- March 10, 2025
Parks throughout Ormond Beach will see major renovations in 2013.
BY JARED MAULDIN | STAFF WRITER
While it’s known as "the birthplace of speed," Ormond Beach could also cite its extensive network of parks and recreational facilities as a second claim to fame. And in 2013, those parks will be evolving.
With work scheduled for Andy Romano Park, Wigley T-ball Fields, Nova Community Park and others, the new year will be a time of renovation and renewal, with big changes already underway. Robert Carolin, the city's leisure services director, highlights the expansive age demographic as proof that the city is getting it right in regards to its parks.
“We have a very large user group in Ormond Beach for our park systems," he said. "There are a lot of adults, seniors, children and families alike that use (them)."
To Carolin, another reason city parks are so successful is because community members routinely join forces with the city to maintain them. Residents, he says, help keep parks clean and routinely provide feedback via the city’s website. Renovation projects are spearheaded by community members who take it upon themselves to raise money. And because of the support, keeping parks clean and modernized has steadily climbed the city's priority list.
Nova Community Park will undergo significant changes with a $450,000 expansion of its skate park. Added will be concession stands, a new 10,000-square-foot skating surface, skating bowl and possibly an equipment retail store.
The park will also continue development of the handball courts and lit outdoor basketball courts. Those projects were planned after several community meetings highlighted the need, Carolin says.
“(Residents) helped us come up with some of the features they felt would be important to this area,” he said.
The goal for Nova is to have a large skate area with room for beginners and advanced skateboarders in a family-friendly, supervised location. Rounding out the plans are a new trail system that reaches its way around the perimeter of the park. The trail is part of the landfill revitalization and will be the final stage of improvements.
The projects are expected to take five years to complete.
Andy Romano Park will continue its transformation to include over 190 parking spots, plus multiple family pavilions, restrooms, concessions and walkways meandering through the park. A playground and splash pad will round out the new features designed by Zev Cohen and Associates.
Magic Forest Rainbow Park is an example of a community-built park, led by resident input. Organized, planned and funded by Project ROMP, renovations to this facility will begin Feb. 11. Materials have already been ordered.
Wigley T-ball Fields are preparing for a March unveiling at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Dwight Durant, president and owner of Zev Cohen and Associates was asked to design the T-ball area, and funding came from the city, as well as the Youth Baseball & Softball Association. In addition, new sod will be laid for the baseball area along with two new multipurpose fields intended for football practice. A new perimeter road will complete the master plan that helps keep children away from street traffic.
In addition to the major renovations, smaller changes are in line, as well. Surveillance cameras at South Ormond Community Center, and paving projects, round out what’s to come before 2014 approaches.
