Good News Dec. 18, 2025
This week at Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park Recreation Center was full of fun and recreation! Our Arts & Crafts group of 5 created festive diamond art. The courts stayed lively with 16 basketball players and 16 indoor soccer enthusiasts showing off swift footwork and teamwork. Pickleball was the star of the week once again, drawing 153 players this week! 11 Mahjong players enjoyed strategic gameplay, and 14 table tennis fans kept the rallies going strong. Our Solo Latin Dance Workout added a splash of rhythm with 3 dedicated dancers, while 19 participants brought upbeat energy to Dance 2B Fit. Walking Fitness welcomed 5 steady-paced participants, and the Fitness Center saw 101 visitors committed to staying active. Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park Recreation Center
South County Regional Park Recreation Center
South Country Regional Park Recreation Center hosted a few holidays themed programs this week. Kids got in the holiday spirit starting with Parents Night out on Friday. Kids enjoyed holiday crafts, games and decorating cookies. The cupcake decorating party on Saturday had children and their parents using their artistic skills to decorate delicious treats to take home! In the Gym, 150 took part in pickleball, 66 played pickup games in open Basketball and 8 flew their RC Planes. Pilates class stretched out 15 Patrons while others enjoyed taking advantage of the fitness center and beautiful garden.
Recreation
South County Regional Park Pool saw 232 enjoy the water this week for both lap and recreational swimming. 40 Patrons joined in on the Water Aerobics classes. Saturday the pool hosted the Blue Fins Swim Meet where approximately 500 athletes and their families were in attendance. South County Regional Park Pool Centennial Park Recreation Center Good news! After being shut down for maintenance, we welcomed over 40 people back to enjoy pickleball. Everyone got to play in a freshly cleaned facility while working on their game—we loved seeing the courts busy again!
Harold Avenue Regional Park Recreation Center
Harold Avenue Regional Park Recreation Center has been balling this last week. The co-ed basketball league brought in 390 ballers for practice, 678 ballers and spectators for the games and logged 64 volunteer hours. Pickleball held firm with 77 regular players, Basketball brought in 35 adults and youth, Table Tennis had 27 enjoying some friendly competition and volleyball had 13 players. The centers new program Jazz & Hip Hop dancing had 9 patrons come in show us some moves and learn news ones, Intro to Youth Sports had 17 kiddos learning the basics of Baseball, Aikido is holding strong with 6 patrons learning the art. Bonsai brought in 9 patrons tending to their trees and Walking fitness had 12 regulars getting their steps in while enjoying the beautiful weather. Silver Sneakers brought in 77 active patrons, Zumba had 6 getting down to some spicy beats and Pilates had 6 regulars stretching and drumming. The center is now getting ready for camp and a couple weeks off for the league.
Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park Pool
Good news from Ann and Chuck Dever Regional Park Pool! We had 229 merry lap swimmers, 137 joyous rec swimmers, 46 happy water aerobics, 15 bright sea dragons, and 8 jolly scuba divers.
Recreation
Tringali Park Recreation Center
Centennial Park Pool Centennial Park Pool was buzzing with festive energy as swimmers of all kinds came together to enjoy the water! The lanes were alive with 27 dedicated lap swimmers, while laughter and splashes filled the pool from 48 recreational swimmers enjoying a fun-filled swim. Nearby, 9 enthusiastic water aerobics participants moved in sync, bringing rhythm and smiles to the day. Adding to the excitement, 35 Sea Dragon Aquatics swimmers made a splash, showcasing team spirit and aquatic pride. With so many people sharing the pool, Centennial Park felt like a true celebration of community, fitness, and fun in the water!
The Rec Center was very busy this week! Boogie Chair welcomed 25 participants, keeping everyone moving and smiling. Stride and Stretch continued to be a crowd favorite with 75 participants, while Pickleball led the way with an impressive 147 participants, keeping the courts active all week long. We also hosted our first Parkside Movie Night, where the community gathered to watch Outside, enjoy fresh popcorn, and relax under the stars. To make the evening even more memorable, a special visitor stopped by, adding an extra surprise that delighted everyone in attendance.
JM Berlin/Rotary Skate Park This week at the skate park, we
welcomed 54 skateboarders and 32 BMX riders who enjoyed the space throughout the week. Riders of all ages and skill levels shared the park, practiced new tricks, and kept things moving smoothly. It was a busy but positive week with lots of activity, good energy, and respectful use of the facilities.
Parks & Natural Resources
Land Management
This week staff conducted some early “spring cleaning” maintenance. This time of year staff conducts lots of exotic/invasive plant treatments as well as trail maintenance operations. Staff cut back limbs, palm fronds and grasses from more than half a mile of trail at Cedar Point Environmental Park. Just over an acre of exotics were treated at ACDRP and Prairie Creek Preserve. When not engaged in field operations staff conducted monthly inspections, noted vandalism, made repairs and accepted deliveries of supplies for anticipated operations in the coming months. Staff continues to rehabilitate firebreaks as environmental conditions advance through this dry season. Educational outreach season is here and land management staff have multiple engagements in the coming months so we are currently tailoring our presentations to fit audiences and answer questions the community want to ask.
Parks & Natural Resources
Coastal
This week Coastal staff found a new Bald Eagle’s nest on Manasota Key! This now brings staff’s Bald Eagle nest count to 40 nests total being monitored for the whole County, with 24 nests and Eagle pairs sitting on eggs. Coastal staff has also completed all preseason prep for their preseason mailing and goodie bag distribution coming up after the first of the year in preparation for Shorebird and Sea Turtle nesting seasons coming up. Coastal staff also participated in a DarkSky International (IDA) presentation for Palm Island Estates and Bocilla Island Conservancy on Knight Island to discuss the importance of a dark sky for our ecosystems, wildlife, human health and economic benefit. Finally, Coastal staff also participated in the Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count on Stump Pass Beach State Park. Staff monitored the island, intercoastal side and gulf side, for every species they could see and kept a running count. Staff was elated to count not only 1, but 2 Piping Plovers, which is very rare for our area! Venice Audubon shared with staff it’s the first Piping Plovers spotted in our area in the history of the Christmas Bird Count.
Libraries & History
Here’s a quick look at what’s been happening across all our library locations this past week: Library Visitors & New Cards Charlotte County Libraries welcomed 5,845 visitors and issued 122 brand-new library cards At a Glance: Weekly Roundup for Charlotte County Libraries & History
welcome to our newest members! Curbside & Homebound Services Convenient services remain popular:
31 patrons used curbside pickup 16 received homebound deliveries Reference, Technology, & Research Support
Our knowledgeable staff answered: 105 general reference questions 240 technology questions 3 local history-specific inquiry
Libraries & History
On December 11th, during “Now is the Winter of Our Discontent! at Peace River Beer Company” we celebrated the foulness of winter with an “Unhappy Hour!” 18 attendees enjoyed curmudgeon camaraderie while sampling a variety of brews paired with miserable literary readings, and meager refreshments. Then we explored trials, tribulations, mishaps and misfortune from history including some local anecdotes from Charlotte County’s History Services. Finally, they learned how to insult like Shakespeare and tested their slander. After all the insults had settled, each attendee received a lump of dark chocolate coal. Punta Gorda Charlotte Library
Our Train 'em Card Tournament turned out to be a battle of the siblings, and they all had a blast. The competition was fierce, shade was thrown, and we were all laughing hysterically. We had another finisher for 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten putting us at 10 kids who have conquered the challenge, and our Bookworm Explorers watched Matilda and enjoyed some chocolate cake.
Libraries & History
Port Charlotte Public Library
This week in Preschool Prep, we practiced using our listening ears with the letter L through stories, games, and making our own cardboard instruments.
On Thursday, Miss Ashley visited Liberty Elementary’s Family Reading Experience with The Hat by Jan Brett and adorable DIY pom-pom hat ornaments.
Our Tiny Tots enjoyed snowman songs and activities including making craft stick painted ornaments and building cup towers to knock over with snowballs.
This month’s Teen Craft Club had fun practicing the art of upcycling while making silly sock gnomes. Each gnome had its own personality and talent. We also used the leftover sock trunks to make fashionable fingerless sleeves. On Saturday we had the last What's Cooking of 2025. Local author and sommelier Kristin Owens spoke to the crowd of 60 about seasonal sparklers and party punches. Later that day, Spencer, Suzanne, and Alyssa led the holiday cookie swap. Our patrons made some delicious and beautiful cookies to share!
Libraries & History
The holidays are here and our Social Sewers are putting the finishing touches on their designs. Charles, Briana, Judy and other staff put together a vibrant display about our coral reefs. Families enjoyed quality time together at the ‘Tinsel and Tidings’ event with a movie, holiday crafts, snacks and more. Englewood Charlotte Library
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