Riverside Park senior center planned to open this fall

Nearly one year after Hurricane Ian’s floodwaters destroyed Oviedo’s Riverside Park pool and community center, delaying a highly-anticipated senior center’s grand opening, the center is nearly open. 

Painting, bingo, jazzercise, Zumba, mah-jongg and self defense will be among the list of offerings that are set to start in October in the 2,400-square-foot multi-purpose room of the community center that’s within the Riverside Park Complex on Lockwood Boulevard. The Complex also includes a pool, tennis courts, racquetball courts, a band shell and a skate park. The senior center is part of a five-year effort to increase the city’s offerings for the 55-plus community. 

Last September Hurricane Ian dumped 15 inches of rain in east Seminole County within 24 hours. The community center filled with 21 inches of rain, causing such severe damage that the buckled racquetball court floors need to be replaced, the bathrooms need to be replumbed and the roof needs to be replaced, among many other repairs. The Oviedo City Council approved nearly $604,000 in repairs for the complex on July 17.

Oviedo Assistant City Manager Patrick Kelly said the remediation work started as soon as the budget was approved and is scheduled to last four to five weeks. 

Recreation & Parks Director Paul Beldon said the staff is also in the process of executing a work order for the resurfacing of Riverside’s tennis courts. He said the court on the north end will be converted into three pickleball courts in anticipation of the senior center.

The pool, which was filled with brackish river water from the storm, needs to be drained, cleaned, possibly resurfaced and major equipment such as the pool heater, pump and filter needs to be refurbished or replaced.

“It was really hard this summer not having the center and pool open,” said Pam Little, who brings her kids to the center for swimming and activities. “But I am happy it is getting fixed and back to normal soon.”

Contact Riverside Park for more information on the senior center. 

New water rescue machine and self-powered sandbag machine purchased for upcoming hurricane season

Approximately 30,000 30-pound sandbags were filled the days following Hurricane Ian’s landfall by staff and self-filled by residents. The Council approved purchasing The Ultimate Bagger for $46,000 on July 17. The machine is a self-powered, transportable sandbagging machine that can fill up to 1,200 bags per hour. 

“What a huge help that is going to be,” Councilman Jeff Boddiford said.

Oviedo Fire Chief Michael Woodward’s proposal to purchase a high-water/wildland rescue machine for $286,000, most of which is covered by a state Fire Marshall Grant award, was approved by the Council. The machine will be able to go around flooded locations to rescue those who are left stranded by storms. 

Boddiford said it was difficult retrieving people from the flooded areas last year and that they had to wait for state emergency services for rescue.

“I know we have those two big trucks, one for the police and one for the fire, but having that big high-water vehicle is going to come in handy,” he said during the July 17 meeting.

Several developments’ architectural designs approved

Central Square Lot

More than 6,000 square feet of commercial space is planned for the corner of Alafaya Trail and West Mitchell Hammock Road in front of the Sprouts Farmers Market. The developer wanted to deviate from the city’s design standards, changing the amount of brick and stone they’re required to use and, in return, donate $5,000 to the city’s Public Art fund.

Longhorn Steakhouse Oviedo

Nearly 6,000 square feet of space along Lockwood Boulevard and West Mitchell Hammock Road will become a new Longhorn Steakhouse in place of part of the parking lot. The developer wanted to deviate from the city’s design standards, increasing how much wood they will use and, in return, will donate $4,000 to the city’s Public Art Fund.

Ace Hardware Oviedo

A commercial retail property development measuring 10,000 square feet along Central Avenue and Franklin Street will  house the new Ace Hardware Oviedo, which is moving from its current location at the U.S. Post Office plaza off of Central Avenue and Broadway Street. The developer wanted to deviate from the city’s design standards, decreasing the amount of openings on the side of the store and, in return, will donate $3,000 to the city’s Public Art Fund.

See what else was approved on the consent agenda, and a video of the City Council regular session from July 17, here.