The Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department has been recognized with the 2025 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties—NACo, for its innovative approach to assisting the unsheltered population while complying with new state legislation. As per a report, the county's Unsheltered Population Resource Education Program was designed following Florida House Bill 1365, which prohibits overnight sleeping in public spaces. The initiative's dual focus lies in maintaining the parks as safe and accessible while linking those in need with aid and services.
In dealing with this community issue, the department has set up multilingual signs across more than 120 locations to direct park users to shelters and resources provided by the Housing and Homeless Alliance. To reinforce the outreach, over 3,000 bags filled with basic necessities were distributed during a countywide event. "Our department believes everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter their circumstances," Jennifer Cirillo, director of the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department, told the county's newsroom.
To ensure that parkgoers and unsheltered individuals are approached with compassion, additional overnight park rangers were brought on board. These rangers serve as ambassadors and trusted points of contact, marking professionalism and empathy as cornerstones of their daily responsibilities. Such measures have culminated in zero instances of individuals sleeping overnight in the parks on a regular basis since the launch of the program in late 2024.
The program also builds on the success of the Parks to Work program that employs unsheltered individuals through partnerships with local organizations. Some of these employees were actively involved in assembling the resource bags, which showcases the ongoing impact of the department's employment initiatives. As a result of its innovative and humane response, the Palm Beach County's approach has been highlighted as a model for other agencies grappling with similar situations.
With the national recognition from NACo stamping its success, the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department continues to showcase how public spaces can be managed with respect, safety, and support for all members of the community, including the unsheltered, as stated on the county's official website.
