History

CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF PARKS & RECREATION DIVISION

1969
VOTER APPROVAL OF A $1.6 MILLION BOND ISSUE to purchase land for a County Parks system.

1970
LAND PURCHASES FOR DEVELOPMENT of Lake Mills, Sylvan Lake, Red Bug Lake and Sanlando Parks.

1970 - 1973
THE ONLY PARKS IN THE COUNTY DURING THIS PERIOD WERE : boat
ramps at Lake Monroe Wayside, Cameron Wight, Mullet Lake, C.S. Lee and Lake
Jesup Parks; Soldier's Creek Park: Big Tree Park; and neighborhood parks of Winwood, Bookertown and Sunland.

ESTABLISHMENT OF A PARKS DIVISION and hiring of a Manager to coordinate
Parks development.

* SEMINOLE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD started the Environmental Education Program.

1974
LAKE MILLS PARK DEVELOPED with pavilions, playground, boardwalk, amphitheater, camping, restrooms, fishing pier, swimming area, security resident, picnic areas, access road and parking. Funded by Land and Water Conservation Fund grant and General Fund.

LEASE SIGNED BY COUNTY AND SEMINOLE BASEBALL, INC. For use of land at Soldier's Creek Park for $1.00 per year for a 10 year period.

1975
RED BUG LAKE PARK DEVELOPED with tennis, racquetball, and basketball courts, office building with restrooms, swimming area, bath house with restrooms and parking. Funded by Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant and General Fund.

EXPANSION OF THE PARKS & RECREATION DIVISION to add recreation staff to operate Red Bug Lake Park.

1976
PARKS ADVISORY BOARD ESTABLISHED by the Board of County Commissioners on February 10, 1976.

RED BUG LAKE PARK OPENED in the winter in conjunction with the Bicentennial.

1977
CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN SCHOOL BOARD & BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ESTABLISHED THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES CENTER at Soldier's Creek Park. The Center is staffed by the School Board with general grounds maintenance by the Parks and Recreation Division. Agreement is renewed every five years.

1978
SANLANDO PARK DEVELOPED with tennis, racquetball and basketball courts, office building with restrooms and parking. Funded by General Fund.

1978 - 1983
ADDITION OF TENNIS AND RACQUETBALL COURTS AT SANLANDO AND
RED BUG PARKS. Softball and soccer fields added at Red Bug Lake and Soldiers Creek Parks.

1984
SYLVAN LAKE PARK DEVELOPED with pavilions, boardwalks, swimming area, picnic tables, grills, restrooms, security residence, soccer fields, parking and access road.
Funded by Land and Water Conservation Fund grant and General Fund.

CONTRACT RENEWED WITH SEMINOLE BASEBALL, INC. For a 10 year lease at Soldier's Creek Park

1986
C. S. LEE AND CAMERON WIGHT PARKS IMPROVED. New boat ramps and floating docks added. Funding by Florida BOATING Improvement Funds grant and Land and Water Conservation Fund.

PARKS & RECREATION DIVISION BEGAN A PROGRAM OF SCHEDULED
MAINTENANCE at neighborhood parks.

REPLACEMENT OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT at Winwood, Sunland and
Bookertown Parks. Funded by General Fund

1987
ADOPTION OF THE PARKS AND OPEN SPACE ELEMENT IN THE COMPREHENSIVE GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLAN. Level of Service (LOS) adopted for Total Park Acreage: 3.6 acres / 1000 population and Developed Park Acreage: 1.8 / 1000 population. Major improvements were initiated in the Parks System to meet required deadlines for compliance with standard (LOS) in Comprehensive Plan.

RED BUG LAKE PARK IMPROVEMENTS included tennis and racquetball courts,
Playground, jogging/exercise trail, parking, pavilions and lights on soccer field. Funding by Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program & General Fund.

SANLANDO PARK IMPROVEMENTS included tennis and racquetball courts, playground, jogging /exercise trail, restrooms and parking. Funded by General Fund.

LAKE MONROE WAYSIDE PARK IMPROVEMENTS included replacement of boat ramps, addition of two floating docks and one stationary dock. Funded by Florida BOATING Improvement Fund grant.

COUNTY RENEWED THE AGREEMENT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD for the use of land at Soldier's Creek Park as an Environmental Studies' Center. Staffed BY THE SCHOOL BOARD with general grounds maintenance performed by the Parks and Recreation Division. Agreement is renewed every five years.

1988
CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT TO MEET LEVEL OF SERVICE IN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN by improving Winwood, Sunland, Bookertown, Lake Mills and Sylvan Lake Parks.

LAKE MILLS AND SYLVAN LAKE PARKS IMPROVED to include addition of jogging/exercise trails and storage buildings. Ball fields were improved and playground added and improved. Funding by General Fund.

WINWOOD AND BOOKERTOWN PARKS WERE FENCED: a basketball court was added at Bookertown. Funded by General Funds.

1989
MULLET LAKE PARK IMPROVED. Boat ramp replaced with new stationary dock, access road and parking. Funded by BOATER Improvement Funds grant.

1990
GREENWOOD LAKES NEIGHBORHOOD PARK DEVELOPED. Property and $100,000 was contributed as part of a Development Agreement for park development. Park includes a large modular playground, tot lot, restrooms, pavilion, jogging trail, three (3) volleyball courts and parking. Florida Recreation Assistance Program and General Fund supplemented the $ 100,000 donation.

1991 - 1992
MIDWAY NEIGHBORHOOD PARK DEVELOPED. Playground, fencing around property, benches and basketball court added with Community Development Block Grant Funds.

COUNTY ENTERS LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE for approximately
1,000 acres in Spring Hammock Preserve. Area includes Soldier's Creek Park, Environmental Studies' Center (Operated by the Seminole School System) and Big Tree Park.

CONTRACT RENEWED WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD for use of land at Soldier's Creek Park as an Environmental Studies' Center. STAFFED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD with general grounds maintenance performed by the Parks and Recreation Division. Agreement is renewed every five years.

LIGHTS ADDED TO WINWOOD PARK basketball courts. Funded by General Fund

1993
IMPROVEMENTS AT C.S. LEE PARK. New access road, paved parking and pavilion with tables and grills. Funded by Florida Boating Improvement Funds.

SPORTS TRAINING CENTER ADDED AT SYLVAN LAKE PARK. The 15,000 square foot office and training center was designed to house the USSF, Parks & Recreation Administrative office and the Events Coordinator for Tourism Development. Tourist Development Funding.

IMPROVEMENT AT SYLVAN LAKE PARK: Four existing soccer fields upgrade; lights added to one soccer field. Added two new soccer fields, nine tennis courts, four racquetball courts, restrooms and parking. Tourist Development Funding.

SEMINOLE COUNTY SOFTBALL COMPLEX OPENS with five lighted fields; playground; 8,000 square foot administration/restroom/concession building; access road and parking. The 38-acre tournament facility is constructed on the site of the old Sanlando landfill.

ADDITION OF BALL FIELD to Greenwood Lakes Park.

1994
LIGHTING OF OPEN FIELD AT RED BUG LAKE PARK for free play. Funded by General Funds.

LAKE MONROE WAYSIDE PARK replacement of 17-92 bridge by Department of Transportation. Old bridge placed in park as a historical bridge and used as a fishing pier. Additional property deeded by the State to the Seminole County as an addition to the existing county owned property.

NEIGHBORHOOD LIGHTING of Sunland, Midway and Bookertown. Funded by General Fund.

1995

OPEN FIELD UPGRADED at Red Bug Lake and Sanlando Parks with "Rebound". (Recycled soil amendment and re-sod) Funded by Solid Waste Division's recycling grant through the state of Florida. (Recycled tires used in soil amendment)

PLAYGROUND SURFACES UPGRADED with poured in place ("PIP") surfacing material at Sanlando and Greenwood Lake Parks with material made from recycled tires. New slide and swings replaced existing slide and swings at Sanlando Park. Funded by Solid Waste Division's recycling grant through the State Of Florida. This replaces mulch surfacing at these parks.

LITTLE BIG ECON canoe launch approved by BCC. Parking and sign installed identifying site. Site is located at 419 bridge at Little Econ River. Funded by General Fund.

1996
PARKING LOT AND RESTROOM LIGHTING improved at Sylvan Lake Park. Funded by General Fund.

LAKE JESUP IMPROVEMENTS of boat ramp, pavilion, paved parking, solar lighting in parking lot and dredging of canal. Funded by Florida Boating Improvement Fund.

PLAYGROUND SURFACES UPGRADED with poured in place ("PIP") surfacing material at Lake Mills and Red Bug Lake Parks with material made from recycled tires. Funded by Solid Waste Division's recycling grant through the State Of Florida. This replaces mulch surfacing at these parks.

1997
PLAYGROUND SURFACES UPGRADED with poured in place (" PIP") surfacing material at Lake Mills, Sylvan Lake and Sunland Parks. Funded by Solid Waste Division's recycling grant through the State Of Florida. This replaces mulch surfacing at these parks.

RED BUG LAKE PARK EXPANSION of 9 acres East of park with lighted Softball field, Soccer Field, two (2) basketball courts, and open play field. Funded by Florida Recreation Assistance Program (FRDAP) and General Funds.

LAKE DOT PARK DONATED and accepted on 8/26/1997.

1998
CROSS SEMINOLE TRAIL purchased December 1996 and opened May 1998. This is a 3.7-mile Multi-use paved trail between Oveido and Winter Springs. Funded by State Grant (ISTEA) and General Fund. The Black Hammock Trail Head is the main access point for this trail. It is located ¼ mile West of the 417 Greeneway Expressway. Amenities include a 14 foot wide asphalt paved trail, water fountains, parking and horse trails.

CAMERON WIGHT Boat Ramp improvements which includes improved roadways, parking and solar lighting with a new pavilion. Funded by Boater Improvement Funds.

PLAYGROUND SURFACES UPGRADED with poured in place ("PIP") surfacing material under Sunland's and Midway's Modular Playground system & swing and at Red Bug resurface existing to accommodate replaced Modular Playground system. Funded by Solid Waste Division's recycling grant through the State Of Florida. This replaces mulch surfacing at these parks.

1999
HIRED TRAILS COORDINATOR to manage day to day operation of trails.

PLAYGROUND SURFACES UPGRADED with poured in place ("PIP") surfacing material at Greenwood Lake's upgraded par course station and handicap swing, at Softball Complex's Playground and Red Bug's upgraded par course station and two bleachers. Funded by Solid Waste Division's recycling grant through the State Of Florida. This replaces mulch surfacing at these parks.

BUILT STORAGE BUILDING (pole barn) at Sylvan Lake Park. Funded by General Fund.

LIGHTING UPGRADE of two youth softball fields at Soldiers Creek Park. Four Poles were added to the outfields (two on each field). Funded by General Fund.

2000
IMPROVED OPEN PLAY FIELD WITH IRRIGATION & RESRUFACED BASKETBALL COURTS at Greendwood Lakes Middle School with Seminole County Public School and Seminole County agreement.

PURCHASED 20 ACRES on the banks of the Wekiva River - West on S.R. 46. Funded through the Seminole County's Natural Lands program.

RESTROOMS BUILT AT RED BUG PARK'S East end next to the softball field, basketball courts open field and parking lot. Funded through General Funds.

PAR COURSE WITH POURED-IN-PLACE SURFACING added at Sanlando, Softball Complex and Sylvan Lake Parks. Funded through Solid Waste Division's recycling grant program from the State Of Florida and General Funds.

REPLACE MODULAR PLAY SYSTEM AND ADDED POURED-IN-PLACE SURFACING at Winwood Park. Funded through Solid Waste Division's recycling grant program from the State Of Florida and General Funds.

IMPROVED LIGHTING AND PAVED PARKING LOT AT SYLAN LAKE PARK funded through Tourist Development.

FUNDED IMPROVEMNTS TO STATIONARY AND FLOATING DOCKS AT THE SANFORD MARINA in partnership with the City of Sanford. Funded by Florida Boating Improvement Fund.

NEW RESTROOM AND PAVILION BUILT AT MULLET LAKE PARK Funded by Florida Boating Improvement Fund.

OPENING OF 2.2 MILES OF THE SEMINOLE WEKIVA TRAIL between S.R. 436 and S.R. 434 in Altamonte Springs. This represents the first stage in the development of this portion of the 21mile long trail. A trailhead was established at the Seminole County Softball Complex for access to this trail with secondary access through Sanlando Park.

OPENING OF 1.5 MILES OF THE CROSSINGS TRAILS a multi-use recreation trail in Lake Mary. Funded by General Funds.

ACQUIRED TWO ADDITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS - ROSELAND (Sanford area) & JAMESTOWN (Oveido area). Funded through Community Block Grant.

TRAILS, GREENWAYS AND NATURAL LANDS REFERENDUM was approved in the amount of $25 million by Seminole County voters.

2001
RED BUG LAKE PARK RESTROOM FACILITIES added to East end of the park to accommodate users of the 9 acre 1997 expansion. Funded through General funds.

GREENWOOD LAKES PARK RENOVATION to add a battery of 3 three tennis courts and a full size roller hockey rink with sidewalks, drinking fountains, signage, and improved parking lot lighting. Funded through Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program and General fund.

KEWANNEE PARK DEVELOPED on 6 acres to include a large pavilion, basketball court, tot lot, modular play system, swings, exercise stations, jogging path, boardwalk, and lake pier using Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program and General fund dollars.


2002
RESTROOM added to Kewannee Park funded by General fund dollars.

OPENING 12 MILES OF THE SEMINOLE WEKIVA TRAIL phase II between 434 along Markham Woods Road to Lake Mary Blvd and from 46A to Lake Markham Road near Sylvan Lake Park. Funded by a $20 Million Voter Approved Referendum in November 2000.

COUNTY STAFF runs its 1st NATIONAL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT in coordination with Central Florida Sports Commission, Central Florida Amateur Softball Association and Seminole County Visitors Bureau for a 16 & Under Class "B" Girls Fast Pitch Funded by CVB and General Fund

2003
SOLDIERS CREEK PARK BEAUTIFICATION that included upgrades to the scorekeeper boxes, netting added to catch foul balls, expanded parking lot to define parking, upgraded Park entrance sign by added message board and lighting, landscape planting installed throughout the park. Funded by General fund dollars

OVERLOOK PARK DEVELOPED (aka Hiley's Fish Camp) to include mooring and fishing dock along with a small pavilion and six paved parking spots with handicapped parking with sidewalk to pavilion Funded by General Fund.

OPENING OF INTERSTATE 4 PED BRIDGE with maintenance turned over to Parks and Recreation funded by a $20 Million Voter Approved Referendum in November 2000.

BOARDWALK expanded 300 foot at Kewannee Park near Lake and Pier with General Fund dollars.

LIGHTING SOCCER FIELD "D" at Sylvan Lake Park with Musco Lighting System with General Fund dollars.

PLAYGROUND IMPORVEMENTS IN CDBG neighborhood communities with General Fund dollars.