ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — A piece of beachside property that has been publicly used for more than 70 years could soon belong to the City of Ormond Beach. The city is moving forward with plans to purchase the former Osceola Elementary School property from the Volusia County School Board for $2.5 million.
But questions remain about the purchase — including how the city will pay for the property and what taxpayers will ultimately get in return. The city has not yet finalized the purchase. Officials said the property is currently in a due diligence period, and funding details will be determined as that process moves forward.
The 11-acre site has long been part of the beachside community. Osceola Elementary closed in 2021 when the school district consolidated it with Ortona Elementary to create Beachside Elementary.
The campus later became the Riverview Learning Center, an alternative school program. That program has since moved to Holly Hill, leaving the property vacant.
Now, neighbors are watching closely as the city considers what comes next.
“I think it’s a wonderful thing!” said Mark DeWeese, who lives near the property.
One of the city’s stated reasons for pursuing the purchase is to preserve the property from private development. City officials said the city has partnered with the Volusia County School Board for about 50 years to operate the property as a park. The city hopes to continue that use so the property can keep serving beachside families.
Neighbors say they would like to see the property remain public, rather than become another residential development.
“Can you imagine 40 homes exiting out of there, having to drive out of there into this neighborhood, having to drive through here?” DeWeese said.
The property already includes baseball fields, a tennis court, a playground, restrooms and three parking lots. Those existing amenities have some residents envisioning another beachside park.
“I think it’d be great,” DeWeese said. “I think it would be great if we could keep some of the sports stuff there too.”
The city said it is too early to provide an estimate for demolition costs or a timeline because the purchase is still in the due diligence phase. There also is not yet a formal plan for the future of the property.
Residents will have an opportunity to weigh in when the purchase comes back before the City Commission for approval.
City officials said future planning will also take into account resident input gathered through the city’s Parks & Recreation Master Plan process.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.