- January 21, 2025
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Some want Cassen Park to remain the same. Others are hoping for a revamp.
Both groups had an opportunity to weigh in during a public meeting held at City Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 8, where staff posted the four proposed concepts for the park. All four options moved the existing bait shop away from the water and combined it with a restroom buildin, but varied when it came to amenities. Should the park have more covered pavilions? Or is more parking a better use of the space? Should there be a playground?
The city also conducted an online survey that allowed residents to provide input remotely. It garnered almost 350 responses, and about 25 people attended the meeting.
On Feb. 4, the city stated that it had shaped its concepts based on the feedback “of more than 600 respondents,” and announced the public meeting at city hall, which took place a week before the City Commission is scheduled to discuss the project at a workshop.
“There was such an outpouring of comments that people wanted to see it done right,” said Shawn Finley, Public Works director for the city.
The city originally only planned to pave the parking lot at Cassen Park, but Finley said that they then realized the bait shop was in a flood zone and needed to be moved.
“The thought was, ‘We’ve got an opportunity here that we only have once a generation to redo the park and do it right, and do it [how] everybody wants to see it,’” Finley said. “So that’s what we’re doing. We’re giving everybody a chance to give their opinion for Cassen Park is going to be like for the next 40,50 years or so.”
A fifth option was proposed by residents Barry du Moulin, Jerry Janero and Bill Partington II, the mayor's father. In an email to the Observer, Partington II stated that they had not been satisfied with the city's proposals and decided that "starting with a clean sheet of paper to design Cassen Park would be a good idea."
Finley said the city would be accepting their proposal as part of public input.
The city conducted the meeting “FDOT-style,” meaning residents could come at varying times to view the concepts and speak to city staff.
Public input is critical, Finley said.
“We’re here to provide things that add to the community and if we can get input from the residents, we will use it,” Finley said. “That’s just going to make it a better project.”
The City Commission’s workshop on Cassen Park will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 15, in conference room 103 at City Hall, located at 22 S. Beach St.
Volusia County has begun a social media campaign to address littering.
“We can all do our part to #KeepVolusiaBeautiful, but it’s going to take every one of us making a concerted effort and undertanding that “EveryLitterBitCounts,” a press release stated.
Examples of how to get involved include adopting a segment of beach, park, road or trail; participating in the annual county-sponsored river and coastal cleanups; or sponsoring a Fill-a-bag station. Visit Volusia.org/litter
The Ormond Beach Planning Board will meet on Thursday, Feb. 10 at the City Commission Chambers. It will review two comprehensive plan land use map amendments.
On Tuesday, Feb. 8, AdventHealth’s hospitals in its seven Central Florida counties reported about 650 COVID-19-related hospitalizations, a figure that the hospital states continues to decrease.
According to AdventHealth Central Florida Division’s COVID-19 Feb. 8 update, the hospital system remains at “green status” and continues its normal operations.
However, AdventHealth continues to remind the community that physicians state the community’s best defense against Omicron, which is more contagious than previous strains even among those who are vaccinated, is to receive a booster shot.
Physicians also recommend people continue to wear masks in crowded indoor spaces or when in close contact with others. “This includes students and teachers in classroom settings. Social distancing and good hygiene practices are also recommended to help cut down on community spread of the virus,” the update states.
