You have to be ready for anything in Parks and Recreation. Things can change constantly, and the best professionals are always ready to respond.
There’s a new face in the Programs Division, the new Programs Supervisor, Sara Farris! Sara recently joined us from the City of Denton and is already positively impacting the Community Services team! With extensive, city, recreation, and programming experience, we are lucky to have someone like Sara stepping into this critical position.
Let’s get to know her a bit better.
How long have you worked in municipal government?
I started working part-time for the City of Plano Parks and Recreation in July 2002 at Carpenter Park Recreation Center. I became full-time there in 2004. I was a Recreation Coordinator in charge of Adult classes. I then moved to the Tom Muehlenbeck Center in Plano in 2010 as the Lifeguard Coordinator, then became the Aquatic Supervisor in 2012. I left in 2016 to be the Recreational Care Supervisor in Denton. I came here in July 2023!
What’s your favorite part about working in Recreation?
My favorite part about working in recreation is getting to help people create memories. I love that it’s different every day, and the people are great!
What’s something everyone should know about programming?
Recreation programs are great if you are thinking about trying something new. You could pick up a new hobby, skill, or knowledge from taking one class. Get creative and expand your horizons!
What are you most looking forward to in this new position?
Summer Camp is always my favorite time of year. I am looking forward to meeting the campers and being a part of their amazing summer next year. I am also looking forward to expanding my programming knowledge with Club Metro.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I have a side hustle where I make shirts and personalized items in my free time. I also run and hang out with my kids. They are super involved in gymnastics and flag football!
Welcome to the team, Sara! We’re so happy to have you on board! Be on the lookout for the innovative and fun programs put together by Sara and her team!
Parks and recreation are all about enjoying the good parts of life, getting outside, and learning to play for fun. Those who choose a career in community services care deeply about providing services that allow our community to do the things they love the most.
July 21 is Park and Recreation Professionals Day, and we couldn’t let it go by without celebrating the world-class individuals who live out the work-hard, play-hard mentality every day. Throughout the month, we’ve been highlighting the different divisions that make up the Community Services Department, and today we are diving into the public service motivation that keeps our team at the top of their game daily.
When you work in the largest department in the city, it can be hard to stop and reflect on the incredible work your colleagues do, and we occasionally get siloed in our individual responsibilities. However, we know each team member is vital to fulfilling our mission of creating world-class experiences for our residents. On this Park and Recreation Professionals Day, we paused to ask one of our teammates what he loves most about his job.
Here's what our Athletics Coordinator had to say:
“What I like about working in Parks and Rec is watching the kids I used to interact with as a counselor/attendant level grow up, develop their skills, and see them thrive in our programs and leagues. It’s even better when they remember me and they talk to me about how school is going or how much fun they are having in their sport. Seeing them enjoy themselves in our programs and leagues lets me know that we are doing the best job that we can for them and our community!” Luis Marquez, Athletics Coordinator
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! Thank you to everyone in the Community Services Department. We’re lucky to be surrounded by world-class parks and recreation professionals who help our community grow every day!
Parks and recreation are all about enjoying the good parts of life, getting outside, and learning to play for fun. Those who choose a career in community services care deeply about providing services that allow our community to do the things they love the most.
July 21 is Park and Recreation Professionals Day, and we couldn’t let it go by without celebrating the world-class individuals who live out the work-hard, play-hard mentality every day. Throughout the month, we’ve been highlighting the different divisions that make up the Community Services Department, and today we are diving into the public service motivation that keeps our team at the top of their game daily.
When you work in the largest department in the city, it can be hard to stop and reflect on the incredible work your colleagues do, and we occasionally get siloed in our individual responsibilities. However, we know each team member is vital to fulfilling our mission of creating world-class experiences for our residents. On this Park and Recreation Professionals Day, we paused to ask one of our teammates what he loves most about his job.
Here's what our Athletics Coordinator had to say:
“What I like about working in Parks and Rec is watching the kids I used to interact with as a counselor/attendant level grow up, develop their skills, and see them thrive in our programs and leagues. It’s even better when they remember me and they talk to me about how school is going or how much fun they are having in their sport. Seeing them enjoy themselves in our programs and leagues lets me know that we are doing the best job that we can for them and our community!” Luis Marquez, Athletics Coordinator
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! Thank you to everyone in the Community Services Department. We’re lucky to be surrounded by world-class parks and recreation professionals who help our community grow every day!
A community grows with each moment that a life-long memory is created, and no one knows more about celebrating life’s most precious memories than the Hospitality and Sales Division.
The Community Services Department goes above and beyond traditional parks and recreation services. The Marq Southlake hosts our award-winning events venue, Legends Hall. The team that manages Legends Hall ensures our community events are picture-worthy, fun, and unforgettable. A small but mighty bunch, these professionals are always busy booking and planning events, running the Southlake Senior Activity Center, and providing world-class customer service to every visitor. The Hospitality and Sales Division does everything, from large-scale weddings and high school graduations to senior fitness classes!
Legends Hall is the place to gather for all of life’s events. Our Hospitality and Sales Division manages all sorts of private events while ensuring our customers are always satisfied. Did you know that weddings have made up about 29% of all the gross revenue for Legends Hall since it opened in 2015? Our venue is listed on all the premier wedding websites and magazines in DFW!
Other world-class events hosted at Legends Hall include corporate events, baby showers, birthday parties, and day conferences!
The Southlake Senior Center also lives in Legends Hall. This luxurious space is just for our 55 and better community and serves as their home away from home. Senior Center staff take great pride in creating incredible programs for our seniors, including food socials, field trips, and guest lectures!
Ensuring every event and program goes off without a hitch is what the Hospitality and Sales Division does best! Happy Park and Recreation Month to these exceptional Community Services employees!
A community grows with each moment that a life-long memory is created, and no one knows more about celebrating life’s most precious memories than the Hospitality and Sales Division.
The Community Services Department goes above and beyond traditional parks and recreation services. The Marq Southlake hosts our award-winning events venue, Legends Hall. The team that manages Legends Hall ensures our community events are picture-worthy, fun, and unforgettable. A small but mighty bunch, these professionals are always busy booking and planning events, running the Southlake Senior Activity Center, and providing world-class customer service to every visitor. The Hospitality and Sales Division does everything, from large-scale weddings and high school graduations to senior fitness classes!
Legends Hall is the place to gather for all of life’s events. Our Hospitality and Sales Division manages all sorts of private events while ensuring our customers are always satisfied. Did you know that weddings have made up about 29% of all the gross revenue for Legends Hall since it opened in 2015? Our venue is listed on all the premier wedding websites and magazines in DFW!
Other world-class events hosted at Legends Hall include corporate events, baby showers, birthday parties, and day conferences!
The Southlake Senior Center also lives in Legends Hall. This luxurious space is just for our 55 and better community and serves as their home away from home. Senior Center staff take great pride in creating incredible programs for our seniors, including food socials, field trips, and guest lectures!
Ensuring every event and program goes off without a hitch is what the Hospitality and Sales Division does best! Happy Park and Recreation Month to these exceptional Community Services employees!
A community grows with each moment that a life-long memory is created, and no one knows more about celebrating life’s most precious memories than the Hospitality and Sales Division.
The Community Services Department goes above and beyond traditional parks and recreation services. The Marq Southlake hosts our award-winning events venue, Legends Hall. The team that manages Legends Hall ensures our community events are picture-worthy, fun, and unforgettable. A small but mighty bunch, these professionals are always busy booking and planning events, running the Southlake Senior Activity Center, and providing world-class customer service to every visitor. The Hospitality and Sales Division does everything, from large-scale weddings and high school graduations to senior fitness classes!
Legends Hall is the place to gather for all of life’s events. Our Hospitality and Sales Division manages all sorts of private events while ensuring our customers are always satisfied. Did you know that weddings have made up about 29% of all the gross revenue for Legends Hall since it opened in 2015? Our venue is listed on all the premier wedding websites and magazines in DFW!
Other world-class events hosted at Legends Hall include corporate events, baby showers, birthday parties, and day conferences!
The Southlake Senior Center also lives in Legends Hall. This luxurious space is just for our 55 and better community and serves as their home away from home. Senior Center staff take great pride in creating incredible programs for our seniors, including food socials, field trips, and guest lectures!
Ensuring every event and program goes off without a hitch is what the Hospitality and Sales Division does best! Happy Park and Recreation Month to these exceptional Community Services employees!
The City of Southlake's Community Services Department celebrates Park and Recreation Month this July with the theme “Where Community Grows.” This month plays a vital role in building strong, vibrant, and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation.
Southlake’s Community Services Department boasts world-class parks and recreation professionals dedicated to helping our community grow! Park and Recreation Month, an initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), is about shining a light on the positive impact of public parks and recreational services on their community. It's time to celebrate how our Southlake community grows all month long.
We will highlight participants and staff from all our Community Services divisions during July. You can see the essential services, and the people who provide them, by following our social media page @experiencesouthlake.
To help celebrate Park and Recreation Month further, the Community Services Department put together a Parks and Recreation calendar of events. There is a highlighted activity for Southlake residents and visitors to do with their friends and family every day in July. July is always a blast with many world-class activities!
To learn more about Park and Recreation Month and its history, visit www.nrpa.org/July. Check out our daily calendar of ways to join the celebration at www.experiencesouthlaketexas.com.
There are a lot of new faces at Champions Club, and Melanie Starkey, our new Manager on Duty, is one of them.
Champions Club members know that the sleek black polos our MODs wear signify world-class customer service, and Melanie is ready to rise to the occasion. Melanie has a track record of outstanding customer service, having worked in the customer service industry for over seven years. For Melanie, it’s not just about doing the job. It’s about serving our community.
“I’m deeply passionate about providing the best possible customer care. I am currently enrolled in college, pursuing a bachelor’s in business administration. What brought me to Southlake is wanting to grow as a public servant for a vibrant community,” stated Melanie.
Since beginning in her position, Melanie has taken the time to get to know the Champions Club family. She’s thrilled to work for and with an amazing group of people and states that her favorite part of the job has been connecting with Champions Club members. “I love being a part of their daily lives!”
Champions Club members can find Melanie behind the front desk or running around the facility. She’s always willing to help our members, answer questions, and resolve issues. She also loves to talk and is eager to strike up a conversation to get to know our members better! Don’t be shy next time you visit Champions Club, and be sure to stop and chat with Melanie.
Like all Recreation professionals, Melanie understands the value of free time and fueling hobbies outside work. When she’s not at Champions Club, she likes to spend time with her friends, family, and dog Nugget. “I also love live music, reading, and playing video games!” exclaimed Melanie.
Welcome to the team, Melanie! We’re excited to see how you continue to provide world-class customer service to our Champions Club family.
There are a lot of new faces at Champions Club, and Melanie Starkey, our new Manager on Duty, is one of them.
Champions Club members know that the sleek black polos our MODs wear signify world-class customer service, and Melanie is ready to rise to the occasion. Melanie has a track record of outstanding customer service, having worked in the customer service industry for over seven years. For Melanie, it’s not just about doing the job. It’s about serving our community.
“I’m deeply passionate about providing the best possible customer care. I am currently enrolled in college, pursuing a bachelor’s in business administration. What brought me to Southlake is wanting to grow as a public servant for a vibrant community,” stated Melanie.
Since beginning in her position, Melanie has taken the time to get to know the Champions Club family. She’s thrilled to work for and with an amazing group of people and states that her favorite part of the job has been connecting with Champions Club members. “I love being a part of their daily lives!”
Champions Club members can find Melanie behind the front desk or running around the facility. She’s always willing to help our members, answer questions, and resolve issues. She also loves to talk and is eager to strike up a conversation to get to know our members better! Don’t be shy next time you visit Champions Club, and be sure to stop and chat with Melanie.
Like all Recreation professionals, Melanie understands the value of free time and fueling hobbies outside work. When she’s not at Champions Club, she likes to spend time with her friends, family, and dog Nugget. “I also love live music, reading, and playing video games!” exclaimed Melanie.
Welcome to the team, Melanie! We’re excited to see how you continue to provide world-class customer service to our Champions Club family.
Champions Club is about creating life-long memories for our members. Our incredible party packages and rentable spaces are no different.
If you’re wondering who’s working behind the scenes to ensure your birthday parties and event rentals go off without a hitch, look no further than our new Rentals Coordinator, Hayde Miranda! One of the new members of our Guest Services team, Hayde, is here to create world-class experiences for our customers.
Like many outstanding employees, Hayde is no stranger to service organizations. She has a background in the non-profit sector and most recently worked for the City of Oakland, California! Hayde believes, “Community/public service is part of who I am! I love developing programs while working with the community to provide the best services possible. I am honored to join the Southlake team and look forward to working with the community.”
A public servant at heart, Hayde has already hit the ground running. Whatever your rental needs are, she’s ready to use her creativity to help you make memorable experiences. She loves coordinating events and bringing ideas to life and cannot wait to assist our members with their rental and party needs. “There is no better feeling than bringing people together to create fun, unforgettable moments!”
Hayde is committed to meeting all your party and rental needs. When she’s not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family and exploring new eats in Texas. “If you have any good restaurant recommendations, please send them my way!”
Welcome to the team, Hayde! We’re so happy to have you. Say hi to Hayde if you’re in The Marq, and check out our rental and party packages for your next event!
