Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission pauses $100,000 Trotwood lacrosse wall; discusses Arbor Fund and tree-replacement plan
Summary
Commissioners voted to postpone a $100,000 lacrosse/soccer rebound wall funded from park impact fees and reviewed Arbor Fund expenditures, including a two‑phase $500,000 tree‑replacement/transplant program and corridor landscaping proposals.
The Winter Springs City Commission on Oct. 27 voted to postpone a proposed $100,000 expenditure for a Trotwood Park lacrosse/soccer rebound wall and spent significant time discussing the Arbor Fund and citywide landscaping proposals.
Commissioner Victoria Bruce moved to pause the $100,000 lacrosse wall expenditure so the project can be reviewed next budget year; Commissioner Mark Caruso seconded and the motion passed with a 4–1 vote (Commissioner Paul Diaz voted no). Staff said the lacrosse wall idea originated in 2011 and was endorsed by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee in November 2024. City Director of Administrative Services Brian Dunnigan explained park impact fees are primarily collected from residential development and can apply to multifamily projects as well; the current projected FY25–26 park impact fee fund balance was cited as approximately $12,721 before final audit true‑up, and staff noted prior projects not pursued will affect the final balance.
Commissioners also discussed whether park impact fees can be used for athletic-field lighting; staff said the use is possible when expanding amenities, but cautioned that field-grade lighting (for soccer/baseball) can be far more expensive — previously estimated conservatively in the "millions" — compared with recent amphitheater lighting at about $50,000. City Manager Kevin Sweet and Dunnigan noted underlying electrical infrastructure at fields is limited and significant conduit and trenching costs would be required.
On the Arbor Fund, staff described a proposed citywide landscaping renovation along SR 434 from SR 417 toward Tuscaloosa Road (estimated at about $300,000) and a separate public‑facility landscape scope (about $100,000). Commissioners reviewed a tree‑replacement program affecting approximately 500 live oaks in Tuscaloosa Crossings that staff proposes to transplant over two phases with a combined budget around $500,000 (phase 1 budgeted at $250,000). Staff emphasized the survivability of large-transplanted trees is a contractor evaluation criterion and said a two-year timeline was chosen to balance cost escalation with the desire to act before trees mature further.
What happens next: The commission postponed the lacrosse wall until the next budget year and directed staff to return with updated fund balances and additional details (cost estimates, feasibility and alternatives for lighting, and contractor qualifications) for follow-up review.
