ECHO Grants Fund Recreational Facilities

The Volusia County Council approved more than $2.8 million for recreational projects through ECHO grants this week, an initiative that utilizes a special voter-approved property tax levy to help fund projects for environmental, cultural, historical, and outdoor recreational purposes. The County Council voted to open an additional grant cycle so the city of DeBary will have another chance to apply and possibly be awarded funds this year to open Alexander Island as a park on the St. Johns River. Debary is seeking $2.5 million from the ECHO program to prepare the park, which would include trails, a fishing pier, an observation deck, and a kayak launch.

Projects funded include:

• Historic Seville School Restoration: $214,779. The Seville Village Improvement Inc. organization will use the funds to restore and preserve the school.
• Ormond Beach Sports Complex Softball Quad Installation of LED Lighting: $456,479. Fields at the facility will get LED lighting with support from the city of Ormond Beach.
• Nova Community Park Fields 2-5 Improvements: $216,326. The project from the city of Ormond Beach will convert one field from a softball field into a baseball field and will improve a few other fields.
• City Center Playground Improvements in Port Orange: $150,000. The playground will get Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible equipment with the support of the city government.
• Hawk’s Park Pickleball Courts & Amenities: $600,000. The city of Edgewater is co-sponsoring the project, which will build the city's first pickleball courts. Four courts with a parking lot and an ADA-compliant sidewalk are planned.
• Deltona Family YMCA Athletic Fields & Playground: $428,500. The YMCA will use the money to improve soccer fields and build an ADA-accessible playground.
• Lake Beresford Shoreline Restoration & Public Access Enhancements at the Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center: $600,000. Stetson University plans to build a living shoreline, a public dock, and expand ADA-access.
• New Smyrna Beach Skate Park Expansion: $148,825. The city will add 8,000 square feet to a skate park.