, four more bath houses were
constructed, neighborhood centers were established at every school, a municipal
auditorium opened, a municipal golf course was established, and larger parks
were created.
|
