Paradise Coast Sports Complex Announces New Kiwanis Aktion Club “Naples-On-The-Gulf” Garden
(NAPLES, Fla.) May 19, 2023 – Paradise Coast Sports Complex (PCSC) proudly announces a new garden development project near the Welcome Center, the Kiwanis Aktion Club “Naples-On-The-Gulf” Garden.
The budding partnership that began last August continues to blossom, as PCSC expands its relationship with the G.A.T.E. (Greater Achievement Through Empowerment) Program and now with the Kiwanis Aktion Club “Naples-On-The-Gulf”. Students with disabilities from Golden Gate High School will move on to Aktion Club after graduating high school.
That partnership was celebrated today with a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of the new garden that is located just inside the gate near the Welcome Center. Participants landscaped the area and will maintain it for one year.
“The G.A.T.E. Transition program currently has interns involved with Action Club Naples-On-The-Gulf and our partnership with Paradise Coast is continuing to expand! Paradise Coast provides us with job training at their facility and now has designated an area for us, as part of their beautification project, to create a flower garden. Our flower garden oasis gives our interns a way to connect with nature, give back to our community and to achieve the satisfaction of an area where everyone can come to enjoy!” states Golden Gate High School Teacher & Gate Program Director Kelly Stevenson-Crews. “Our teamwork is paying off through mapping out our garden, buying our supplies at our local Ace Hardware and engaging in planting our plants. We are having a blast and our hot Florida days end in huge water fights! We need to give a special thanks to the Kiwanis On-The-Gulf for our $2500 grant.”
The Paradise Coast Sports Complex has expanded on the initial $2500 grant and has secured additional funds through a couple of their partners as well. Garage Doors of Naples and South Florida Excavation have both contributed to the garden project.
The G.A.T.E. Program provides students with disabilities the chance to develop further occupational knowledge and the skills necessary to identify career options, access community resources and practice work-related skills in a part-time, community-based setting. It is offered to students with disabilities who have fulfilled all academic graduation requirements for a Standard High School Diploma (Access Points/Employment Option). This program prepares these students to move to a full-day transition work program in a community-based setting. These students spend a portion of the school day at a work site that offers a variety of job skill opportunities.
“We are proud to extend opportunities that the Paradise Coast Sports Complex can provide everyone in our community, not only are we committed to continuing this partnership – the naming of the garden will raise more awareness of this incredible group of inspiring individuals”, said General Manager Adrian Moses.
For more information including a full list of Complex Policies, visit Paradise Coast Sports Complex (playparadisecoast.com) or call 239.252.4386.
