OKEECHOBEE — On Tuesday, June 17, T-Mobile announced Okeechobee Main Street as one of just 25 recipients—out of 991 applicants—of the T-Mobile Hometown Grant for the second quarter of 2025.

The $50,000 grant will help fund the addition of wheelchair-accessible playground equipment at Kiwanis Park, marking a significant step toward creating a more inclusive space where all children can experience the joy of play.

This milestone is the result of a meaningful collaboration between Okeechobee Main Street, the Kiwanis Club of Okeechobee, and Okeechobee County Parks and Recreation. But the roots of the project run deep.

In 2016, Courtney Moyett, as the first female president of the Kiwanis Club of Okeechobee during her leadership, unveiled the new playground at Kiwanis Park. It was also in the Kiwanis Club members hearts to add wheelchair accessible playground equipment. However the equipment is very costly and they needed to raise additional funds.

Years later, under the presidency of Don Hanna, the Kiwanis Club set aside $9,000 in remaining playground funds and added $11,000 more, earmarking it to the county with the hope they could raise additional funds through grants.

That hope found new momentum when Christina Honeycutt joined the Kiwanis Club and learned the history behind the funds. As interim Executive Director of Okeechobee Main Street, Christina discovered the opportunity for the T-Mobile Hometown Grant through Main Street’s eligibility as a recognized partner. Working closely with Denise Whitehead, Assistant County Administrator, she poured her energy into the application.

The process was tedious and highly competitive, but in the end, the heartfelt mission behind the project stood out. T-Mobile recognized the powerful impact that accessible play could bring to the Okeechobee community and awarded the full $50,000 to help make it a reality.

With this generous funding, the project is expected to be completed within the next year—opening the doors of play to all children, regardless of physical ability.

This project marks an important first step toward a more inclusive Okeechobee, where every child has a place to laugh, grow, and belong.

For more information or to get involved in supporting the project, please contact Christina Honeycutt at Okeechobee Main Street. 863-801-3485 christina@okeechobeemainstreet.org