St. Johns Co, FL: Parks and Rec "celebrates Certified Autism Center" designation

Mar 22, 2025, The Recorder: St. Johns County Parks and Rec celebrates Certified Autism Center designation during Kite Day

https://pontevedrarecorder.com/stories/st-johns-county-parks-and-rec-celebrates-certified-autism-center-designation-during-kite-day,119274 

On March 8, St. Johns County officials, staff and community members gathered to celebrate the Parks and Recreation Department’s designation as a Certified Autism Center with a press conference and Kite Day at Treaty Park, 1595 Wildwood Drive, St. Augustine.

“[The certification] means that our parks, our programs and our staff are now better equipped to serve individuals with autism and sensory differences, ensuring that everyone can enjoy our beautiful parks, our programs and our outdoor spaces,” Community Program Manager Tess Simpson said at the start of the press conference.

In addition to staff training, the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards also conducted an on-site review of St. Johns County parks and facilities in order to create sensory guides and additional recommendations to improve the visitor experience. Certification was received in April 2024.

Parks and Recreation sites will be included on IBCCES’s app and on AutismTravel.com, a free online resource for parents that lists certified locations and professionals.

Clay Murphy, District 3 commissioner and vice-chair of the Board of County Commissioners, spoke in support of Parks and Recreation’s efforts, funded by the Tourist Development Council, to make the county’s public spaces more inclusive. . . .

St. Johns County Parks and Recreation joins a growing number of tourism and recreation-related organizations in the area to complete certification as part of a larger initiative led by the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, aiming to achieve the Certified Autism Destination designation.

This initiative will ensure that the area offers multiple certified options for entertainment, recreation and lodging for autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals and their families.

“With one in 36 children in the U.S. diagnosed with autism, and nearly 20% of the population experiencing sensory processing sensitivity, it’s crucial that businesses and organizations have the tools to provide a supportive and engaging environment for all,” St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Isabelle Renault said. “We are now more than halfway to our goal of making St. Johns County the first certified autism tourist destination in Florida.”

Brianna Angulo, IBCCES key accounts manager, spoke about Parks and Recreation’s eagerness to work with the organization and encouraged its further efforts before presenting Simpson and Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Jamie Baccari with a framed certificate.

After the press conference, dozens of parents and kids took part in Kite Day on Treaty Park’s multipurpose field. The sponsorship of Alive Credit Union provided more than 100 free kites for the participants, and Simply Healthcare Plans likewise paid for free ice pops.