Page 32 - The Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce 2018 Visitor Guide and Membership Directory

Ormond Beach City Manager, Joyce Shanahan
Ormond Beach is the Community of Choice in Volusia County offering a high quality of life to its 40,000 residents. It is famous as “The Birthplace of Speed,” a designation com- memorating the 1903 car races which took place on the sands of Ormond Beach. The community focuses on family oriented special events
School is a month long training session held each January at the Sports Complex, and while here it offers a free three day clinic to local residents, teaching them the basic fundamentals of becoming an umpire.
Central Park, the City’s largest park, is approximately 150 acres and comprised of four phases that have over 3 miles of walking trails throughout the entire park. Central Park’s lakes are interconnected and allow 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 and additional parking. The recreational opportunities in Central Park are bountiful and maintain the natural pristine beauty of the park. The Environmental Discovery Center which opened in May 2016 is part of the park and is located on Division Avenue. The Environmental Discovery Center is the place for young and old alike to enjoy and discover the beauty of the natural environment at Central Park. Offering programs from archeology to summer camp, the Center aims to foster education, discovery and creativity.
The Casements with the serene Rockefeller Gardens on Riverside Drive is the preferred venue for a variety of community and private events such as the Memorial Day Remembrance, Independence Day celebration, Rockefeller Revisited, weddings, festivals and shows, races and the ever popular “Movies on the Halifax.” The Casements Guild docents provide historical tours of the historic home of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.
Ormond Beach has a variety of involved civic and community organizations and homeowner associations. In the past, the City’s Leisure Services Department was 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 the city continues to be designated as a Playful City and a Tree City USA community.
“Ormond Beach’s beautiful beaches, Intracoastal Waterway, historical architecture, preserved green space, immense recreational amenities, diverse cultural opportunities, and relaxed atmosphere make it a great place to live, work and play,” Shanahan said.
throughout the year which include the Fourth of July celebration, Art in the Park, the Antique Car Show and Parade, monthly outdoor “Movies on the Halifax” at Rockefeller Gardens and The Casements Christmas Gala which was inspired by John D. Rockefeller, Sr., Ormond Beach’s most famous resident. “Ormond Beach is a family oriented community and events are planned to include all family members,” City Manager Joyce Shanahan said.
Ormond Beach’s magnificent climate allows year round access to its recreational amenities. The City offers a broad range of recreational opportunities for all segments of the population, including a senior center, a tennis center, a performing arts center, walking trails and canoeing in Central Park, the Nova Community Center which provides pickleball opportunities and a state of the art skateboard park, as well as organized youth and adult athletic programs.
Ormond Beach’s Andy Romano Beachfront Park, which opened in 2013, is a popular destination for our citizens and visitors. The beachfront park boasts a splash pad, playground, snack vendor and almost 200 parking spaces. The beachfront park is always busy, especially in the summer months when the number of visitors peak at nearly 1,200 per day. Visitors from as far away as Washington State, Alaska, Texas, Nevada, Maine, Canada, Sri Lanka, England, Lithuania, Switzerland, France, and Germany have come to enjoy this jewel on the beach.
The City’s Sports Complex at 700 Hull Road has numerous amenities for people to enjoy, including softball, baseball, soccer fields, t-ball complex and a limitless playground. 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. The Harry Wendelstedt, Jr., Umpire
Today
by Joyce Shanahan
ORMOND BEACH
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