Winter Springs nixes plans for lakeside events center, Pickleball Court Overlook

The City of Winter Springs has removed two potentially controversial projects from its list of one-cent sales tax projects over the coming decade, axing plans for a $7 million events center on Lake Jesup and a $3 million Pickleball Overlook Building.

Winter Springs revised and finalized its list of Fourth Generation Penny Sales Tax projects to give to Seminole County at Monday’s City Commission meeting. The current one-cent sales tax is set to expire at the end of 2024, and voters are expected to be asked to renew the sales tax this next election. 

If voters ultimately approve another decade of the additional penny sales tax, Winter Springs is projected to get $38 million. The City Commission voted in December on a proposed list of projects to spend the money on, which included $7 million for, “an event center in Central Winds Park located along Lake Jessup,” according to city documents, and a $3 million overlook building at the new pickleball courts at Central Winds Park. 

Residents play pickleball May 6, 2024 at the Central Winds Park Pickleball Court. The city of Winter Springs nixed plans to add a $3 million Pickleball Court Overlook building over the next decade. (Photo by Abe Aboraya)

Winter Springs Mayor Kevin McCann said more stormwater and infrastructure projects needed to be added to the list instead. Check here for the full list of current projects. 

“The City of Winter Springs, since the last vote was taken, has recognized through Hurricane Ian that we absolutely must make stormwater a priority,” McCann said. “This is really important. We had hundreds of homes in Winter Springs (that) were flooded. We have to respond to our neighbors first.”

By the Numbers:

In total, the new project list adds $6.8 million to bridge and drainage improvement projects, bringing the total of that category to $19.3 million. That includes adding an extra $500,000 each to two bridge replacement projects on Northern Way and Winter Springs Boulevard over Howell Creek. Additionally, the city now wants to replace the bridge at Winter Springs Boulevard over Bear Creek. 

The new project list also adds $3.2 million in stormwater repair projects that were not originally budgeted at all: $2 million for pond rehabilitation and $1.2 million for pipe repairs. 

To add those projects, the new list cut $10 million in future parks and recreation projects. That came from cutting two projects completely: A $7 million Events Center at Central Winds Park that would have been used for “Wedding, Meeting Hall events, etc.” And a $3 million, two-story Pickleball Overlook Building was also cut. 

“A two story structure is needed to view the pickleball courts that are in play or for tournament play,” city officials wrote in planning documents. “The upper deck will have (a) large open area as well as an event room for about 2,000 square feet of space. The first deck will have a Trophy Display and an office area/pro shop.”

Commissioner Victoria Bruce said she was glad to see $150,000 for playground resurfacing at Trotwood Park made the cut. She reiterated a recent request to have lighting at Central Winds Park changed to LED lighting to reduce the buzzing sound. Staff said they had not had time to vet the project’s costs enough to put it on the project list. 

McCann pointed out that the city was audited by the Seminole County Tax Collector over its use of the penny sales tax, and asked the commission to lock in the projects for at least the near term. He said the city can change its project list down the road if need be, but cautioned against changing it more frequently.  

“Changing it in two or three years when we’ve taken care of some priorities and infrastructure issues is one thing. Changing it next month, in six months, in eight months, to me is unacceptable,” McCann said. “Let’s go with what we have here. I want the voters to know what we’re voting on is what they will be voting on, that they will have a clear idea.”

In other news, the Winter Springs City Commission:

• Discussed parking at the Winter Springs Senior Center again, ultimately letting a previous vote to allow an existing private vendor organizing day trips for seniors to continue using the Senior Center for parking. Commissioner Rob Elliott had asked the commission to reconsider its March 25 decision based on a survey of 84 seniors who use the center. 
• Approved a three-agency agreement to get a turn lane at State Road 434 and Winding Hollow Boulevard. MetroPlan Orlando is footing the $1.1 million cost, while the city will hold supplemental funding for overages in escrow for the project.
• Approved another contract for Zulu Marine Services Inc. for $169,000 to remove sediment from more ponds ahead of hurricane season. The ponds are: Oak Forest Lake, Torcaso Park Pond, Lake Willa Pond, Pond 59 in Chelsea Woods and Winter Springs Boulevard Pond. 
• Approved an agreement to bring back the Central Winds Music Festival for its second year. The date is now set for Nov. 9, 2024 at Central Winds Park.  
• Discussed how a current dry spell is reducing the reclaimed wastewater the city has available. The city is asking residents to conserve water.