Monroe County Seeks Teens to Advise Parks and Beaches

On December 16, 2025, Monroe County Parks & Beaches announced the creation of a Youth Recreation Committee and opened applications to residents ages 12 to 17. The committee is designed to advise the department on parks, beaches, programs and community activities, giving teenagers a formal channel to influence how youth services are planned and delivered across the county.

Applicants must submit an application and a 500 to 750 word essay explaining why parks and recreation matter to them. Those selected will take part in monthly evening meetings held over Zoom, which the department said will accommodate school and extracurricular schedules while allowing participation from different parts of the county. Participation offers direct leadership and volunteer experience that can support school portfolios, college applications and community engagement.

The new committee represents the department s effort to incorporate youth perspectives into programming decisions that affect recreation access, youth events and shoreline use. For residents, the committee means programming that is more closely aligned with what local teenagers actually want, from activity scheduling to program design. For the county, sustained youth input can improve program uptake and better allocate limited resources toward services with higher participation among young people.

From a policy perspective, the move follows a broader trend of local governments seeking to broaden civic participation and to diversify advisory bodies. In practical terms, the committee creates an early pipeline for civic skills and volunteerism that can translate into longer term civic involvement and a stronger applicant pool for seasonal and professional roles in parks and recreation. The virtual meeting format also points to continued use of digital tools to lower barriers to participation.

Interested applicants can request an application through Monroe County Parks & Beaches via the county website. The department set a February 20 deadline for completed submissions. For Monroe County families, this initiative offers a clear opportunity for teens to influence local public spaces while building leadership experience that has both immediate community benefits and potential long term payoff.