PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — The Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department is being recognized on a national stage, earning two 2026 awards from the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials for programming and planning efforts tied to public safety and system-wide operations.
The honors cover two separate areas of the department’s work. One focuses on direct services to residents — specifically youth water safety — while the other recognizes how the county is using data to manage and plan its park system.
In the Park and Recreation Program – Class 3 category, the department was awarded for its Schools in Pools Program. The initiative delivers structured swim lessons to elementary school students during the school day, with instruction taking place at Pioneer Park Aquatic Center in Belle Glade.
The program is run through the county’s Aquatics Division and coordinated with several local partners, including the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County, the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, and the School District of Palm Beach County.
The focus is straightforward: remove barriers that prevent children from learning how to swim. For many families, transportation, cost, and access to facilities can limit participation in traditional swim programs. Schools in Pools brings the instruction directly into the school system, eliminating those gaps.
The program serves hundreds of students annually, including children with disabilities, and is positioned as both an educational and safety initiative. County officials point to long-term community impact, particularly in areas where water safety education has historically been limited.
The department’s second award came in the Planning Initiative category, recognizing its Planning, Research and Development Division for implementing Placer.ai, a data analytics platform used to track park usage.
That system provides real-time and historical insights into how residents use parks and recreational facilities across the county. The data is used to guide decisions on programming, staffing, capital improvements, and resource allocation.
County officials say the goal is to move beyond estimates and anecdotal observations, relying instead on measurable usage patterns. That shift allows the department to identify trends, respond to demand, and plan future investments with greater precision.
Jennifer Cirillo, director of the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department, said the recognition reflects internal work that is often not visible to the public but directly impacts how services are delivered.
“This recognition reflects the passion and dedication of our team, who work every day to provide meaningful programs and plan for the future of our park system,” Cirillo said. “We are honored to be recognized nationally and remain committed to serving our community with excellence.”
The National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials, known as NACPRO, is a professional organization that evaluates county park systems nationwide. Its annual awards program highlights initiatives in programming, operations, and long-term planning.
Palm Beach County’s dual awards place it among a limited group of counties recognized for both frontline programming and internal planning strategy in the same year.
The formal recognition will take place during the NACPRO Awards Ceremony scheduled for May 20, 2026, in Sarasota.
For residents, the impact of the awards is tied to continued investment in both access and infrastructure. Programs like Schools in Pools are expected to continue expanding where demand exists, while the department’s data-driven approach is expected to influence how parks are developed, maintained, and staffed moving forward.
The department oversees a countywide system of parks, recreation centers, and aquatic facilities serving communities from Boca Raton and Delray Beach to Belle Glade and the western communities.
More Palm Beach County news is available here.
