- April 26, 2024
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The Volusia County Council voted unanimously on Thursday, Dec. 7, to drop the expansion project at the four-acre Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park in Ormond-By-the-Sea which many of the park-goers had been against since its conception.
During the public meeting held at the park on Nov. 7, the majority of the residents who attended did not support the expansion and asked the County to look into using the funds to improve the park as-is.
"Our wish, and the wish of the majority of those who attended a public meeting at the park by director Bailey on Nov. 7, is simply that the mulched area be allowed to grow back and that the trail be restored so visitors and residents alike can continue to experience the beauty that was once the North Peninsula and fall in love with it just as I did as a child," said Ormond-By-the-Sea resident Melissa Lammers, who was representing a 91-person group called North Peninsula Preservation at the County Council.
Volusia County Chair Ed Kelley brought up the discussion regarding the complaints about the sand in the park. One suggestion to fix it would be to add ADA-compliant sidewalks for people to avoid the sand. Either way, he said they needed to try to create a balance between Bicentennial park being a dog park and a nature trail.
“Either do nothing as far as making concrete walkways in the middle of that desert and let it grow back, or expand it to where you have a dog park that’s more manageable, more usable, without destroying the quote trail, and the trail that is primarily there,” Kelley said.
Ultimately, the County Council decided if the residents didn't want the expansion, then they would listen.
“This is also a great example, I think, of citizens voicing their opinions and making things happen," Councilwoman Heather Post said.
