- March 6, 2025
As Palm Coast continues to tackle economic development through athletics tournaments, city officials added another win Tuesday night when the City Council unanimously approved a public/private partnership with Players Development Academy of Florida Inc., a New Jersey-based soccer club that has developed soccer players since 2000.
Under the agreement, PDA will build five or six athletics fields on a parcel of land located in the Palm Coast Park Development of Regional Impact, located off U.S. 1, between Palm Coast Parkway and Matanzas Woods Parkway. The fields will also be connected to the Indian Trails Sports Complex via a shell path.
The cost of the fields and the ancillary facilities will be paid for by PDA. In addition, PDA will pay for all maintenance at the complex.
The 25-year lease, which also includes options for five-year extensions, would be $10,000 per year, but the city will waive the annual lease payment under the agreement that PDA will host two “significant” events per year.
City officials have defined significant as events that bring 100 hotel room nights, for a 200 room nights per year.
Residents spoke at Tuesday’s meeting, asking what the project will provide the taxpayer.
City Councilman Bill McGuire said tourism development is something the city and the county has been successful at.
“When you talk about tourism, this is a success story,” McGuire said. “Sure, we’d like to see the new General Motors plant come here, but let’s get real. ... This is a beautiful place to visit, and this is a beautiful place to bring an event.”
Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts agreed.
“If we can help our local businesses succeed, that broadens the tax base and relieves some of the burden that has been primarily on the (residents),” he said.
Another resident questioned why the lease will be for 25 years.
Beau Falgout, senior economic development planner for the city, said because PDA is making a “six- to seven-figure investment in the property,” the long-term lease is vital.
“And once again, (PDA) will be developing a recreational facility,” Falgout said. “So even a default in the future or if it doesn’t work out, we’ll get the property back and we’ll have a park that we didn’t pay for.”
Adding another five or six fields will also help lure even larger athletics tournaments to the city, officials said.
