- December 23, 2024
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Flagler County commissioners and Palm Coast City Council members broke ground on the Lehigh Trailhead and Southern Recreational Facility projects alongside the Tourism Development director and the projects' contractors.
Flagler County commissioners and Palm Coast City Council members broke ground on the Lehigh Trailhead and Southern Recreational Facility projects alongside the Tourism Development director and the projects' contractors.
City Council member Nick Klufas, Commission Chair Greg Hansen, Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin and City Council member Cathy Heighter at the groundbreaking ceremony.
A rendering of the future Southern Recreational Center.
Palm Coast broke ground on a new Southern Recreational Facility and Lehigh Trailhead project on Sunday, Feb. 12.
The groundbreaking took place outside the tennis complex on Belle Terre Parkway. Several City Council members attended, alongside Flagler County commissioners and members of the county’s Tourism Development Council.
Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin said the recreational facility would not be possible without the county’s help.
“Our coordinated actions created the foundation for this recreation center to unlock the growing potential for more leisure activity in our region,” Alfin said, “for both our own residents and for tourists and visitors.”
County Commission Chair Greg Hansen said there are 150 miles of trails in the county, many of which are in the city of Palm Coast.
“The citizens of our great county don’t care if they’re in a city or county park,” Hansen said. “All it takes is coordination.”
The projects are on 63 acres. The trailhead enhancements and new facility will serve as a source of revenue for the city and county — for instance, by hosting the city’s 12th annual tennis tournament, Tourism Development Director Amy Lukasik said.
“[This] will boost the local economy as we host events,” she said.
The facility and trailhead will feature: 12 pickleball courts, restrooms, locker rooms, a kitchen and dining space, a lobby/balcony space, a patio, two multi-purpose rooms available to the public, a community garden, a dog park, an exercise trail, trailhead restrooms and a new parking lot.
Alfin said the recreation center will be the “ultimate place to play” in Palm Coast.
The additional pickleball courts are a response to the demand the current facilities have seen since 2014, Alfin said.
“And right next door, the Lehigh Trailhead will offer the completely balanced blend of natural environment and superb recreation amenities,” he said.
The Southern Recreational Facility is expected to cost $10,597,858, according to the city’s capital projects dashboard. A $739,000 grant from the TDC will cover part of the project cost, according to a city press release. The rest will come from park impact fees and a contribution from the State Road 100 Community Redevelopment Agency.
The Florida Department of Transportation has approved a $1.24 million grant for the Lehigh Trailhead project, which is expected to cost $2.75 million.
The Southern Recreational Facility and Lehigh Trailhead are a part of the second phase of the city’s recreation master plan, according to the press release. The first phase, built in 2008, included the tennis complex’s 10 clay courts.
Gilbane Construction and Paul Culver Construction, Inc. will be working on the Southern Recreational Facility and Lehigh Trailhead projects, respectively.
Alfin said the enhancements support Palm Coast’s “glorious lifestyle.”
“We’re strengthening family connection here. We’re strengthening our local economy here,” Alfin said. “[This is] a triumph for all of Palm Coast.”
