ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — A $2.5 million plan to turn a former Ormond Beach school into a park is now on hold.
City leaders have paused plans to purchase the 11-acre former Osceola Elementary School property, citing concerns about the potential financial impact of Amendment 3, which recently passed and will reduce property taxes for homeowners.
The property sits across the street from John Roy’s home. He said he voted in favor of the tax cut but worries about what could happen to the property now that the city’s plans have stalled.
“I just hope they don’t put any houses in here, any kind of development, because we have plenty of affordable housing around here,” Roy said.
Roy said he would like to see the city explore other options to keep the property in public hands, including finding a private partner willing to invest in the community.
“Somebody, you know, that has money around here that wants to do something nice for the community instead of just tearing up, tearing down the trees and building apartments, which we don’t need,” Roy said.
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 education program that has since moved to Holly Hill.
The 11-acre property is now at the center of an uncertain future. The city has requested an extension from the school district while leaders explore other funding options.
For now, the $2.5 million purchase and plans for a new park remain on hold.
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