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Clermont presentation outlines sports‑tourism strategy, Hancock Road trail fixes and parks upgrades
Summary
Consultants told the City of Clermont that sports, festivals and parks — combined with targeted infrastructure such as Hancock Road and South Lake Trail improvements — could raise local economic activity; they recommended a three‑phase plan and urged quick actions on festivals and park activation.
Consultants presented a three‑part parks and recreation strategy to the City of Clermont on June 18, urging the city to leverage sports tourism, festivals and parks investments to "maximize quality of place, quality of life, and economic impact to attract and retain talent," the lead presenter said.
The consultant said the city’s top assets — the National Training Center, Waterfront Park and the Arts & Rec Center — already draw large numbers of visitors and that data from an AI placement tool shows event attendance is concentrated in spring and fall. He cited a sample figure of about $7 million of economic impact tied to Waterfront Park and said the team’s broader estimate for combined activations in 2025 was roughly $21 million.
Why it matters: The plan links short‑term, low‑cost festival and event bids with second‑phase capital improvements (mixed‑use at the waterfront, parking and an expanded field house) and longer‑term arterial projects such as Hancock Road and strategic pedestrian overpasses. Those latter projects require more time and funding but are positioned as necessary to safely connect training and event sites.
"We looked at three areas — vision, activation and parks & rec — and we're maximizing healthy connectivity," the presenter said, urging a stronger network of trails and a clearer sense of arrival at the West Bank and Waterfront Park.
Engineer Chad, who described his methodology for grading Hancock Road, said the team blended national standards — AASHTO, NACTO and a Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) metric — to create a weighted score across the corridor. "AASHTO stands for American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials," Chad said, describing design types that range from a shared lane (most hazardous) to fully isolated urban bike lanes (safest).
The consultant also outlined an NRPA‑aligned parks assessment and a public survey that prioritized more pickleball and shade, improved athletic fields, enhanced waterfront amenities and expanded trails. He recommended: (1) fast‑tracking festivals and statewide bidding, (2) using targeted capital improvements to generate recurring municipal revenue, and (3) allocating longer‑term tourism revenue to build Hancock Road connectivity and overpasses.
Council reaction and next steps: City staff said the report will inform the comprehensive plan and the budget process; councilmembers asked staff to work with the consultant to produce a short list of FY‑27 priority actions and costs. The consultant agreed to provide a clearer, budget‑linked phasing list so council can consider specific budget allocations this summer.
What remains uncertain: timelines and funding for Hancock Road upgrades; the degree to which county permissions and private developers must participate; and how parks programming will be staffed and maintained over time.
The city will post the consultant report and appendices for public review; council directed staff to return with a recommended set of FY‑27 budget priorities based on the plan.
