Port Orange council approves $121,000 design contract for White Place Park after heated debate

The Port Orange City Council voted 4-1 to approve a $121,000 task authorization to hire Hall And Oval Architects to start design and community engagement work at White Place Park.

The vote funds work to gather neighborhood input, perform surveys and borings, and evaluate stormwater and permitting constraints before any construction design moves forward. Councilman Green opposed the contract, saying he did not believe the proposed plan or a pond concept would benefit nearby homes and urged preserving open field space.

Councilman Green said, "I don't believe that it's in our best interest to spend $121,000 to an architect on a project that we don't know what we want." He argued the site has historically been a baseball field and that the council should avoid “digging a hole” and losing green space used informally by residents.

Susan LaValle, Parks and Recreation Director, described the contract as a step to test feasibility and collect community feedback before final design. "They're gonna do surveys. They're gonna do borings," LaValle said, adding the design team would "schedule neighborhood meetings, stakeholder meetings" and present options based on permitting and site conditions. She said the firm will advise whether the site can support a pond or will remain more suitable for passive uses.

City staff and the city manager told council the concept shown during the bond campaign was illustrative and that the design authorization is intended to bring the planning from a conceptual, 30,000-foot level to detailed, site-specific analysis. The manager said the procurement comes from a continuing services contract and that preliminary community input would determine the final program.

At the meeting several council members said the design fee is a fixed step to start exploration and that the firm would remain on the project through construction only if later authorized by council. Council members also noted the item is part of the voter-approved parks and recreation bond and that bond parameters limit the kinds of projects that can be funded.

A member of the public, Carol Gilmore, urged a simple family picnic area and playground rather than more intensive design work. The council directed staff to begin community engagement and technical studies; the design team will return with schematic options before any construction funding is approved.

The roll call on the motion recorded Councilman Foley, Councilman Gafford and Vice Mayor Grubbs voting yes; Councilman Green voting no; and Mayor Scott Stiltner voting yes. The motion passed 4-1.