Port St. Lucie staff and design consultants on Monday showed council an updated design for the Torino Regional Park Phase 1 playground, splash pad and skate park, featuring colorful themed play zones, inclusivity elements and a preliminary skate-park layout shaped around a dragon motif.

Zach Sherman, the city's executive project manager for parks, said designers have reached roughly 50% design and are on schedule to complete 90% design by December 2025. Consultants from Kimley-Horn presented a fly-through video and images showing the themed playground areas''1the Fairy Tale Forest playground with pods such as "Hoot Hollow" (owl-themed swings and inclusive spinner), "Mystic Meadow" and "Honey Hideaway" (bear-themed play); a Bugsville splash pad with multi-age spray elements; and shaded seating areas including large "funbrella" shade devices.

The design emphasizes inclusivity: wheelchair-accessible carousel-style features, nest swings, inclusive spinners and transfer platforms to assist children with mobility needs. Consultants also described the ground plane patterning and colored artificial turf sewn to create durable, themed surfaces.

The skate-park concept, called the Dragon's Lair in the materials, shows both street-style and flow/bowl elements and a raised "fireball" feature. Council members and staff asked that skate-community stakeholders be reengaged to review the updated layout; staff said they would hold a follow-up meeting with skaters before finalizing design details.

Vice Mayor Carballo and other council members praised the design changes as a significant improvement and recommended mature shade plantings, colorful pavilion treatments and artful details that reflect the park's theme. Staff confirmed a planned ceremonial groundbreaking and public event schedule, and said the project remains on track for a 90% design milestone in December and a targeted construction schedule into 2026.

Council asked for continued community engagement, follow-up on shade tree selection and confirmation of cost-estimates at the next design milestone. No vote was required; this was a design update and direction to proceed to the next design milestone.