Red Bug Lake Park to get soccer field renovations, softball scoreboard repairs

Red Bug Lake Park in the Casselberry and Winter Springs area is getting a makeover to its soccer and softball fields. 

The Seminole County Commission earlier this month approved a budget amendment request to spend $254,513 in reserves to renovate the park’s soccer field and fix the scoreboards on the softball fields. According to a staff report, the three soccer fields (fields A, B and C) and three softball fields at the park are used by more than 60 teams.

Soccer Field B was closed for seven months while county staff tried, unsuccessfully, to seed and regrow the sod on the field. 

County staff tried unsuccessfully to regrow sod at Red Bug Lake Park in the greater Winter Springs area, and will instead pay for new sod at three soccer fields. (Photo by Abe Aboraya)

“This attempt did not produce the desired results, and now requires significant renovations to bring it up to the department’s level of service and avoid any safety issues from uneven turf,” staff wrote in documents. “The renovations to field B include spraying out any weeds or ryegrass, laser leveling and grading the field, and replacing approximately 78,000 square feet of rolled sod. Fields A and C require leveling and repair in the high-traffic areas due to additional wear and tear caused by the closure of field B during the fall/winter/spring seasons.”

 The county is spending about $210,000 to replace the sod on the three fields, and is also expected to spend about $45,000 repairing the scoreboards on the three softball fields.

“The park organizes softball leagues with 60 (plus) teams, the scoreboards continue to be a primary complaint by teams,” staff wrote. “The softball games run on a play clock and not knowing the time, or counts creates a negative experience for players.”

More self storage units approved off of State Road 426; Dogtopia overnight stays approved

Commissioners approved rezoning 3.75 acres of land from agricultural to general commercial and wholesale to develop the property, southwest of Oviedo, as a self-storage facility at its May 14 meeting.

The Connection Point Commercial Center property is between State Road 426 and S.R. 417, south of Chapman Road in unincorporated Seminole County. 

There are 1.46 acres of wetland on the property. At the Seminole County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, where the project was discussed, the issue of the wetlands was raised. 

“Are you gonna preserve the wetlands, or are you knocking them out?” asked Commissioner Richard Jerman.

“We’re taking them out,” said Chad Moorehead, president at Madden, Moorhead, & Stokes, who is representing the owner. “It’s in process now with the water management district already.”

The Seminole County Commission also approved a variance request for Dogtopia, located at the intersection of S.R. 434 and Interstate 4. Dogtopia already exists on the property, but the current zoning doesn’t allow for overnight boarding of animals. 

County staff recommended approval, with the condition that the interior buildout be soundproofed and that outdoor kennels won’t be allowed. One resident did address the commission concerned about parking in the area and possible code enforcement violations on the site. 

Ultimately, the county commission approved the variance.

“It’s an overnight doggy day care, essentially,” said Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine.