Volunteers are the Heart of PBC Parks!

Volunteers are the heart of the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department (PBC Parks). They supplement our existing workforce, help us reach our goals, engage with the community and raise awareness about our facilities, programs and services. In 2022, PBC Parks’ volunteers contributed over 130,000 hours at nature centers, recreation centers, golf courses, and beach and park cleanups and hosted more than 200 park and beach cleanups.

National Bird Day: Painted Buntings

Photos of Painted Bunting bird. Photo credit to PBC Parks Volunteer, Barbara Ladd.

January 5 is National Bird Day and one of the birds you can find at our parks’ during winter is the Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)— a brightly colored songbird that is a common species of the coastal Southeast and south-central U.S. This species can be found in a variety of habitats, including shrublands, grasslands and wetlands, and can be attracted to your yard with feeders filled with white millet.  

PBC Parks’ 50th Anniversary Commemorative Book

Image description: Collage of the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Book cover and inside pages.

The year 2022 marked the 50th birthday of the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department (PBC Parks). Ignited by this celebration, the Office of Public Engagement (OPE) launched a yearlong celebration, including a commemorative book detailing a snapshot-in-time of the department along with other artifacts.

More than 1,300 Observations and 600 Species Recorded During PBC Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz

Images of different pollinators and PBC staff giving out tours.

During the month of September, the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department (PBC Parks) participated in the national Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz campaign, which is aimed at raising public awareness about the importance of pollinators and the role parks play in advancing pollinator health and native habitat.