Seminole County approves going after land to expand Red Bug Lake Park

Seminole County is looking to expand Red Bug Lake Park.

The Board of County Commissioners for Seminole County on Tuesday approved giving staff the ability to negotiate for three properties adjacent to Red Bug Lake Park. If successful, it could ultimately add nearly 10 acres to the 56-acre park.

“We’ve been looking at it forever and a day,” said Seminole County Commissioner Bob Dallari, whose district includes Oviedo. “If you don’t get them now, you never will.”

Red Bug Lake Park in the Casselberry and Winter Springs area is the busiest park in Seminole County, said Rick Durr, manager of greenways and natural land for Seminole County. The county expressed interest in the property earlier this month before board approval Tuesday. 

“Should the county acquire the property, it would be land banked for the potential future expansion of the park,” Durr said. “This possible opportunity for long-range expansion of the county’s busiest park – Red Bug Lake Park – was noted in the county’s Park System Master Plan update in 2018 and again in the county’s 10-year Parks System Master Plan from early 2024 as a potential long-range project.”

A map showing Red Bug Lake Park, according to county documents. The Seminole County Commission approved starting negotiations to buy nearly 10 acres of property next to the park for future expansions. 

The first property is 3.9 acres of land at 3800 Lavender Way in Casselberry, and is listed on Zillow for $650,000. The second property is 3.7 acres of vacant land. 

The first property up for sale next to Red Bug Lake park is 3.9 acres of land at 3800 Lavender Way in Casselberry, and is listed on Zillow for $650,000. (Photo by Jason Braddock)

The county is also interested in buying a third property: 2.38 acres of land at 3850 Lavender Way. But that property is not listed for sale, said Jason Braddock, the realtor representing the family that owns the property. 

The first two properties – even the one that hasn’t been officially listed – have already gotten offers. But Braddock said the potential sellers were waiting to hear what the Seminole County Commission ultimately decides to do.

“We’ve had other interested parties, but it just makes sense for us to wait for the board,” Braddock said. “Because that’s the highest and best use with the parks and schools being there. It’s ideal for the community as well as for the government.”

Tuesday’s decision isn’t the final say in the matter, though. It gives staff the ability to appraise the property and enter into negotiations. But ultimately any final purchase of the land would have to be approved by the commission. 

“This is long-term planning,” Dallari said. “We won’t develop this property for a number of years, but if we don’t obtain it now, you’ll never obtain it.”

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