County pitches Eco Discovery Center as cornerstone of conservation and ecotourism corridor; Collage Companies named top design‑build proposer

County staff and private design‑build teams presented a multi‑project plan on Sept. 15 to create a conservation and ecotourism corridor centered near State Road 100 and the existing pedestrian bridge into the Bulow Creek Headwaters area.

County engineer Hamid Tavassian and consultants said the corridor will link the planned Bulow Creek Headwaters Regional Park, an Eco Discovery Center, a SunTrail trailhead, and an Old Kings Road shared‑use path to create a continuous recreational spine from northern to southern county lines. The Bulow Creek Headwaters site — described in the presentation as over 1,000 acres and fully funded for park development — will include a north–south multiuse trail, boardwalks through wetlands, waterfront access and a trailhead that connects to the pedestrian bridge.

Procurement and scope The county is using a progressive (phase) design‑build delivery method for the visitor Eco Discovery Center. Staff reported the Tourist Development Council approved a project budget of $10,000,362 and that the request for proposals process produced technical and price proposals; the evaluation and public presentations led the selection committee to name the Collage Companies as the top‑ranked design‑build proposer. County staff said they will recommend award of the phase design‑build contract to the Collage Companies at a forthcoming board action, and that — if necessary — the county can “off‑ramp” to a traditional design‑bid‑build approach after the design phase.

Project program and partners Tourism director Amy Lukasick said the center is intended to be more than an information kiosk: it will include exhibit space, a multipurpose/event room, education programming, equipment rentals, a locally‑sourced gift shop, permanent office space for tourism staff, and restrooms and parking. Lukasick told the board the project is intended to be self‑sustaining on tourist tax revenue and fee revenue; the tourism office’s conservative five‑year financial estimates project roughly $200,000 in first‑year facility revenue (noting private partnerships and sponsorships could increase returns).

Design teams presented a compact, transparent 10,000‑square‑foot conceptual building sited to minimize tree removal and to take advantage of ponds created by historical borrow pits. The proposer Collage Companies led a team that included Rosen Bredow Architects, Kimley‑Horn, MDSX (exhibit design) and local subcontractors. The design brief shows roughly 90–95 parking spaces and bus parking on the site concept; staff said portions of required site access and parking may be delivered as part of the SunTrail trailhead project to achieve efficiencies.

Regulatory work and funding links Presenters said the planning phase includes NEPA class‑of‑action determination, cultural resource assessment and coordination with FDOT and water‑management agencies. The Old Kings Road shared use path and the SunTrail trailhead, presenters said, are funded through SunTrail and FDOT local programs with expected completion of the trail segments and trailhead by about 2028; the Eco Discovery Center design and construction schedule will be coordinated with those projects.

Public reaction Public comments were mixed. Supporters — including local tourism and hospitality officials, nonprofit volunteers and residents — described the site as an education asset, a regional tourism draw and a place for field trips and hands‑on environmental programs. Amy Lukasick said the visitor facility would “create new revenue streams” and “is financially self sustaining and a one‑time investment that is 100% paid for by the visitors.”

Opponents questioned timing and priorities. Resident Richard Hamilton criticized the $10 million building as premature and urged the county to reserve tourist‑tax dollars for beach and other urgent infrastructure needs: “A $10,000,000 building, I am less in favor of,” he said. Several commenters and one commissioner raised parking concerns and asked that designers consider sustainability measures such as solar power, water collection, and natural turf alternatives for event lawns.

Next steps and status At the workshop staff said they would proceed to detailed design with the top‑ranked design‑build team and return to the board with a contract recommendation. No formal contract award or final funding reallocation was recorded in the transcript; the trailhead and shared‑use path projects are proceeding with identified SunTrail and FDOT funding. County staff also said they will continue public outreach, refine parking and permitting plans, and coordinate park design and permitting with water‑management and permitting agencies.