The spotlight was firmly on the City of Southlake's Community Services Department at the recent DFW Directors Association Awards Ceremony, where the team clinched three prestigious accolades.
The event, held at the state-of-the-art Stephen G. Terrell Recreation Center, celebrated excellence in the Parks and Recreation profession, bringing together professionals from the dynamic DFW metroplex.
The Community Services Department's commitment to excellence and the exemplary achievements of its world-class professionals were recognized across three distinct categories:
Parks Manager Mike Reasoner - Distinguished Professional Award: In his 20 years with the City of Southlake, Mike Reasoner has witnessed the parks system grow to over 1,100 acres and has managed several major park improvement projects. His attention to detail, exceptional customer service, and commitment to teamwork make him an outstanding Parks Manager and a valuable member of the Southlake team.
Community Relations Manager Vicky Schiber - Excellence in Mentoring Award: Vicky Schiber serves as the Community Relations Manager, and is a catalyst for professional development, empowering young professionals to grow in their field. This summer, Vicky mentored a part-time Recreation Specialist-turned-intern, helping him secure a coveted full-time position with another department in the City. Her dedication to teaching essential skills and fostering growth underscores her role as a mentor committed to the success of her team members.
Programs Staff Jonathan Weeks, Sara Farris, and Jason Ellison for Club Metro Summer Camp - Inclusion Award: Club Metro, Southlake's premiere Adaptive Recreation Program, expanded into a summer camp for the first time this year. The sold-out run and perfect Net Promoter scores showcased the success of Club Metro Camp, held during the weeks of June 26-30 and July 31-August 4. The full-day camp featured activities, meals, and exciting outings, ensuring all participants' needs were met. After this impactful first year, the staff eagerly anticipates hosting Club Metro Camp next summer.
The 2024 DFW Directors Association Awards Ceremony was a fun staff-bonding event, hosted at the impressive Stephen G. Terrell Recreation Center. What made the victories even sweeter was the element of surprise, as award winners were kept in the dark about their nominations until the grand reveal.
"The City of Southlake congratulates all the award winners for their outstanding achievements and the phenomenal service they provide to our residents," said David Miller, Director of the Community Services Department. "We take immense pride in our team's commitment to excellence, and these awards are a testament to their hard work and dedication."
As the Community Services Department continues to set benchmarks in the field, the City of Southlake looks forward to even greater accomplishments and contributions to the well-being and enrichment of the community.
UPDATE: Flag Football registration has been extended through February 11th.
The weather may still be chilly outside, but our Athletics team is busy coordinating the Spring Athletics season.
If your athlete is keen to play in a Southlake Athletics League this Spring, then now is the time to secure your player’s spot! We offer a diverse array of athletics opportunities for young athletes to develop their skills, build life-long friendships, and have fun in a competitive and safe environment. Check out this season’s athletics offerings:
RISE Flag Football
Registration for Flag Football is open now until February 5. Divisions offered include K-2, 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8 (Grades are based on the current 2023-24 school year).
This year we are excited to offer Kindergarten and Girls Only Divisions to allow even more athletes to discover the love of football! Interested players must bring a team and contact Jonathan Weeks, Athletics Supervisor, for more details.
Spring Girls Volleyball- Individual Registration
Don’t miss the deadline to secure your player’s spot in Girls Volleyball! Registration is now open until February 12. Divisions offered include 8U, 10U, and 12U (age as of Sept 1, 2023).
New this season is 14U Girls - Teams Only Registration! Find your teammates and register your team!
Get Involved!
Love sports and mentoring young athletes to their full potential? Get involved with Southlake Athletics! All our leagues run on volunteer coaches. If you are an interested coach, the Athletics team is always looking for positive volunteers. The weekly commitment is around two hours, and no prior coaching experience is required!
Contact our staff if you are interested in more information on coaching!
We can’t wait to see how far our Spring sports-lovers will go this season!
We’re in the middle of engagement season, and Legends Hall is the premier location to start your event venue and vendor research!
Join us at Legends Hall on Wednesday, January 24 from 5:30- 8:00 PM and experience our award-winning venue for yourself. Whether you’re already a booked client or searching for the perfect venue, this is the event for you. Explore our Traditions Ballroom and other versatile spaces with the Legends Hall team ready to answer any questions. Booked clients, use this opportunity to bring your decorators, event planners, or florist to get a sneak peek of the facility.
If you are still looking for catering, then look no further! Come meet award-winning Ferah Catering & Events, renowned for its expertise in international fusion cuisines and American classics. Ferah brings you a distinctive array of culinary delights, featuring signature Tex-Med dishes, and menus inspired by American, Italian, Tex-Mex, Indian, Southern, and Halal cuisines, among others.
We're excited to feature two outstanding, award-winning bakeries: C. Marie’s Sweets, a Hall of Fame winner for The Knot Best of Weddings, and Legacy Cakes, owned by Megan Rountree, recognized as a winner on Food Network and featured on TLC's Next Great Baker.
Are you looking to make your cocktail hour unforgettable? Come and meet our special guest, HD Liquid, the absolute expert in all your bar needs! Specializing in full-service bars, cash bars, and more!
Not one of our booked clients yet? Book your event with us between now and February 29, 2024, to receive 10% off event packages silver and above!
Come join us, tickets are free but limited! Register for your spot today!
As we approach the New Year, there's no better time to ensure your spot at the coveted Legends Hall for your 2024 event! Whether it's an engagement celebration or a graduation gathering, booking early is the key to guaranteeing your preferred date.
Legends Hall is Southlake's premier private event venue, having hosted over 250 events, including more than 35 weddings, annually since its establishment in 2015. Securing your reservation ahead of time is not just advisable; it's essential.
With a stellar reputation for excellence, Legends Hall, nestled in the heart of Southlake, boasts a beautifully designed, state-of-the-art venue that provides the perfect backdrop for life's most significant moments. Whether you're envisioning a wedding, corporate affair, graduation party, milestone birthday, baby shower, or networking luncheon, Legends Hall offers the ideal space for your event. Legends Hall is also the perfect celebration location for school groups planning end-of-year banquets or award ceremonies!
Spanning 23,000 square feet, our venue provides ample meeting and function space. What's more, our team of top-notch professionals is committed to helping you turn your dream event into a reality.
Don't miss out on your ideal date! Book a personalized tour now and secure your spot at Legends Hall. Make your 2024 event truly unforgettable!
Mark your calendars and check them twice! The holiday season is right around the corner, and that means Town Square is about to shine merry and bright with the most wonderful event of the year!
The City is eager to kick off Home for the Holidays – Christmastime in Southlake with the Annual Tree Lighting event on November 18th from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Join u
s for this dreamlike display of illumination as Town Square becomes a glowing beacon of hometown magic and holiday cheer.
At this year’s Annual Tree Lighting event, visitors can expect to watch the impressive work of ice sculptors, take thrilling rides on the Snow Hill, enjoy live performances from local organizations, and much more!
Take a look at the event schedule to find the perfect performance for your family to enjoy!
Rustin & Family Park
4:30 p.m.| Southlake Community Band
6:00 p.m.| Tree Lighting Ceremony
6:30 p.m.| Rockenbaugh Elementary Choir
7:00 p.m.| Carroll Elementary Choir
7:25 p.m.| Johnson Elementary Choir
7:50 p.m.| Old Union Elementary Choir
8:15 p.m.| Walnut Grove Elementary Choir
Frank Edgar Cornish, IV Park
4:30 p.m.| North Texas Dance Arts
5:25 p.m.| Katie Parr Music Academy
6:00 p.m.| Tree Lighting Ceremony
6:45 p.m.| Artistry in Motion
7:15 p.m.| White’s Chapel Youth Ensemble
7:45 p.m.| White’s Chapel Adult Ensemble
8:15 p.m.| Cantare Performance Choir
And the magic doesn’t end after the Tree Lighting. With winter wonderland activities extending through the holiday season, this year’s celebrations are sure to be full of spirit, sparkle, and shine all winter long. 
Through the holidays, make Town Square your destination to create merry memories with friends and family! With carriage rides available to scope out the best holiday shopping in style, world-class food to share with loved ones, and an exciting lineup of holiday programs and events, there really is “snow” place like Home for the Holidays.
Want to learn more? Visit the official Home for the Holidays – Christmastime in Southlake website for the full schedule of events, vendors, maps, and more.
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Engel & Volkers — Amber Butcher.
Club Metro is all about new experiences for our participants, and this summer, the program got a welcomed expansion!
With the popularity of our Club Metro outings during the Fall and Spring seasons, we knew it was time to expand our offerings. This year, the Community Services Department is proud to provide two Club Metro camp weeks for our world-class participants! Club Metro hosted its first week of day camp last week for our teen and adult participants. It was a week jam-packed with exciting outings, fun games, delicious meals, and good times with friends.
Here is a recap of what our participants were up to last week.
Outings Galore
Club Metro is all about having fun with our participants while teaching them necessary soft skills such as communication when out and about. That’s why we picked an exciting location to visit almost every day of camp. Campers enjoyed discovering new experiences, such as getting a strike at Alley Cats, witnessing an equestrian joust at Medieval Times, learning about the ocean at the Sea Life Aquarium in Grapevine, and getting curious at the Perot Museum in Dallas!
Yummy Eats
It wouldn’t be Club Metro if it didn’t include some delicious mealtimes for our participants to socialize, and Club Metro Camp was no different. Campers enjoyed Joe’s Pizza, Chili’s, and medieval cuisine at Medieval Times!
Crafts, Games, and Activities
We pride ourselves on running well-rounded camps that everyone can enjoy. Club Metro Camp included daily activities such as crafting pipe cleaner trees, field day with Kiddo Kinetics, sand art, bingo, scratch art, soccer, films in the fieldhouse, rock painting, and games!
With such a fun schedule planned for our participants, it’s no wonder this week of camp sold out before it even began. Our first week of camp was so successful that we’re doing it again in August! We look forward to continuing to create life-long memories with our Club Metro participants!
Winter Basketball came and went, and now we’re ready for our Spring and Summer Seasons!
The Athletics staff has been busy kicking off Spring Volleyball and Flag Football after wrapping up another successful Winter Basketball season. As they prepare to welcome new athletics participants, we thought it fitting to highlight last season’s success.
Winter Basketball was a slam dunk last season as the league consisted of 110+ teams ranging from the 6-Year-Old Co-Ed League to the 14U Boys Teams League. Our participation numbers increased by 50% from last year’s numbers boasting around 1,000 participants playing in our winter league! These kids and volunteer coaches left it all on the court and brought home some gold!
Here’s a list of the Winter Basketball Champions:
Congratulations to all participants for a successful Winter Basketball season!
As our athletic seasons continue, our participation numbers continue to rise! For our Spring Leagues, we are excited to have 830 participants in Flag Football and 350 athletes registered for Girls' Volleyball. Our goal is to provide world-class experiences to all our athletes, and we can’t wait to see what the Spring leagues will accomplish.
Ready to see your child’s team play for a championship? Summer registration for Teams Basketball and Girls Volleyball is now open for residents and opens on April 17 for non-residents.
The Community Services Programs Team launched Kids Club last Friday and had a successful first event!
The first Kids Club at Champions Club was last Friday, and everyone had a blast! Parents dropped off their kiddos from 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM for a night dedicated just for them.
Participants enjoyed swimming at the Champions Club Aquatics Center, playing games on the indoor turf, getting creative with crafts, having dinner, and a movie with friends! The staff took pride in watching the kids have fun, make new friends, and get their energy out in our world-class facility.
If you missed out on this month’s Kids Club, then mark your calendar for Friday, February 24. Kids Club is the perfect excuse for parents to go out on a date, check off any remaining errands from their list, or stay in and relax, knowing their kid is taken care of in a fun, safe, and structured environment. It’s a win-win! Nothing beats knowing your kids are having a blast while you can take a few hours for yourself.
We anticipate these events will sell out fast, so register right away!
Plan ahead and register for March and April’s dates as well! We can’t wait to see your child at Kids Club next month!
The Community Services Programs Team launched Kids Club last Friday and had a successful first event!
The first Kids Club at Champions Club was last Friday, and everyone had a blast! Parents dropped off their kiddos from 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM for a night dedicated just for them.
Participants enjoyed swimming at the Champions Club Aquatics Center, playing games on the indoor turf, getting creative with crafts, having dinner, and a movie with friends! The staff took pride in watching the kids have fun, make new friends, and get their energy out in our world-class facility.
If you missed out on this month’s Kids Club, then mark your calendar for Friday, February 24. Kids Club is the perfect excuse for parents to go out on a date, check off any remaining errands from their list, or stay in and relax, knowing their kid is taken care of in a fun, safe, and structured environment. It’s a win-win! Nothing beats knowing your kids are having a blast while you can take a few hours for yourself.
We anticipate these events will sell out fast, so register right away!
Plan ahead and register for March and April’s dates as well! We can’t wait to see your child at Kids Club next month!
There’s nothing the Community Services Athletics Division loves more than hearing success stories from our programs.
We recently received an incredible essay from one of our Jiu-Jitsu participants, Thomas Highsmith. Thomas recounts his experience moving to Southlake from Washington D.C. at eight years old and finding his home with Sensei George Weidenhof and the Southlake Jiu-Jitsu community.
Thomas felt like a “tiny twig in a forest of giant oak trees,” during his first few classes as a second grader. In order to accommodate his busy schedule, Thomas started out his Jiu-Jitsu journey in the advanced class. Rising to the challenge of being amongst older and more experienced peers, Thomas knew early on that Jiu-Jitsu was where he wanted to spend his evenings after school.
The road to becoming a black belt was long and winding. Thomas had to prove competency in over a dozen techniques and build up the stamina to learn more than 15 School Rules. Sensei Weidenhof’s community encouraged him in his practice and encouraged him to become a leader on and off the mat.
After multiple years of dedication, determination, and practice, Thomas Highsmith is officially a black belt! He feels “truly humbled by this experience, all I have learned, the history that precedes me, and the sacrifices of many people involved. I have gained so much confidence, kindled a burning internal desire to always achieve my very best, learned the difference between kindness and being nice, and am grasping the challenging tenets of effective leadership.”
Thomas’s story demonstrates the positive impact participating in youth athletics can have on a child’s life. Finding Jiu-Jitsu helped Thomas grow as an athlete, person, and leader and eased his transition to Southlake to the point of becoming an active participant in the community. The confidence Jiu-Jitsu gave Thomas on the mat transferred to him “actively embracing leadership roles in academic team projects and at the Southlake Public Library.” Thomas attributes this seamless transition to “the art of Jiujitsu, its virtues, Sensei’s consistent reinforcement, and the accountability he places upon every member of [the] class.”
Sensei Weidenhof was kind enough to pass Thomas’s moving essay to our staff. According to Weidenhof, he is “so proud of Thomas, an amazing young man! The support was the best from the monitors at the Front Desk to Athletics Supervisor Jonathan Weeks.”
Congratulations on your achievements, Thomas, and thank you for sharing your journey with us!
