Sue Herndon McCollum Community Center at Lafayette Park
Location and Hours of Operation
- 501 Ingleside Avenue | 850-891-3946
- Monday-Friday: 9:00am - 9:00pm
- Saturday: 1:00 - 9:00pm
Nestled in the heart of Tallahassee, Lafayette Park Community Center was the City's first multi-purpose community center. Built in 1957, Lafayette Park's 22-acre park not only houses a recreation center, but an Arts and Crafts Center, a playground, softball field, tennis courts, a picnic shelter and a 1 mile course trail. After serving Tallahassee citizens for nearly 50 years, the community center was renamed for the former Lafayette Park center supervisor and City of Tallahassee Assistant Recreation Director Sue Herndon McCollum.
Providing both active and passive activities, with a wide variety of classes, the Sue McCollum Community Center at Lafayette Park is the ideal location for the entire family.
Full Class Schedule
Summer Playcamp
This summer marks the 57th summer of Playcamp at the Sue McCollum community center. Started in 1966 by former Parks Supervisor Sue McCollum, we are located near the Midtown area and are the city oldest fee-based camp. Located in the beautiful Lafayette Park area, we offer a camp with small camper to counselor ratios and a fun mix of both active and passive games. Besides our 20-acre park area we feature a ballfield, playground, tennis courts and a multipurpose center with a gymnasium and classrooms.
Camp runs for five sessions over nine weeks of the summer. Pre-registration is held in Mid-March for last year's campers. Registration for new campers is held via a lottery registration on April 3rd. For more questions about camp or registration, please call 891-3946 or you can email us at the addresses listed below.
We are also hiring paid summer staff (Counselors, Assistant Counselors and Specialists) as well as volunteer teen positions (CIT program for Ages 13-15).
2023 Session Dates
- Session 1: May 30 - June 9
- Session 2: June 12 - June 24
- Session 3: June 26 - July 7
- Session 4: July 10 - July 21
- Session 5: July 24 - July 28
For more Information on Playcamp or Summer positions, please contact Tracy Davis.
Community Groups
The following groups hold meetings on a regular basis at our facility. If you would like further information on these groups, please call 850-891-3946.
- Lafayette Park Table Tennis Club
- Old Town Neighborhood
- Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
- Quilting
- TPD Housing
- C.O.N.A.
- Tallahassee Dog Obedience Club
- Crochet
- T.O.P.S.
About Sue Herndon McCollum
Sue Herndon McCollum was born November 1, 1934 in Pensacola, FL. After graduating from Washington County High School in Chipley, she attended Florida State University, earning a BS (1956) and MS (1957) in Recreation. While at FSU, Sue was a member of the "Flying High" Circus. Her love for and support of the Circus continues to this day and was shared with others when she organized the Little Big Top Circus at Lafayette Park. As a part of the department's youth program, this complete circus was the first of its kind in the United States. Sue's contributions to Tallahassee and the department are numerous, and her work with the Friends of our Parks Foundation has been invaluable.
Sue began her career with the City in 1957, when she was hired as the Assistant Director of the Lafayette Park Community Center. She served as the center's director from 1960-1967, and, after a brief stint with the Hollywood (FL) Recreation Department; she served as Superintendent of Recreation from 1969 until her appointment as Assistant Director in 1980. She retired from the City in 1994. Sue was married to former Leon County Commissioner J.B. McCollum, who passed away in 2003.
In addition to being active in civic, church and community groups, Sue has contributed in many ways to the recreation profession. She served five terms as Secretary of the Florida Recreation and Park Association, served as District 1 Director, served on Registration and Certification Committees, organized the annual state-wide Director's Seminar, and was a Certified Leisure Professional. She has received the FRPA Achievement Award (1968), the FRPA Merit Award (1977), the Trousdell-Vickery Award (1993), and the organization's highest honor, the Lifetime Award (1995).
David Chapman Field at Lafayette Park
David Chapman began his employment with the City of Tallahassee’s Parks and Recreation Department in 1972 after having been an active participant in the department’s programs and activities while growing up in Tallahassee. He started his career working as a Playcamp counselor at Lafayette Park and served in a variety of capacities including Assistant Center Supervisor at the Palmer Munroe Community Center, Supervisor of Recreation over special events and the City’s summer camp program, Administrative Supervisor over Capital Projects, Parks Division Superintendent, and Assistant Director. After a brief retirement in 2005, he agreed to return and served as Director of the department from 2005-2007. In his capacity as Parks Superintendent and Administrative Supervisor over Capital Projects, he oversaw a number of enhancements, renovations, and maintenance projects at Lafayette Park, including the ballfield. He also volunteered as a coach in the department’s athletic leagues for many years, including stints coaching football and baseball on the ballfield at Lafayette Park. As a resident of the Lafayette Park neighborhood since 1975, he and his wife along with their kids and grandkids have regularly utilized the park’s amenities and remain active participants in programs and events at the community center. On October 26, 2022, the City Commission unanimously voted to name the ballfield in his honor.