BELMONT — Town Administrator Patrice Garvin would like to recognize Belmont’s dedicated professional staff in a series of employee spotlights. There are many hard-working employees working for Belmont that often go unrecognized. The purpose of these articles will be to bring these incredible employee accomplishments to light.
Town Administrator Garvin would like to recognize the Recreation Department’s Recreation Programs Coordinator Heidi Barberio for her years of commitment and service to the Town of Belmont.
Barberio, originally from New Jersey, is a long-time Waltham resident. She has been an employee of the Town of Belmont for nine years and has focused her career on creating inclusive opportunities through her work with the Belmont Recreation Department.
Barberio currently serves as the Belmont Recreation Department’s Reaction Programs Coordinator where she oversees the Belmont/Watertown Special Programs Organized for Recreation Time (S.P.O.R.T.). Belmont/Watertown S.P.O.R.T. is a year-round program that provides activities for individuals with special needs. The program is open to participants of all ages and abilities. Funding for this program is provided by the Towns of Belmont and Watertown, as well as user fees and private donations.
Barberio, together with a team of dedicated volunteers and under Recreation Director Brandon Fitts, enables Belmont/Watertown S.P.O.R.T. to offer many outstanding programs at nominal fees. Such programs include Special Olympic Swim Team, Tennis, Volleyball, Walking Group and more.
In 2014, Barberio started working for the Belmont Recreation Department as a part-time employee. During this time she served as a special needs program assistant, where she worked closely with and became an asset to the Belmont/Watertown S.P.O.R.T program. In 2016, she began working for the department full-time, taking on her current role in administration and program coordination.
“Each day I am blessed to work in an industry that I truly love,” said Barberio. “I would like to recognize the countless volunteers that work alongside me every day to make this program so amazing.”
In 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruption to Belmont/Watertown S.P.O.R.T as most programs were forced online and participants living in assisted residences were unable to attend S.P.O.R.T programs.
However, this didn’t stop Barberio from making a difference in the lives of S.P.O.R.T. participants. Throughout the pandemic, Barberio took it upon herself to reach out to the participants via phone and write letters to keep in touch and check-in.
Belmont/Watertown S.P.O.R.T has since returned to normalcy and participants continue to enjoy their regularly scheduled programs indoors.
“Barberio has gone above and beyond to improve the lives of participants in the Belmont/Watertown S.P.O.R.T program,” said Town Administrator Patrice Garvin. “She has had a strong impact on many lives within our community and we are so thankful for her hard work and dedication to the Town of Belmont.”
Most recently, Barberio began working with the Young Athletes Program in conjunction with Special Olympics. Special Olympics Young Athletes is an inclusive sport and play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities, aged two to seven years old. To learn more about Special Olympics Young Athletes program, click here
In addition to Barberio’s exemplary work with the Belmont/Watertown S.P.O.R.T. program, she works hard to create opportunities for Recreation in many other capacities here in Belmont. Barberio coordinates and oversees the towns robust summer camp programs which she has worked to grow immensely over the past few years.
Barberio previously received a Community Partnership Award from the Federation for Children with Special Needs. She was a part of the Department’s Community Impact Award in 2021 recognized by the Massachusetts Recreation and Parks Association. In 2016, she was nominated by a family in Belmont and was awarded the Belmont Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) award.
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